Is Wayne Gretzky [Status] #143 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Elite · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Wayne Gretzky [Status] #143 sells for $496 against $328 raw: a $169 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($451) 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)
- $328
- Grade 9.5
- $496
- PSA 9
- $451
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $496 | +$144 | +$119 | +$18.50 |
| PSA 9 | $451 | +$98.50 | +$73.50 | −$26.50 |
| PSA 8 | $316 | −$36.72 | −$61.72 | −$162 |
Net = sale price − $328 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% | $462 | +$84.75 |
| 50% | $474 | +$96.00 |
| 75% | $485 | +$107 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 1997 Donruss Elite cards worth checking
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Grading Wayne Gretzky [Status] #143 — FAQ
Is Wayne Gretzky [Status] #143 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Wayne Gretzky [Status] #143 sells for $496 against $328 raw: a $169 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($451) 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.
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