Is Cal O'Reilly #51 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2009 Upper Deck Black · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Cal O'Reilly #51 sells for $391 against $63.29 raw: a $327 spread, 6.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($111) 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)
- $63.29
- PSA 10
- $391
- PSA 9
- $111
- Gem premium
- 6.2×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $391 | +$302 | +$277 | +$177 |
| PSA 9 | $111 | +$22.62 | −$2.38 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $71.94 | −$16.35 | −$41.35 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $63.29 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% | $181 | +$67.53 |
| 50% | $251 | +$137 |
| 75% | $321 | +$207 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $508 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $391 | −$117 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $234 | −$274 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $234 | −$274 | 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 2009 Upper Deck Black cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Cal O'Reilly #51 — FAQ
Is Cal O'Reilly #51 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Cal O'Reilly #51 sells for $391 against $63.29 raw: a $327 spread, 6.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($111) 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 Cal O'Reilly #51 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Cal O'Reilly #51 (Hockey Cards 2009 Upper Deck Black) sells for about $391 versus $63.29 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.2× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Cal O'Reilly #51?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $508, ahead of PSA 10 at $391. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Cal O'Reilly #51 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 Cal O'Reilly #51 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Cal O'Reilly #51 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $111).
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