Is Pat Stapleton #25 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pat Stapleton #25 sells for $399 against $3.00 raw: a $396 spread, 133× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.98) 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)
- $3.00
- PSA 10
- $399
- PSA 9
- $52.98
- Gem premium
- 133×
- 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 | $399 | +$371 | +$346 | +$246 |
| PSA 9 | $52.98 | +$24.98 | −$0.02 | −$100 |
| PSA 8 | $20.00 | −$8.00 | −$33.00 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $3.00 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% | $139 | +$86.42 |
| 50% | $226 | +$173 |
| 75% | $312 | +$259 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. 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 | $518 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $399 | −$119 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $239 | −$279 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $239 | −$279 | 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 | $399 | $239 | $518 | $239 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $120 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $52.98 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $20.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $16.00 |
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 Pat Stapleton #25 — FAQ
Is Pat Stapleton #25 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pat Stapleton #25 sells for $399 against $3.00 raw: a $396 spread, 133× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.98) 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 Pat Stapleton #25 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pat Stapleton #25 (Hockey Cards 1971 Topps) sells for about $399 versus $3.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 133× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pat Stapleton #25?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $518, ahead of PSA 10 at $399. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pat Stapleton #25 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 Pat Stapleton #25 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pat Stapleton #25 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $52.98).
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