Is Phil Russell #31 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1976 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Phil Russell #31 sells for $74.00 against $1.18 raw: a $72.82 spread, 63× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.06) 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)
- $1.18
- PSA 10
- $74.00
- PSA 9
- $38.06
- Gem premium
- 63×
- 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 | $74.00 | +$47.82 | +$22.82 | −$77.18 |
| PSA 9 | $38.06 | +$11.88 | −$13.12 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $2.81 | −$23.37 | −$48.37 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $1.18 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% | $47.05 | −$4.13 |
| 50% | $56.03 | +$4.85 |
| 75% | $65.02 | +$13.84 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 37%. 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 | $96.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $74.00 | −$22.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $44.00 | −$52.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $44.00 | −$52.00 | 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 Phil Russell #31 — FAQ
Is Phil Russell #31 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Phil Russell #31 sells for $74.00 against $1.18 raw: a $72.82 spread, 63× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.06) 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 Russell #31 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Phil Russell #31 (Hockey Cards 1976 Topps) sells for about $74.00 versus $1.18 for a raw near-mint copy — a 63× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Phil Russell #31?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $96.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $74.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Phil Russell #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 Phil Russell #31 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Phil Russell #31 breaks even when it gems about 37% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.06).
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