Is Al Smith #27 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Al Smith #27 sells for $346 against $2.57 raw: a $343 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($176) 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)
- $2.57
- PSA 10
- $346
- PSA 9
- $176
- Gem premium
- 134×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $346 | +$318 | +$293 | +$193 |
| PSA 9 | $176 | +$149 | +$124 | +$23.75 |
| PSA 8 | $31.30 | +$3.73 | −$21.27 | −$121 |
Net = sale price − $2.57 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% | $219 | +$166 |
| 50% | $261 | +$208 |
| 75% | $303 | +$251 |
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 | $449 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $346 | −$103 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $207 | −$242 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $207 | −$242 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $346 | $207 | $449 | $207 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $194 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $176 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $31.30 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $29.37 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1971 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
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Grading Al Smith #27 — FAQ
Is Al Smith #27 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Al Smith #27 sells for $346 against $2.57 raw: a $343 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($176) 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 Al Smith #27 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Al Smith #27 (Hockey Cards 1971 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $346 versus $2.57 for a raw near-mint copy — a 134× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Al Smith #27?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $449, ahead of PSA 10 at $346. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Al Smith #27 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.
Is your hockey card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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