Is Clint Malarchuk #170 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1989 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Clint Malarchuk #170 sell for $24.00, only $21.89 above the $2.11 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.83) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.11
- Grade 9.5
- $24.00
- PSA 9
- $21.83
- Gem premium
- 11×
- As of
- Sep 2, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $24.00 | −$3.11 | −$28.11 | −$128 |
| PSA 9 | $21.83 | −$5.28 | −$30.28 | −$130 |
| PSA 8 | $0.99 | −$26.12 | −$51.12 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $2.11 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% | $22.37 | −$29.74 |
| 50% | $22.91 | −$29.20 |
| 75% | $23.46 | −$28.65 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Clint Malarchuk #170 — FAQ
Is Clint Malarchuk #170 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Clint Malarchuk #170 sell for $24.00, only $21.89 above the $2.11 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($21.83) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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