![Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HO4AAeSw1uBqIgDM/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 sells for $658 against $50.10 raw: a $608 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($155) 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)
- $50.10
- PSA 10
- $658
- PSA 9
- $155
- Gem premium
- 13×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $658 | +$583 | +$558 | +$458 |
| PSA 9 | $155 | +$80.22 | +$55.22 | −$44.78 |
| PSA 8 | $69.00 | −$6.10 | −$31.10 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $50.10 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% | $281 | +$181 |
| 50% | $406 | +$306 |
| 75% | $532 | +$432 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $855 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $658 | −$197 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $395 | −$460 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $395 | −$460 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $658 | $395 | $855 | $395 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $369 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $155 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $69.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $65.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Tracy McGrady [Refractor] #125 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DpoAAeSwUu9qTa47/s-l500.jpg)
![Allen Iverson [Refractor] #54 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3w8AAeSwkcBqOBYe/s-l500.jpg)
![Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #109 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nz0AAeSwenpqT~y4/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #123 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ISQAAeSwZB9qckrf/s-l500.jpg)
![Tim Duncan [Refractor] #115 1997 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EogAAeSwo9lqT69g/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 — FAQ
Is Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 sells for $658 against $50.10 raw: a $608 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($155) 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 Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) sells for about $658 versus $50.10 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $855, ahead of PSA 10 at $658. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #1 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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