Is Steve Patterson #73 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Steve Patterson #73 sells for $155 against $1.03 raw: a $154 spread, 150× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.43) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.03
- PSA 10
- $155
- PSA 9
- $26.43
- Gem premium
- 150×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $155 | +$129 | +$104 | +$3.72 |
| PSA 9 | $26.43 | +$0.40 | −$24.60 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $7.38 | −$18.65 | −$43.65 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $1.03 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $58.51 | +$7.48 |
| 50% | $90.59 | +$39.56 |
| 75% | $123 | +$71.64 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 19%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $201 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $155 | −$46.25 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $93.00 | −$108 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $93.00 | −$108 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1973 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Steve Patterson #73 — FAQ
Is Steve Patterson #73 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steve Patterson #73 sells for $155 against $1.03 raw: a $154 spread, 150× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.43) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Steve Patterson #73 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steve Patterson #73 (Basketball Cards 1973 Topps) sells for about $155 versus $1.03 for a raw near-mint copy — a 150× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steve Patterson #73?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $201, ahead of PSA 10 at $155. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steve Patterson #73 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Steve Patterson #73 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Steve Patterson #73 breaks even when it gems about 19% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $26.43).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
