Is Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2024 Upper Deck The Cup Exquisite Collection Black · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 sells for $318 against $67.89 raw: a $250 spread, 4.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($114) 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)
- $67.89
- PSA 10
- $318
- PSA 9
- $114
- Gem premium
- 4.7×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $318 | +$225 | +$200 | +$99.66 |
| PSA 9 | $114 | +$20.91 | −$4.09 | −$104 |
| PSA 8 | $65.64 | −$27.25 | −$52.25 | −$152 |
Net = sale price − $67.89 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% | $165 | +$46.85 |
| 50% | $216 | +$97.79 |
| 75% | $267 | +$149 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 | $413 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $318 | −$95.45 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $191 | −$222 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $191 | −$222 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2024 Upper Deck The Cup Exquisite Collection Black cards worth checking
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Grading Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 — FAQ
Is Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 sells for $318 against $67.89 raw: a $250 spread, 4.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($114) 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 Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 (Hockey Cards 2024 Upper Deck The Cup Exquisite Collection Black) sells for about $318 versus $67.89 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.7× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $413, ahead of PSA 10 at $318. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 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 Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Phil Esposito [Autograph] #EB-16 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $114).
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