Is Wayne Gretzky #42 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2005 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #42 sells for $31.00 against $1.25 raw: a $29.75 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.00) 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)
- $1.25
- PSA 10
- $31.00
- PSA 9
- $27.00
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $31.00 | +$4.75 | −$20.25 | −$120 |
| PSA 9 | $27.00 | +$0.75 | −$24.25 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $24.50 | −$1.75 | −$26.75 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $1.25 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% | $28.00 | −$23.25 |
| 50% | $29.00 | −$22.25 |
| 75% | $30.00 | −$21.25 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $40.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $31.00 | −$9.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $19.00 | −$21.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $19.00 | −$21.00 | 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.
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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
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Grading Wayne Gretzky #42 — FAQ
Is Wayne Gretzky #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #42 sells for $31.00 against $1.25 raw: a $29.75 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.00) 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 Wayne Gretzky #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #42 (Hockey Cards 2005 SP Authentic) sells for about $31.00 versus $1.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 25× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Wayne Gretzky #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $40.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $31.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Wayne Gretzky #42 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.
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