Is Jay Buhner #581 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Donruss · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Jay Buhner #581 sell for $21.00, only $20.22 above the $0.78 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.98) 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)
- $0.78
- Grade 9.5
- $21.00
- PSA 9
- $18.98
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 | $21.00 | −$4.78 | −$29.78 | −$130 |
| PSA 9 | $18.98 | −$6.80 | −$31.80 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $0.78 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% | $19.48 | −$31.30 |
| 50% | $19.99 | −$30.79 |
| 75% | $20.50 | −$30.29 |
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 →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1989 Donruss cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Jay Buhner #581 — FAQ
Is Jay Buhner #581 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Jay Buhner #581 sell for $21.00, only $20.22 above the $0.78 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.98) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your baseball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
