Is Tommy Williams #31 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tommy Williams #31 sells for $435 against $2.22 raw: a $433 spread, 196× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.02) 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)
- $2.22
- PSA 10
- $435
- PSA 9
- $40.02
- Gem premium
- 196×
- 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 | $435 | +$408 | +$383 | +$283 |
| PSA 9 | $40.02 | +$12.80 | −$12.20 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $19.75 | −$7.47 | −$32.47 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $2.22 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 | +$86.63 |
| 50% | $238 | +$185 |
| 75% | $337 | +$284 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $566 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $435 | −$131 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $261 | −$305 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $261 | −$305 | 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 Tommy Williams #31 — FAQ
Is Tommy Williams #31 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tommy Williams #31 sells for $435 against $2.22 raw: a $433 spread, 196× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.02) 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 Tommy Williams #31 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tommy Williams #31 (Hockey Cards 1971 Topps) sells for about $435 versus $2.22 for a raw near-mint copy — a 196× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tommy Williams #31?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $566, ahead of PSA 10 at $435. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tommy Williams #31 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 Tommy Williams #31 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Tommy Williams #31 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $40.02).
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