Is Mel Bridgman #26 worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 166× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Mel Bridgman #26 sells for $121 against $0.73 raw: a $121 spread, 166× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($10.02) 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)
- $0.73
- PSA 10
- $121
- PSA 9
- $10.02
- Gem premium
- 166×
- 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 | $121 | +$95.61 | +$70.61 | −$29.39 |
| PSA 9 | $10.02 | −$15.71 | −$40.71 | −$141 |
| PSA 8 | $3.85 | −$21.88 | −$46.88 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $0.73 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% | $37.85 | −$12.88 |
| 50% | $65.68 | +$14.95 |
| 75% | $93.51 | +$42.78 |
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 | $158 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $121 | −$36.66 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $73.00 | −$85.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $73.00 | −$85.00 | 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 Mel Bridgman #26 — FAQ
Is Mel Bridgman #26 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mel Bridgman #26 sells for $121 against $0.73 raw: a $121 spread, 166× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($10.02) 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 Mel Bridgman #26 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mel Bridgman #26 (Hockey Cards 1978 Topps) sells for about $121 versus $0.73 for a raw near-mint copy — a 166× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mel Bridgman #26?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $158, ahead of PSA 10 at $121. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mel Bridgman #26 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 Mel Bridgman #26 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mel Bridgman #26 breaks even when it gems about 37% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $10.02).
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