Is Dave Babych #1 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 47× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Dave Babych #1 sells for $46.65 against $0.99 raw: a $45.66 spread, 47× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($16.99) 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)
- $0.99
- PSA 10
- $46.65
- PSA 9
- $16.99
- Gem premium
- 47×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $46.65 | +$20.66 | −$4.34 | −$104 |
| PSA 9 | $16.99 | −$9.00 | −$34.00 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $5.68 | −$20.31 | −$45.31 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $24.41 | −$26.58 |
| 50% | $31.82 | −$19.17 |
| 75% | $39.23 | −$11.76 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $61.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $46.65 | −$14.35 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $28.00 | −$33.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $28.00 | −$33.00 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Dave Babych #1 — FAQ
Is Dave Babych #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dave Babych #1 sells for $46.65 against $0.99 raw: a $45.66 spread, 47× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($16.99) 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 Dave Babych #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dave Babych #1 (Hockey Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $46.65 versus $0.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 47× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dave Babych #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $61.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $46.65. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dave Babych #1 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.
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