Is Wayne Gretzky #252 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee Sticker · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Wayne Gretzky #252 sells for $141 against $34.38 raw: a $107 spread, 4.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($128) 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)
- $34.38
- Grade 9.5
- $141
- PSA 9
- $128
- Gem premium
- 4.1×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $141 | +$81.62 | +$56.62 | −$43.38 |
| PSA 9 | $128 | +$68.38 | +$43.38 | −$56.62 |
| PSA 8 | $53.00 | −$6.38 | −$31.38 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $34.38 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% | $131 | +$46.69 |
| 50% | $134 | +$50.00 |
| 75% | $138 | +$53.31 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $141 |
| 9 | $128 |
| 8 | $53.00 |
| 7 | $41.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Wayne Gretzky #252 — FAQ
Is Wayne Gretzky #252 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Wayne Gretzky #252 sells for $141 against $34.38 raw: a $107 spread, 4.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($128) 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.
Is your hockey card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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