Is Fran Tarkenton #35 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1971 Topps Game Cards · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Fran Tarkenton #35 sells for $363 against $2.69 raw: a $360 spread, 135× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($60.53) 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)
- $2.69
- PSA 10
- $363
- PSA 9
- $60.53
- Gem premium
- 135×
- 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 | $363 | +$335 | +$310 | +$210 |
| PSA 9 | $60.53 | +$32.84 | +$7.84 | −$92.16 |
| PSA 8 | $25.09 | −$2.60 | −$27.60 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $2.69 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% | $136 | +$83.39 |
| 50% | $212 | +$159 |
| 75% | $287 | +$234 |
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 | $472 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $363 | −$109 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $218 | −$254 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $218 | −$254 | 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 Fran Tarkenton #35 — FAQ
Is Fran Tarkenton #35 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Fran Tarkenton #35 sells for $363 against $2.69 raw: a $360 spread, 135× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($60.53) 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 Fran Tarkenton #35 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Fran Tarkenton #35 (Football Cards 1971 Topps Game Cards) sells for about $363 versus $2.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 135× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Fran Tarkenton #35?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $472, ahead of PSA 10 at $363. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Fran Tarkenton #35 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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