Is Mel Bridgman #26 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1978 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mel Bridgman #26 sells for $47.00 against $1.29 raw: a $45.71 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.87) 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)
- $1.29
- Grade 9.5
- $47.00
- PSA 9
- $42.87
- Gem premium
- 36×
- 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 | $47.00 | +$20.71 | −$4.29 | −$104 |
| PSA 9 | $42.87 | +$16.58 | −$8.42 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $16.05 | −$10.24 | −$35.24 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $1.29 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% | $43.90 | −$7.39 |
| 50% | $44.94 | −$6.35 |
| 75% | $45.97 | −$5.32 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Mel Bridgman #26 — FAQ
Is Mel Bridgman #26 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mel Bridgman #26 sells for $47.00 against $1.29 raw: a $45.71 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.87) 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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