Is Darren McCarty #508 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Darren McCarty #508 sells for $135 against $1.67 raw: a $133 spread, 81× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.00) 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)
- $1.67
- PSA 10
- $135
- PSA 9
- $35.00
- Gem premium
- 81×
- 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 | $135 | +$108 | +$83.32 | −$16.68 |
| PSA 9 | $35.00 | +$8.33 | −$16.67 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $8.02 | −$18.65 | −$43.65 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $1.67 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% | $60.00 | +$8.33 |
| 50% | $85.00 | +$33.33 |
| 75% | $110 | +$58.32 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 17%. 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 | $175 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $135 | −$40.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $81.00 | −$94.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $81.00 | −$94.00 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $135 | $81.00 | $175 | $81.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $35.93 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $35.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.02 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Darren McCarty #508 — FAQ
Is Darren McCarty #508 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Darren McCarty #508 sells for $135 against $1.67 raw: a $133 spread, 81× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.00) 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 Darren McCarty #508 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Darren McCarty #508 (Hockey Cards 1993 Upper Deck) sells for about $135 versus $1.67 for a raw near-mint copy — a 81× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Darren McCarty #508?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $175, ahead of PSA 10 at $135. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Darren McCarty #508 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 Darren McCarty #508 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Darren McCarty #508 breaks even when it gems about 17% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.00).
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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