Is Mark Messier [1st Day Issue] #35 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1993 Stadium Club · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mark Messier [1st Day Issue] #35 sells for $143 against $10.09 raw: a $133 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($130) 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)
- $10.09
- Grade 9.5
- $143
- PSA 9
- $130
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $143 | +$108 | +$82.91 | −$17.09 |
| PSA 9 | $130 | +$94.90 | +$69.90 | −$30.10 |
Net = sale price − $10.09 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% | $133 | +$73.15 |
| 50% | $136 | +$76.41 |
| 75% | $140 | +$79.66 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $143 |
| 9 | $130 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1993 Stadium Club cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Brett Hull [Members Only] #65 1993 Stadium Club card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SH8AAOSwdyRkKFgx/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [1st Day Issue] #200 1993 Stadium Club card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UugAAeSwDDdqVXvf/s-l500.jpg)
![Patrick Roy [1st Day Issue] #231 1993 Stadium Club card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tq4AAeSw9nlpfB5M/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mark Messier [1st Day Issue] #35 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier [1st Day Issue] #35 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mark Messier [1st Day Issue] #35 sells for $143 against $10.09 raw: a $133 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($130) 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.
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.
Check my card free