Is Mark Messier #39 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1983 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #39 sells for $375 against $2.97 raw: a $372 spread, 126× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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)
- $2.97
- PSA 10
- $375
- PSA 9
- $45.00
- Gem premium
- 126×
- 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 | $375 | +$347 | +$322 | +$222 |
| PSA 9 | $45.00 | +$17.03 | −$7.97 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $14.80 | −$13.17 | −$38.17 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $2.97 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% | $128 | +$74.53 |
| 50% | $210 | +$157 |
| 75% | $293 | +$240 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 | $488 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $375 | −$113 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $225 | −$263 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $225 | −$263 | 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 | $375 | $225 | $488 | $225 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $48.14 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $14.80 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $6.05 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1983 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
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Grading Mark Messier #39 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier #39 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #39 sells for $375 against $2.97 raw: a $372 spread, 126× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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 #39 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #39 (Hockey Cards 1983 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $375 versus $2.97 for a raw near-mint copy — a 126× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Messier #39?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $488, ahead of PSA 10 at $375. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Messier #39 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 #39 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mark Messier #39 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.00).
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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