Is Eric Vail #391 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1974 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Eric Vail #391 sells for $354 against $3.80 raw: a $350 spread, 93× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.48) 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)
- $3.80
- PSA 10
- $354
- PSA 9
- $59.48
- Gem premium
- 93×
- 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 | $354 | +$325 | +$300 | +$200 |
| PSA 9 | $59.48 | +$30.68 | +$5.68 | −$94.32 |
| PSA 8 | $24.88 | −$3.92 | −$28.92 | −$129 |
Net = sale price − $3.80 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% | $133 | +$79.38 |
| 50% | $207 | +$153 |
| 75% | $281 | +$227 |
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 | $461 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $354 | −$107 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $213 | −$248 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $213 | −$248 | 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.
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Grading Eric Vail #391 — FAQ
Is Eric Vail #391 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Eric Vail #391 sells for $354 against $3.80 raw: a $350 spread, 93× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.48) 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 Eric Vail #391 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Eric Vail #391 (Hockey Cards 1974 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $354 versus $3.80 for a raw near-mint copy — a 93× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Eric Vail #391?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $461, ahead of PSA 10 at $354. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Eric Vail #391 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.
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