Is The 1986 Playoffs #8 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1986 Star Michael Jordan · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 The 1986 Playoffs #8 sells for $67,507 against $1,150 raw: a $66,357 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,430) 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)
- $1,150
- PSA 10
- $67,507
- PSA 9
- $3,430
- Gem premium
- 59×
- As of
- Nov 8, 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 | $67,507 | +$66,332 | +$66,307 | +$66,207 |
| PSA 9 | $3,430 | +$2,255 | +$2,230 | +$2,130 |
| PSA 8 | $3,118 | +$1,943 | +$1,918 | +$1,818 |
Net = sale price − $1,150 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% | $19,449 | +$18,249 |
| 50% | $35,469 | +$34,269 |
| 75% | $51,488 | +$50,288 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $87,599 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $67,384 | −$20,215 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $40,430 | −$47,169 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26,954 | −$60,645 | 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 The 1986 Playoffs #8 — FAQ
Is The 1986 Playoffs #8 worth grading?
A PSA 10 The 1986 Playoffs #8 sells for $67,507 against $1,150 raw: a $66,357 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,430) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 The 1986 Playoffs #8 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 The 1986 Playoffs #8 (Basketball Cards 1986 Star Michael Jordan) sells for about $67,507 versus $1,150 for a raw near-mint copy — a 59× premium as of Nov 8, 2026.
Which grading company is best for The 1986 Playoffs #8?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $87,599, ahead of PSA 10 at $67,384. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does The 1986 Playoffs #8 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.
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