Is Mark Messier #261 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1984 O-Pee-Chee Sticker · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mark Messier #261 sells for $72.00 against $4.43 raw: a $67.57 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.00) 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)
- $4.43
- Grade 9.5
- $72.00
- PSA 9
- $65.00
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $72.00 | +$42.57 | +$17.57 | −$82.43 |
| PSA 9 | $65.00 | +$35.57 | +$10.57 | −$89.43 |
| PSA 8 | $13.50 | −$15.93 | −$40.93 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $4.43 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% | $66.75 | +$12.32 |
| 50% | $68.50 | +$14.07 |
| 75% | $70.25 | +$15.82 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1984 O-Pee-Chee Sticker cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Wayne Gretzky [Foil] #138 1984 O-Pee-Chee Sticker card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2bYAAOSwUQlnLx~e/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mark Messier #261 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier #261 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mark Messier #261 sells for $72.00 against $4.43 raw: a $67.57 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.00) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your hockey card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
