![Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 (Baseball Cards 1954 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Zw8AAeSwgvRqgaiT/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1954 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 sells for $34,532 against $150 raw: a $34,382 spread, 231× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,175) 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)
- $150
- PSA 10
- $34,532
- PSA 9
- $5,175
- Gem premium
- 231×
- 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 | $34,532 | +$34,357 | +$34,332 | +$34,232 |
| PSA 9 | $5,175 | +$5,000 | +$4,975 | +$4,875 |
| PSA 8 | $1,978 | +$1,804 | +$1,779 | +$1,679 |
Net = sale price − $150 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% | $12,514 | +$12,314 |
| 50% | $19,853 | +$19,653 |
| 75% | $27,192 | +$26,993 |
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 | $44,891 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $34,532 | −$10,359 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $20,719 | −$24,172 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $20,719 | −$24,172 | 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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Other 1954 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
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Grading Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 — FAQ
Is Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 sells for $34,532 against $150 raw: a $34,382 spread, 231× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,175) 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 Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1 (Baseball Cards 1954 Topps) sells for about $34,532 versus $150 for a raw near-mint copy — a 231× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ted Williams [Gray Back] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $44,891, ahead of PSA 10 at $34,532. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ted Williams [Gray Back] #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.
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