Is Mike Milbury #59 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1978 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mike Milbury #59 sells for $184 against $1.71 raw: a $182 spread, 107× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.64) 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)
- $1.71
- PSA 10
- $184
- PSA 9
- $33.64
- Gem premium
- 107×
- 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 | $184 | +$157 | +$132 | +$31.97 |
| PSA 9 | $33.64 | +$6.93 | −$18.07 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $14.66 | −$12.05 | −$37.05 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $1.71 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% | $71.15 | +$19.44 |
| 50% | $109 | +$56.95 |
| 75% | $146 | +$94.46 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. 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 | $239 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $184 | −$55.32 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $110 | −$129 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $110 | −$129 | 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 Mike Milbury #59 — FAQ
Is Mike Milbury #59 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mike Milbury #59 sells for $184 against $1.71 raw: a $182 spread, 107× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.64) 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 Mike Milbury #59 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mike Milbury #59 (Hockey Cards 1978 Topps) sells for about $184 versus $1.71 for a raw near-mint copy — a 107× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mike Milbury #59?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $239, ahead of PSA 10 at $184. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mike Milbury #59 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 Mike Milbury #59 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mike Milbury #59 breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $33.64).
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