Is Bill Red Hay #35 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1961 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Bill Red Hay #35 sells for $221 against $7.40 raw: a $214 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($201) 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)
- $7.40
- Grade 9.5
- $221
- PSA 9
- $201
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $221 | +$189 | +$164 | +$63.60 |
| PSA 9 | $201 | +$168 | +$143 | +$43.10 |
| PSA 8 | $37.38 | +$4.98 | −$20.02 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $7.40 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% | $206 | +$148 |
| 50% | $211 | +$153 |
| 75% | $216 | +$158 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Bill Red Hay #35 — FAQ
Is Bill Red Hay #35 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Bill Red Hay #35 sells for $221 against $7.40 raw: a $214 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($201) 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.
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