Is Tom Dempsey #175 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tom Dempsey #175 sells for $260 against $1.94 raw: a $258 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($86.62) 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)
- $1.94
- PSA 10
- $260
- PSA 9
- $86.62
- Gem premium
- 134×
- 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 | $260 | +$233 | +$208 | +$108 |
| PSA 9 | $86.62 | +$59.68 | +$34.68 | −$65.32 |
| PSA 8 | $20.98 | −$5.96 | −$30.96 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.94 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% | $130 | +$77.98 |
| 50% | $173 | +$121 |
| 75% | $217 | +$165 |
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 | $338 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $260 | −$78.20 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $156 | −$182 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $156 | −$182 | 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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Other 1972 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Tom Dempsey #175 — FAQ
Is Tom Dempsey #175 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tom Dempsey #175 sells for $260 against $1.94 raw: a $258 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($86.62) 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 Tom Dempsey #175 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tom Dempsey #175 (Football Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $260 versus $1.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 134× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tom Dempsey #175?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $338, ahead of PSA 10 at $260. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tom Dempsey #175 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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