Is Wayne Gretzky #1 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Studio Hard Hats · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #1 sells for $287 against $10.00 raw: a $277 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.54) 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)
- $10.00
- PSA 10
- $287
- PSA 9
- $54.54
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 | $287 | +$252 | +$227 | +$127 |
| PSA 9 | $54.54 | +$19.54 | −$5.46 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $26.73 | −$8.27 | −$33.27 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $10.00 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% | $113 | +$52.56 |
| 50% | $171 | +$111 |
| 75% | $229 | +$169 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 | $373 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $287 | −$86.36 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $172 | −$201 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $172 | −$201 | 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 Wayne Gretzky #1 — FAQ
Is Wayne Gretzky #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #1 sells for $287 against $10.00 raw: a $277 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.54) 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 Wayne Gretzky #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #1 (Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Studio Hard Hats) sells for about $287 versus $10.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 29× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Wayne Gretzky #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $373, ahead of PSA 10 at $287. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Wayne Gretzky #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.
What gem rate makes grading Wayne Gretzky #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Wayne Gretzky #1 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $54.54).
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