Is Mario Lemieux #1 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1988 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #1 sells for $259 against $3.59 raw: a $256 spread, 72× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.47) 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)
- $3.59
- PSA 10
- $259
- PSA 9
- $33.47
- Gem premium
- 72×
- 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 | $259 | +$231 | +$206 | +$106 |
| PSA 9 | $33.47 | +$4.88 | −$20.12 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $17.25 | −$11.34 | −$36.34 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $3.59 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% | $89.90 | +$36.31 |
| 50% | $146 | +$92.74 |
| 75% | $203 | +$149 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 9%. 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 | $337 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $259 | −$77.81 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $156 | −$181 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $156 | −$181 | 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 | $259 | $156 | $337 | $156 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $51.47 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $33.47 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $17.25 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $14.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Mario Lemieux #1 — FAQ
Is Mario Lemieux #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #1 sells for $259 against $3.59 raw: a $256 spread, 72× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.47) 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 #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux #1 (Hockey Cards 1988 Topps) sells for about $259 versus $3.59 for a raw near-mint copy — a 72× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mario Lemieux #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $337, ahead of PSA 10 at $259. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mario Lemieux #1 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 Mario Lemieux #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mario Lemieux #1 breaks even when it gems about 9% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $33.47).
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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