Is Mark Messier worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1988 Esso All Stars · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 26× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Mark Messier sells for $46.24 against $1.75 raw: a $44.49 spread, 26× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($14.59) 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)
- $1.75
- PSA 10
- $46.24
- PSA 9
- $14.59
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $46.24 | +$19.49 | −$5.51 | −$106 |
| PSA 9 | $14.59 | −$12.16 | −$37.16 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $1.75 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% | $22.50 | −$29.25 |
| 50% | $30.41 | −$21.34 |
| 75% | $38.33 | −$13.42 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $60.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $46.24 | −$13.76 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $28.00 | −$32.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $28.00 | −$32.00 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $46.24 | $28.00 | $60.00 | $28.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $16.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $14.59 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Mark Messier — FAQ
Is Mark Messier worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier sells for $46.24 against $1.75 raw: a $44.49 spread, 26× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($14.59) 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 Mark Messier worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mark Messier (Hockey Cards 1988 Esso All Stars) sells for about $46.24 versus $1.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mark Messier?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $60.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $46.24. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mark Messier 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.
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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