Is Gary Croteau #52 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1977 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Gary Croteau #52 sells for $59.00 against $1.59 raw: a $57.41 spread, 37× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.90) 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)
- $1.59
- Grade 9.5
- $59.00
- PSA 9
- $53.90
- Gem premium
- 37×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $59.00 | +$32.41 | +$7.41 | −$92.59 |
| PSA 9 | $53.90 | +$27.31 | +$2.31 | −$97.69 |
Net = sale price − $1.59 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% | $55.17 | +$3.58 |
| 50% | $56.45 | +$4.86 |
| 75% | $57.73 | +$6.13 |
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 Gary Croteau #52 — FAQ
Is Gary Croteau #52 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Gary Croteau #52 sells for $59.00 against $1.59 raw: a $57.41 spread, 37× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.90) 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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