Is Chris Ford #79 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Chris Ford #79 sells for $366 against $2.48 raw: a $363 spread, 148× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $2.48
- PSA 10
- $366
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 148×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $366 | +$338 | +$313 | +$213 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$22.51 | −$2.49 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$7.49 | −$32.49 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $2.48 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% | $129 | +$76.46 |
| 50% | $208 | +$155 |
| 75% | $287 | +$234 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $476 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $366 | −$110 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $219 | −$257 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $219 | −$257 | 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.
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Grading Chris Ford #79 — FAQ
Is Chris Ford #79 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Chris Ford #79 sells for $366 against $2.48 raw: a $363 spread, 148× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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 Chris Ford #79 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Chris Ford #79 (Basketball Cards 1973 Topps) sells for about $366 versus $2.48 for a raw near-mint copy — a 148× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Chris Ford #79?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $476, ahead of PSA 10 at $366. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Chris Ford #79 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 Chris Ford #79 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Chris Ford #79 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.99).
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