Is Ernie Wakely #97 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1970 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ernie Wakely #97 sells for $448 against $3.25 raw: a $445 spread, 138× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($145) 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)
- $3.25
- PSA 10
- $448
- PSA 9
- $145
- Gem premium
- 138×
- 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 | $448 | +$420 | +$395 | +$295 |
| PSA 9 | $145 | +$116 | +$91.25 | −$8.75 |
| PSA 8 | $92.56 | +$64.31 | +$39.31 | −$60.69 |
Net = sale price − $3.25 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% | $220 | +$167 |
| 50% | $296 | +$243 |
| 75% | $372 | +$319 |
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 | $583 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $448 | −$135 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $269 | −$314 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $269 | −$314 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1970 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Bobby Orr [Conn Smythe] #252 1970 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DewAAeSw0l9pgWx0/s-l500.jpg)
![Bobby Orr [Art Ross Trophy] #249 1970 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NGgAAeSwY21ojjBK/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Ernie Wakely #97 — FAQ
Is Ernie Wakely #97 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ernie Wakely #97 sells for $448 against $3.25 raw: a $445 spread, 138× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($145) 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 Ernie Wakely #97 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ernie Wakely #97 (Hockey Cards 1970 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $448 versus $3.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 138× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ernie Wakely #97?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $583, ahead of PSA 10 at $448. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ernie Wakely #97 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your hockey card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
