Is Dave Dryden #187 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dave Dryden #187 sells for $219 against $1.67 raw: a $218 spread, 131× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.86) 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)
- $1.67
- PSA 10
- $219
- PSA 9
- $38.86
- Gem premium
- 131×
- 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 | $219 | +$193 | +$168 | +$67.76 |
| PSA 9 | $38.86 | +$12.19 | −$12.81 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $30.00 | +$3.33 | −$21.67 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $1.67 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% | $84.00 | +$32.33 |
| 50% | $129 | +$77.48 |
| 75% | $174 | +$123 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 7%. 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 | $285 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $219 | −$65.57 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $132 | −$153 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $132 | −$153 | 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 Dave Dryden #187 — FAQ
Is Dave Dryden #187 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dave Dryden #187 sells for $219 against $1.67 raw: a $218 spread, 131× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.86) 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 Dave Dryden #187 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dave Dryden #187 (Hockey Cards 1973 Topps) sells for about $219 versus $1.67 for a raw near-mint copy — a 131× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dave Dryden #187?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $285, ahead of PSA 10 at $219. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dave Dryden #187 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 Dave Dryden #187 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Dave Dryden #187 breaks even when it gems about 7% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.86).
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