![Rich Kelley [West] #W81 (Basketball Cards 1981 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3SkAAeSw-2BpyEbE/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Rich Kelley [West] #W81 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Rich Kelley [West] #W81 brings $29.00 versus $0.99 raw — a $28.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.99
- PSA 10
- $29.00
- PSA 9
- $24.00
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 | $29.00 | +$3.01 | −$21.99 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $24.00 | −$1.99 | −$26.99 | −$127 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$6.00 | −$31.00 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $25.25 | −$25.74 |
| 50% | $26.50 | −$24.49 |
| 75% | $27.75 | −$23.24 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $38.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29.00 | −$9.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $17.00 | −$21.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $17.00 | −$21.00 | 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 1981 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Charlie Criss [East] #E67 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PtwAAOSwiJ9l7iKf/s-l500.jpg)
![Magic Johnson [West] #W109 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EigAAeSwvdxqVEva/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Rich Kelley [West] #W81 — FAQ
Is Rich Kelley [West] #W81 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Rich Kelley [West] #W81 brings $29.00 versus $0.99 raw — a $28.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Rich Kelley [West] #W81 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Rich Kelley [West] #W81 (Basketball Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $29.00 versus $0.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 29× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Rich Kelley [West] #W81?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $38.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $29.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Rich Kelley [West] #W81 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.
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