Is Wayne Gretzky #159 worth grading?

Hockey · Hockey Cards 2008 SP Authentic · full price guide →

Grading rarely pays for this card

Grade 9.5 copies of Wayne Gretzky #159 sell for $16.00, only $7.49 above the $8.51 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.

Raw (NM): $8.51
Grade 9.5: $16.00
PSA 9: $14.50
Gem premium: 1.9×
As of: Sep 4, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Wayne Gretzky #159: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5	$16.00	−$17.51	−$42.51	−$143
PSA 9	$14.50	−$19.01	−$44.01	−$144

Net = sale price − $8.51 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?

Wayne Gretzky #159: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gems	Expected sale	Expected net (standard fee)
25%	$14.88	−$43.63
50%	$15.25	−$43.26
75%	$15.63	−$42.88

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Full grade ladder

Raw conditions & history →

Wayne Gretzky #159 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
9.5	$16.00
9	$14.50

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Asking priceGrading fee

Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.

Other 2008 SP Authentic cards worth checking

Full set checklist →

Kyle Okposo [Autograph] #200

Raw $17.86PSA 10 $118

Steven Stamkos [Autograph Limited Patch] #247

Raw $494PSA 10 $2,730

Alex Pietrangelo [Autograph] #231

Raw $36.20PSA 10 $133

Drew Doughty [Autograph] #244

Raw $98.45PSA 10 $344

T. J. Oshie [Autograph] #243

Raw $64.86PSA 10 $196

Steven Stamkos [Autograph] #247