Is Ray Bourque #1 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #1 sells for $1,090 against $3.62 raw: a $1,086 spread, 301× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($310) 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)
- $3.62
- PSA 10
- $1,090
- PSA 9
- $310
- Gem premium
- 301×
- 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 | $1,090 | +$1,061 | +$1,036 | +$936 |
| PSA 9 | $310 | +$281 | +$256 | +$156 |
| PSA 8 | $38.25 | +$9.63 | −$15.37 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $3.62 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% | $505 | +$451 |
| 50% | $700 | +$646 |
| 75% | $895 | +$841 |
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 | $1,417 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,090 | −$327 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $654 | −$763 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $654 | −$763 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1981 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Wayne Gretzky [Assists Leader] #383 1981 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OqwAAeSwjqtpVzQR/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Ray Bourque #1 — FAQ
Is Ray Bourque #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #1 sells for $1,090 against $3.62 raw: a $1,086 spread, 301× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($310) 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 Ray Bourque #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #1 (Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $1,090 versus $3.62 for a raw near-mint copy — a 301× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ray Bourque #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,417, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,090. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ray Bourque #1 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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