Is Wayne Gretzky #156 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1989 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #156 sells for $265 against $2.05 raw: a $263 spread, 129× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.61) 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)
- $2.05
- PSA 10
- $265
- PSA 9
- $35.61
- Gem premium
- 129×
- 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 | $265 | +$238 | +$213 | +$113 |
| PSA 9 | $35.61 | +$8.56 | −$16.44 | −$116 |
| PSA 8 | $17.99 | −$9.06 | −$34.06 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $2.05 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% | $92.95 | +$40.91 |
| 50% | $150 | +$98.25 |
| 75% | $208 | +$156 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 7%. 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 | $344 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $265 | −$79.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $159 | −$185 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $159 | −$185 | 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 1989 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Wayne Gretzky #156 — FAQ
Is Wayne Gretzky #156 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #156 sells for $265 against $2.05 raw: a $263 spread, 129× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.61) 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 Wayne Gretzky #156 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #156 (Hockey Cards 1989 Topps) sells for about $265 versus $2.05 for a raw near-mint copy — a 129× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Wayne Gretzky #156?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $344, ahead of PSA 10 at $265. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Wayne Gretzky #156 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 Wayne Gretzky #156 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Wayne Gretzky #156 breaks even when it gems about 7% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.61).
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.
