![Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 (Baseball Cards 1972 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/q3YAAeSwH85qUYg-/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A CGC 10 Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 sells for $3,952 against $2.40 raw: a $3,950 spread, 1647× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($316) 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)
- $2.40
- CGC 10
- $3,952
- PSA 9
- $316
- Gem premium
- 1647×
- 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 — CGC 10 | $3,952 | +$3,925 | +$3,900 | +$3,800 |
| PSA 9 | $316 | +$289 | +$264 | +$164 |
| PSA 8 | $57.99 | +$30.59 | +$5.59 | −$94.41 |
Net = sale price − $2.40 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% | $1,225 | +$1,173 |
| 50% | $2,134 | +$2,082 |
| 75% | $3,043 | +$2,991 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $3,952 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,952 | best | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1972 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Roberto Clemente [In Action] #310 1972 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iRUAAeSw-KtqRx5X/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 — FAQ
Is Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 worth grading?
A CGC 10 Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 sells for $3,952 against $2.40 raw: a $3,950 spread, 1647× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($316) 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.
Which grading company is best for Pirates Team [World Champions] #1?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $3,952, ahead of SGC 10 at $3,952. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pirates Team [World Champions] #1 need for a CGC 10?
CGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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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