Is Denny McLain #210 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Denny McLain #210 sells for $278 against $2.87 raw: a $275 spread, 97× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.95) 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)
- $2.87
- PSA 10
- $278
- PSA 9
- $42.95
- Gem premium
- 97×
- 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 | $278 | +$250 | +$225 | +$125 |
| PSA 9 | $42.95 | +$15.08 | −$9.92 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $20.80 | −$7.07 | −$32.07 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $2.87 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% | $102 | +$48.72 |
| 50% | $160 | +$107 |
| 75% | $219 | +$166 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 | $361 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $278 | −$83.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $167 | −$194 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $167 | −$194 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
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 Denny McLain #210 — FAQ
Is Denny McLain #210 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Denny McLain #210 sells for $278 against $2.87 raw: a $275 spread, 97× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.95) 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 Denny McLain #210 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Denny McLain #210 (Baseball Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $278 versus $2.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 97× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Denny McLain #210?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $361, ahead of PSA 10 at $278. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Denny McLain #210 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 Denny McLain #210 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Denny McLain #210 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $42.95).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
