![Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 (Hockey Cards 1971 O-Pee-Chee) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xQsAAeSwL15pV9B-/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1971 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 sells for $2,025 against $15.89 raw: a $2,009 spread, 127× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($698) 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)
- $15.89
- PSA 10
- $2,025
- PSA 9
- $698
- Gem premium
- 127×
- 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 | $2,025 | +$1,984 | +$1,959 | +$1,859 |
| PSA 9 | $698 | +$657 | +$632 | +$532 |
| PSA 8 | $156 | +$115 | +$90.16 | −$9.84 |
Net = sale price − $15.89 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% | $1,030 | +$964 |
| 50% | $1,362 | +$1,296 |
| 75% | $1,694 | +$1,628 |
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 | $2,633 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,025 | −$608 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,215 | −$1,418 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,215 | −$1,418 | 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 | $2,025 | $1,215 | $2,633 | $1,215 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $768 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $698 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $156 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $71.79 |
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
Full set checklist →
Grading Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 — FAQ
Is Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 sells for $2,025 against $15.89 raw: a $2,009 spread, 127× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($698) 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 Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 (Hockey Cards 1971 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $2,025 versus $15.89 for a raw near-mint copy — a 127× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,633, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,025. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Gordie Howe [Retirement Special] #262 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.
Check my card free