Is Phil Russell #226 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1974 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Phil Russell #226 sells for $74.00 against $1.79 raw: a $72.21 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($67.00) 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)
- $1.79
- Grade 9.5
- $74.00
- PSA 9
- $67.00
- Gem premium
- 41×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $74.00 | +$47.21 | +$22.21 | −$77.79 |
| PSA 9 | $67.00 | +$40.21 | +$15.21 | −$84.79 |
| PSA 8 | $10.78 | −$16.01 | −$41.01 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $1.79 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% | $68.75 | +$16.96 |
| 50% | $70.50 | +$18.71 |
| 75% | $72.25 | +$20.46 |
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 Phil Russell #226 — FAQ
Is Phil Russell #226 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Phil Russell #226 sells for $74.00 against $1.79 raw: a $72.21 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($67.00) 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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