Is Ralph Backstrom #29 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1959 Parkhurst · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ralph Backstrom #29 sells for $1,701 against $8.61 raw: a $1,692 spread, 198× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($261) 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)
- $8.61
- PSA 10
- $1,701
- PSA 9
- $261
- Gem premium
- 198×
- 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 | $1,701 | +$1,667 | +$1,642 | +$1,542 |
| PSA 9 | $261 | +$227 | +$202 | +$102 |
| PSA 8 | $191 | +$157 | +$132 | +$32.35 |
Net = sale price − $8.61 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% | $621 | +$562 |
| 50% | $981 | +$922 |
| 75% | $1,341 | +$1,282 |
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 | $2,211 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,701 | −$510 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,020 | −$1,191 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,020 | −$1,191 | 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 Ralph Backstrom #29 — FAQ
Is Ralph Backstrom #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ralph Backstrom #29 sells for $1,701 against $8.61 raw: a $1,692 spread, 198× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($261) 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 Ralph Backstrom #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ralph Backstrom #29 (Hockey Cards 1959 Parkhurst) sells for about $1,701 versus $8.61 for a raw near-mint copy — a 198× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ralph Backstrom #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,211, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,701. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ralph Backstrom #29 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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