Is Tony Esposito worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1970 Topps OPC Sticker Stamps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Tony Esposito sells for $184 against $3.25 raw: a $181 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($168) 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
- Grade 9.5
- $184
- PSA 9
- $168
- Gem premium
- 57×
- 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 | $184 | +$156 | +$131 | +$30.75 |
| PSA 9 | $168 | +$139 | +$114 | +$14.25 |
| PSA 8 | $49.48 | +$21.23 | −$3.77 | −$104 |
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% | $172 | +$118 |
| 50% | $176 | +$123 |
| 75% | $180 | +$127 |
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 Tony Esposito — FAQ
Is Tony Esposito worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Tony Esposito sells for $184 against $3.25 raw: a $181 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($168) 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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