Is Mark Messier #177 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #177 sells for $272 against $3.96 raw: a $268 spread, 69× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.88) 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)
- $3.96
- PSA 10
- $272
- PSA 9
- $38.88
- Gem premium
- 69×
- 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 | $272 | +$243 | +$218 | +$118 |
| PSA 9 | $38.88 | +$9.92 | −$15.08 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $23.49 | −$5.47 | −$30.47 | −$130 |
Net = sale price − $3.96 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% | $97.15 | +$43.19 |
| 50% | $155 | +$101 |
| 75% | $214 | +$160 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. 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 | $354 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $272 | −$82.04 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $163 | −$191 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $163 | −$191 | 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 | $272 | $163 | $354 | $163 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $85.02 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $38.88 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $23.49 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $11.21 |
Run your own numbers
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
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Grading Mark Messier #177 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier #177 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #177 sells for $272 against $3.96 raw: a $268 spread, 69× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.88) 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 #177 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier #177 (Hockey Cards 1985 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $272 versus $3.96 for a raw near-mint copy — a 69× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Messier #177?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $354, ahead of PSA 10 at $272. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Messier #177 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 #177 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mark Messier #177 breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.88).
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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