Is Bob Lanier #109 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Bob Lanier #109 sells for $29.00 against $1.25 raw: a $27.75 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.50) 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)
- $1.25
- Grade 9.5
- $29.00
- PSA 9
- $26.50
- Gem premium
- 23×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $29.00 | +$2.75 | −$22.25 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $26.50 | +$0.25 | −$24.75 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $19.95 | −$6.30 | −$31.30 | −$131 |
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% | $27.13 | −$24.13 |
| 50% | $27.75 | −$23.50 |
| 75% | $28.38 | −$22.88 |
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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Other 1981 Topps cards worth checking
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Grading Bob Lanier #109 — FAQ
Is Bob Lanier #109 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Bob Lanier #109 sells for $29.00 against $1.25 raw: a $27.75 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.50) 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.
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