Is Randy Carlyle #256 worth grading?

Hockey · Hockey Cards 1981 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →

Worth grading only if it gems

A Grade 9.5 Randy Carlyle #256 brings $27.00 versus $1.05 raw — a $25.95 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.

Raw (NM): $1.05
Grade 9.5: $27.00
PSA 9: $24.50
Gem premium: 26×
As of: Sep 3, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Randy Carlyle #256: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5	$27.00	+$0.95	−$24.05	−$124
PSA 9	$24.50	−$1.55	−$26.55	−$127
PSA 8	$8.85	−$17.20	−$42.20	−$142

Net = sale price − $1.05 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?

Randy Carlyle #256: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gems	Expected sale	Expected net (standard fee)
25%	$25.13	−$25.93
50%	$25.75	−$25.30
75%	$26.38	−$24.68

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Full grade ladder

Raw conditions & history →

Randy Carlyle #256 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
9.5	$27.00
9	$24.50
8	$8.85

Run your own numbers

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Asking priceGrading fee

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