Is Mark Messier #117 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1982 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #117 sells for $371 against $4.45 raw: a $367 spread, 83× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.50) 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)
- $4.45
- PSA 10
- $371
- PSA 9
- $51.50
- Gem premium
- 83×
- 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 | $371 | +$342 | +$317 | +$217 |
| PSA 9 | $51.50 | +$22.05 | −$2.95 | −$103 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$9.46 | −$34.46 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $4.45 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 | +$77.03 |
| 50% | $211 | +$157 |
| 75% | $291 | +$237 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $483 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $371 | −$112 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $223 | −$260 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $223 | −$260 | 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 | $371 | $223 | $483 | $223 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $77.45 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $51.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $19.99 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $14.91 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1982 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Wayne Gretzky [Record Breaker] #1 1982 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gqgAAeSwqqJqCPId/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [In Action] #107 1982 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fakAAeSwS89qHBvJ/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [Goal Leader] #235 1982 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OY4AAeSwfZRqT9rz/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mark Messier #117 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier #117 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #117 sells for $371 against $4.45 raw: a $367 spread, 83× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.50) 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 #117 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #117 (Hockey Cards 1982 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $371 versus $4.45 for a raw near-mint copy — a 83× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Messier #117?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $483, ahead of PSA 10 at $371. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Messier #117 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.
What gem rate makes grading Mark Messier #117 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mark Messier #117 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.50).
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