Is Joe Watson #156 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 26× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Joe Watson #156 sells for $50.65 against $1.98 raw: a $48.67 spread, 26× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.83) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.98
- PSA 10
- $50.65
- PSA 9
- $17.83
- Gem premium
- 26×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $50.65 | +$23.67 | −$1.33 | −$101 |
| PSA 9 | $17.83 | −$9.15 | −$34.15 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $12.34 | −$14.64 | −$39.64 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.98 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% | $26.03 | −$25.95 |
| 50% | $34.24 | −$17.74 |
| 75% | $42.44 | −$9.54 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $66.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $50.65 | −$15.35 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $30.00 | −$36.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $30.00 | −$36.00 | 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 Joe Watson #156 — FAQ
Is Joe Watson #156 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Joe Watson #156 sells for $50.65 against $1.98 raw: a $48.67 spread, 26× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.83) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Joe Watson #156 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Joe Watson #156 (Hockey Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $50.65 versus $1.98 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Joe Watson #156?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $66.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $50.65. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Joe Watson #156 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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