Is Lafayette Lever #5 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1983 Star All Rookies · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Lafayette Lever #5 sells for $57.00 against $9.95 raw: a $47.05 spread, 5.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.98) 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)
- $9.95
- Grade 9.5
- $57.00
- PSA 9
- $51.98
- Gem premium
- 5.7×
- 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 | $57.00 | +$22.05 | −$2.95 | −$103 |
| PSA 9 | $51.98 | +$17.03 | −$7.97 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $40.00 | +$5.05 | −$19.95 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $9.95 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% | $53.23 | −$6.72 |
| 50% | $54.49 | −$5.46 |
| 75% | $55.74 | −$4.20 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Other 1983 Star All Rookies cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Lafayette Lever #5 — FAQ
Is Lafayette Lever #5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Lafayette Lever #5 sells for $57.00 against $9.95 raw: a $47.05 spread, 5.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.98) 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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