Is Marques Johnson / Mickey Johnson / Quinn Buckner #56 worth grading?

Basketball · Basketball Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →

Worth grading only if it gems

A Grade 9.5 Marques Johnson / Mickey Johnson / Quinn Buckner #56 brings $26.00 versus $0.45 raw — a $25.55 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($23.24) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.

Raw (NM): $0.45
Grade 9.5: $26.00
PSA 9: $23.24
Gem premium: 58×
As of: Sep 4, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Marques Johnson / Mickey Johnson / Quinn Buckner #56: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5	$26.00	+$0.55	−$24.45	−$124
PSA 9	$23.24	−$2.21	−$27.21	−$127
PSA 8	$14.00	−$11.45	−$36.45	−$136

Net = sale price − $0.45 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?

Marques Johnson / Mickey Johnson / Quinn Buckner #56: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gems	Expected sale	Expected net (standard fee)
25%	$23.93	−$26.52
50%	$24.62	−$25.83
75%	$25.31	−$25.14

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 →

Marques Johnson / Mickey Johnson / Quinn Buckner #56 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
9.5	$26.00
9	$23.24
8	$14.00
7	$3.34

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Asking priceGrading fee

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