Is Billy Smith #17 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1988 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Billy Smith #17 sells for $53.48 against $1.08 raw: a $52.40 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.99) 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)
- $1.08
- PSA 10
- $53.48
- PSA 9
- $26.99
- Gem premium
- 50×
- 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 | $53.48 | +$27.40 | +$2.40 | −$97.60 |
| PSA 9 | $26.99 | +$0.91 | −$24.09 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $1.08 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% | $33.61 | −$17.47 |
| 50% | $40.23 | −$10.84 |
| 75% | $46.86 | −$4.22 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 91%. 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 | $70.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $53.48 | −$16.52 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $32.00 | −$38.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $32.00 | −$38.00 | 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.
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Grading Billy Smith #17 — FAQ
Is Billy Smith #17 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Billy Smith #17 sells for $53.48 against $1.08 raw: a $52.40 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.99) 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 Billy Smith #17 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Billy Smith #17 (Hockey Cards 1988 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $53.48 versus $1.08 for a raw near-mint copy — a 50× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Billy Smith #17?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $70.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $53.48. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Billy Smith #17 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 Billy Smith #17 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Billy Smith #17 breaks even when it gems about 91% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $26.99).
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