Is Larry Bird [Yellow] #FA-LBD worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2023 Panini Phoenix Fuego Autograph · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Larry Bird [Yellow] #FA-LBD sells for $158 against $117 raw: a $41.25 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($144) 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)
- $117
- Grade 9.5
- $158
- PSA 9
- $144
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $158 | +$16.25 | −$8.75 | −$109 |
| PSA 9 | $144 | +$1.75 | −$23.25 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $117 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% | $147 | −$19.63 |
| 50% | $151 | −$16.00 |
| 75% | $154 | −$12.38 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Larry Bird [Yellow] #FA-LBD — FAQ
Is Larry Bird [Yellow] #FA-LBD worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Larry Bird [Yellow] #FA-LBD sells for $158 against $117 raw: a $41.25 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($144) 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.
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