Is Jimmy Carson #9 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1988 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 35× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Jimmy Carson #9 sells for $51.00 against $1.45 raw: a $49.55 spread, 35× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($8.33) 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)
- $1.45
- PSA 10
- $51.00
- PSA 9
- $8.33
- Gem premium
- 35×
- 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 | $51.00 | +$24.55 | −$0.45 | −$100 |
| PSA 9 | $8.33 | −$18.12 | −$43.12 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.45 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% | $19.00 | −$32.45 |
| 50% | $29.66 | −$21.79 |
| 75% | $40.33 | −$11.12 |
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 | $66.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $51.00 | −$15.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $31.00 | −$35.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $31.00 | −$35.00 | 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 1988 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Jimmy Carson #9 — FAQ
Is Jimmy Carson #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Jimmy Carson #9 sells for $51.00 against $1.45 raw: a $49.55 spread, 35× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($8.33) 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 Jimmy Carson #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jimmy Carson #9 (Hockey Cards 1988 Topps) sells for about $51.00 versus $1.45 for a raw near-mint copy — a 35× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jimmy Carson #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $66.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $51.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jimmy Carson #9 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.
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.
