Is Mark Messier #118 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #118 sells for $318 against $3.51 raw: a $315 spread, 91× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($174) 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)
- $3.51
- PSA 10
- $318
- PSA 9
- $174
- Gem premium
- 91×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $318 | +$290 | +$265 | +$165 |
| PSA 9 | $174 | +$145 | +$120 | +$20.49 |
| PSA 8 | $51.57 | +$23.06 | −$1.94 | −$102 |
Net = sale price − $3.51 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% | $210 | +$157 |
| 50% | $246 | +$193 |
| 75% | $282 | +$229 |
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 | $414 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $318 | −$95.60 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $191 | −$223 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $191 | −$223 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $318 | $191 | $414 | $191 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $253 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $174 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $51.57 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $35.73 |
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 Mark Messier #118 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier #118 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #118 sells for $318 against $3.51 raw: a $315 spread, 91× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($174) 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 #118 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #118 (Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $318 versus $3.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 91× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Messier #118?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $414, ahead of PSA 10 at $318. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Messier #118 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.
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.
Check my card free