Is Ray Bourque #49 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee Sticker · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Ray Bourque #49 sell for $28.00, only $20.66 above the $7.34 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $7.34
- Grade 9.5
- $28.00
- PSA 9
- $25.00
- Gem premium
- 3.8×
- 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 | $28.00 | −$4.34 | −$29.34 | −$129 |
| PSA 9 | $25.00 | −$7.34 | −$32.34 | −$132 |
| PSA 8 | $22.88 | −$9.46 | −$34.46 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $7.34 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% | $25.75 | −$31.59 |
| 50% | $26.50 | −$30.84 |
| 75% | $27.25 | −$30.09 |
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 Ray Bourque #49 — FAQ
Is Ray Bourque #49 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Ray Bourque #49 sell for $28.00, only $20.66 above the $7.34 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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