![Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 (Hockey Cards 1976 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6-oAAeSwpwloi~il/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1976 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 sells for $293 against $1.99 raw: a $291 spread, 147× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.35) 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)
- $1.99
- PSA 10
- $293
- PSA 9
- $50.35
- Gem premium
- 147×
- 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 | $293 | +$266 | +$241 | +$141 |
| PSA 9 | $50.35 | +$23.36 | −$1.64 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $9.99 | −$17.00 | −$42.00 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $1.99 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% | $111 | +$59.12 |
| 50% | $172 | +$120 |
| 75% | $233 | +$181 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $381 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $293 | −$87.60 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $176 | −$205 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $176 | −$205 | 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 | $293 | $176 | $381 | $176 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $91.03 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $50.35 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $9.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1976 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![French Connection [Martin, Perreault, Robert] #214 1976 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xsEAAeSw95xqOPRI/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 — FAQ
Is Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 sells for $293 against $1.99 raw: a $291 spread, 147× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.35) 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 Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 (Hockey Cards 1976 Topps) sells for about $293 versus $1.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 147× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $381, ahead of PSA 10 at $293. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 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.
What gem rate makes grading Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Checking Line [Gainey, Jarvis, Roberts] #217 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.35).
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