Is Dave LaPoint #551 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1986 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Dave LaPoint #551 brings $27.00 versus $1.25 raw — a $25.75 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.25
- Grade 9.5
- $27.00
- PSA 9
- $24.95
- Gem premium
- 22×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $27.00 | +$0.75 | −$24.25 | −$124 |
| PSA 9 | $24.95 | −$1.30 | −$26.30 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $5.46 | −$20.79 | −$45.79 | −$146 |
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% | $25.46 | −$25.79 |
| 50% | $25.98 | −$25.27 |
| 75% | $26.49 | −$24.76 |
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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Grading Dave LaPoint #551 — FAQ
Is Dave LaPoint #551 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Dave LaPoint #551 brings $27.00 versus $1.25 raw — a $25.75 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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