Is Rick MacLeish #125 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1978 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Rick MacLeish #125 sells for $29.00 against $1.30 raw: a $27.70 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.63) 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)
- $1.30
- Grade 9.5
- $29.00
- PSA 9
- $26.63
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $29.00 | +$2.70 | −$22.30 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $26.63 | +$0.33 | −$24.67 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $18.65 | −$7.65 | −$32.65 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $1.30 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% | $27.22 | −$24.08 |
| 50% | $27.81 | −$23.49 |
| 75% | $28.41 | −$22.89 |
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 Rick MacLeish #125 — FAQ
Is Rick MacLeish #125 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Rick MacLeish #125 sells for $29.00 against $1.30 raw: a $27.70 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.63) 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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