![Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 (Hockey Cards 1980 O-Pee-Chee) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qX8AAeSwGN5qNtpi/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1980 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 sells for $16,217 against $169 raw: a $16,048 spread, 96× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,982) 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)
- $169
- PSA 10
- $16,217
- PSA 9
- $1,982
- Gem premium
- 96×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $16,217 | +$16,023 | +$15,998 | +$15,898 |
| PSA 9 | $1,982 | +$1,788 | +$1,763 | +$1,663 |
| PSA 8 | $380 | +$186 | +$161 | +$60.86 |
Net = sale price − $169 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% | $5,541 | +$5,321 |
| 50% | $9,099 | +$8,880 |
| 75% | $12,658 | +$12,439 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $21,082 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $16,217 | −$4,865 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $9,730 | −$11,352 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $9,730 | −$11,352 | 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.
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Grading Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 sells for $16,217 against $169 raw: a $16,048 spread, 96× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,982) 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 Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 (Hockey Cards 1980 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $16,217 versus $169 for a raw near-mint copy — a 96× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $21,082, ahead of PSA 10 at $16,217. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Messier [Error Back Says Shoots Right] #289 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.
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