Is Dave Dryden #71 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dave Dryden #71 sells for $200 against $2.00 raw: a $198 spread, 100× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($84.99) 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)
- $2.00
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $84.99
- Gem premium
- 100×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $200 | +$173 | +$148 | +$47.80 |
| PSA 9 | $84.99 | +$57.99 | +$32.99 | −$67.01 |
| PSA 8 | $32.51 | +$5.51 | −$19.49 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $2.00 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% | $114 | +$61.69 |
| 50% | $142 | +$90.40 |
| 75% | $171 | +$119 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $260 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $200 | −$60.20 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $120 | −$140 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $120 | −$140 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $200 | $120 | $260 | $120 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $93.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $84.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $32.51 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1979 Topps cards worth checking
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Grading Dave Dryden #71 — FAQ
Is Dave Dryden #71 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dave Dryden #71 sells for $200 against $2.00 raw: a $198 spread, 100× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($84.99) 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 #71 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dave Dryden #71 (Hockey Cards 1979 Topps) sells for about $200 versus $2.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 100× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dave Dryden #71?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $260, ahead of PSA 10 at $200. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dave Dryden #71 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.
Is your hockey card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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