Is Ken Wharram #38 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1963 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ken Wharram #38 sells for $1,529 against $8.88 raw: a $1,521 spread, 172× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($188) 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)
- $8.88
- PSA 10
- $1,529
- PSA 9
- $188
- Gem premium
- 172×
- 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 | $1,529 | +$1,496 | +$1,471 | +$1,371 |
| PSA 9 | $188 | +$154 | +$129 | +$28.63 |
| PSA 8 | $73.64 | +$39.76 | +$14.76 | −$85.24 |
Net = sale price − $8.88 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% | $523 | +$464 |
| 50% | $858 | +$800 |
| 75% | $1,194 | +$1,135 |
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 | $1,988 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,529 | −$459 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $918 | −$1,070 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $918 | −$1,070 | 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 Ken Wharram #38 — FAQ
Is Ken Wharram #38 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ken Wharram #38 sells for $1,529 against $8.88 raw: a $1,521 spread, 172× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($188) 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 Ken Wharram #38 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ken Wharram #38 (Hockey Cards 1963 Topps) sells for about $1,529 versus $8.88 for a raw near-mint copy — a 172× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ken Wharram #38?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,988, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,529. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ken Wharram #38 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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