Is Hoyt Wilhelm #36 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1954 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Hoyt Wilhelm #36 sells for $3,452 against $14.87 raw: a $3,437 spread, 232× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,186) 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)
- $14.87
- PSA 10
- $3,452
- PSA 9
- $3,186
- Gem premium
- 232×
- 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 | $3,452 | +$3,412 | +$3,387 | +$3,287 |
| PSA 9 | $3,186 | +$3,146 | +$3,121 | +$3,021 |
| PSA 8 | $488 | +$448 | +$423 | +$323 |
Net = sale price − $14.87 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% | $3,252 | +$3,188 |
| 50% | $3,319 | +$3,254 |
| 75% | $3,386 | +$3,321 |
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 | $4,488 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,452 | −$1,036 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,071 | −$2,417 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,071 | −$2,417 | 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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Grading Hoyt Wilhelm #36 — FAQ
Is Hoyt Wilhelm #36 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Hoyt Wilhelm #36 sells for $3,452 against $14.87 raw: a $3,437 spread, 232× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,186) 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 Hoyt Wilhelm #36 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Hoyt Wilhelm #36 (Baseball Cards 1954 Topps) sells for about $3,452 versus $14.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 232× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Hoyt Wilhelm #36?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,488, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,452. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Hoyt Wilhelm #36 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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