Is Pat LaFontaine #2 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1986 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 91× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Pat LaFontaine #2 sells for $82.17 against $0.90 raw: a $81.27 spread, 91× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.24) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.90
- PSA 10
- $82.17
- PSA 9
- $18.24
- Gem premium
- 91×
- 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 | $82.17 | +$56.27 | +$31.27 | −$68.73 |
| PSA 9 | $18.24 | −$7.66 | −$32.66 | −$133 |
| PSA 8 | $15.00 | −$10.90 | −$35.90 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $0.90 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% | $34.22 | −$16.68 |
| 50% | $50.20 | −$0.70 |
| 75% | $66.19 | +$15.29 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 51%. 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 | $107 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $82.17 | −$24.83 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $49.00 | −$58.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $49.00 | −$58.00 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1986 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pat LaFontaine #2 — FAQ
Is Pat LaFontaine #2 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pat LaFontaine #2 sells for $82.17 against $0.90 raw: a $81.27 spread, 91× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.24) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Pat LaFontaine #2 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pat LaFontaine #2 (Hockey Cards 1986 Topps) sells for about $82.17 versus $0.90 for a raw near-mint copy — a 91× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pat LaFontaine #2?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $107, ahead of PSA 10 at $82.17. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pat LaFontaine #2 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 Pat LaFontaine #2 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pat LaFontaine #2 breaks even when it gems about 51% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $18.24).
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.
