Is Dave Elmendorf #109 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dave Elmendorf #109 sells for $350 against $1.17 raw: a $349 spread, 299× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.25) 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)
- $1.17
- PSA 10
- $350
- PSA 9
- $28.25
- Gem premium
- 299×
- 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 | $350 | +$324 | +$299 | +$199 |
| PSA 9 | $28.25 | +$2.08 | −$22.92 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $21.06 | −$5.11 | −$30.11 | −$130 |
Net = sale price − $1.17 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% | $109 | +$57.62 |
| 50% | $189 | +$138 |
| 75% | $270 | +$219 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 7%. 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 | $456 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $350 | −$106 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $210 | −$246 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $210 | −$246 | 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 Dave Elmendorf #109 — FAQ
Is Dave Elmendorf #109 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dave Elmendorf #109 sells for $350 against $1.17 raw: a $349 spread, 299× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.25) 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 Elmendorf #109 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dave Elmendorf #109 (Football Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $350 versus $1.17 for a raw near-mint copy — a 299× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dave Elmendorf #109?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $456, ahead of PSA 10 at $350. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dave Elmendorf #109 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 Dave Elmendorf #109 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Dave Elmendorf #109 breaks even when it gems about 7% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $28.25).
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