Is Phil Esposito #7 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1968 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito #7 sells for $4,197 against $29.38 raw: a $4,168 spread, 143× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($641) 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)
- $29.38
- PSA 10
- $4,197
- PSA 9
- $641
- Gem premium
- 143×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $4,197 | +$4,143 | +$4,118 | +$4,018 |
| PSA 9 | $641 | +$586 | +$561 | +$461 |
| PSA 8 | $265 | +$211 | +$186 | +$85.62 |
Net = sale price − $29.38 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% | $1,530 | +$1,450 |
| 50% | $2,419 | +$2,340 |
| 75% | $3,308 | +$3,229 |
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 | $5,457 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $4,197 | −$1,260 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,518 | −$2,939 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,518 | −$2,939 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $4,197 | $2,518 | $5,457 | $2,518 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $1,149 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $641 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $265 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $99.55 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1968 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Phil Esposito #7 — FAQ
Is Phil Esposito #7 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito #7 sells for $4,197 against $29.38 raw: a $4,168 spread, 143× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($641) 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 Phil Esposito #7 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito #7 (Hockey Cards 1968 Topps) sells for about $4,197 versus $29.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 143× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Phil Esposito #7?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $5,457, ahead of PSA 10 at $4,197. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Phil Esposito #7 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.
Is your hockey card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free