Is Magic Johnson #48A-MJ worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2009 Bowman '48 Autograph · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #48A-MJ brings $229 versus $157 raw — a $71.77 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($135) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $157
- PSA 10
- $229
- PSA 9
- $135
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- 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 | $229 | +$46.77 | +$21.77 | −$78.23 |
| PSA 9 | $135 | −$47.13 | −$72.13 | −$172 |
Net = sale price − $157 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% | $158 | −$48.66 |
| 50% | $182 | −$25.18 |
| 75% | $205 | −$1.70 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 77%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $298 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $229 | −$69.10 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $137 | −$161 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $137 | −$161 | 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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Grading Magic Johnson #48A-MJ — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #48A-MJ worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #48A-MJ brings $229 versus $157 raw — a $71.77 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($135) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Magic Johnson #48A-MJ worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #48A-MJ (Basketball Cards 2009 Bowman '48 Autograph) sells for about $229 versus $157 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.5× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson #48A-MJ?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $298, ahead of PSA 10 at $229. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic Johnson #48A-MJ 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.
What gem rate makes grading Magic Johnson #48A-MJ break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magic Johnson #48A-MJ breaks even when it gems about 77% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $135).
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