Is Mario Lemieux #9 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #9 sells for $34,816 against $219 raw: a $34,596 spread, 159× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,961) 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)
- $219
- PSA 10
- $34,816
- PSA 9
- $3,961
- Gem premium
- 159×
- As of
- Sep 18, 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 | $34,816 | +$34,571 | +$34,546 | +$34,446 |
| PSA 9 | $3,961 | +$3,717 | +$3,692 | +$3,592 |
| PSA 8 | $1,137 | +$893 | +$868 | +$768 |
Net = sale price − $219 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% | $11,675 | +$11,405 |
| 50% | $19,388 | +$19,119 |
| 75% | $27,102 | +$26,833 |
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 | $40,100 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $34,816 | −$5,284 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $20,889 | −$19,211 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $17,500 | −$22,600 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1985 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Mario Lemieux [Rookie Scoring Leaders] #262 1985 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XowAAeSw909qTm6o/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [Assists Leaders] #258 1985 O-Pee-Chee card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/poYAAeSw4VVqURI7/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mario Lemieux #9 — FAQ
Is Mario Lemieux #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #9 sells for $34,816 against $219 raw: a $34,596 spread, 159× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,961) 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 #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #9 (Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $34,816 versus $219 for a raw near-mint copy — a 159× premium as of Sep 18, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mario Lemieux #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $40,100, ahead of PSA 10 at $34,816. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mario Lemieux #9 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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