Is Carol Vadnais #145 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Carol Vadnais #145 sells for $358 against $1.30 raw: a $357 spread, 275× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($325) 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
- $358
- PSA 9
- $325
- Gem premium
- 275×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $358 | +$332 | +$307 | +$207 |
| PSA 9 | $325 | +$299 | +$274 | +$174 |
| PSA 8 | $89.75 | +$63.45 | +$38.45 | −$61.55 |
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% | $333 | +$282 |
| 50% | $342 | +$290 |
| 75% | $350 | +$298 |
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 Carol Vadnais #145 — FAQ
Is Carol Vadnais #145 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Carol Vadnais #145 sells for $358 against $1.30 raw: a $357 spread, 275× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($325) 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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