Is Phil Esposito #20 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito #20 sells for $1,392 against $10.79 raw: a $1,381 spread, 129× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($154) 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)
- $10.79
- PSA 10
- $1,392
- PSA 9
- $154
- Gem premium
- 129×
- 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 | $1,392 | +$1,356 | +$1,331 | +$1,231 |
| PSA 9 | $154 | +$118 | +$92.71 | −$7.29 |
| PSA 8 | $82.35 | +$46.56 | +$21.56 | −$78.44 |
Net = sale price − $10.79 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% | $463 | +$402 |
| 50% | $773 | +$712 |
| 75% | $1,082 | +$1,022 |
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 | $1,810 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,392 | −$418 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $835 | −$975 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $835 | −$975 | 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 | $1,392 | $835 | $1,810 | $835 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $431 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $154 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $82.35 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $43.96 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1971 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![NHL Assists Leaders [B. Orr, P. Esposito, J. Bucyk] #2 1971 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cyQAAOSwlv5nj9zF/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Phil Esposito #20 — FAQ
Is Phil Esposito #20 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito #20 sells for $1,392 against $10.79 raw: a $1,381 spread, 129× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($154) 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 #20 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Phil Esposito #20 (Hockey Cards 1971 Topps) sells for about $1,392 versus $10.79 for a raw near-mint copy — a 129× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Phil Esposito #20?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,810, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,392. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Phil Esposito #20 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.
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