Is Mario Lemieux #97 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee Sticker · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #97 sells for $3,602 against $51.57 raw: a $3,550 spread, 70× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($455) 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)
- $51.57
- PSA 10
- $3,602
- PSA 9
- $455
- Gem premium
- 70×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $3,602 | +$3,525 | +$3,500 | +$3,400 |
| PSA 9 | $455 | +$378 | +$353 | +$253 |
| PSA 8 | $219 | +$143 | +$118 | +$17.55 |
Net = sale price − $51.57 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% | $1,241 | +$1,140 |
| 50% | $2,028 | +$1,927 |
| 75% | $2,815 | +$2,713 |
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 | $4,682 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,602 | −$1,080 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,161 | −$2,521 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,161 | −$2,521 | 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.
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Grading Mario Lemieux #97 — FAQ
Is Mario Lemieux #97 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #97 sells for $3,602 against $51.57 raw: a $3,550 spread, 70× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($455) 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 Mario Lemieux #97 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #97 (Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee Sticker) sells for about $3,602 versus $51.57 for a raw near-mint copy — a 70× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mario Lemieux #97?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,682, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,602. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mario Lemieux #97 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.
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