Is John Smiley #39 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1987 Donruss Rookies · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of John Smiley #39 sell for $14.00, only $12.66 above the $1.34 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.89) 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)
- $1.34
- Grade 9.5
- $14.00
- PSA 9
- $12.89
- Gem premium
- 10×
- 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 | $14.00 | −$12.34 | −$37.34 | −$137 |
| PSA 9 | $12.89 | −$13.45 | −$38.45 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $1.34 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% | $13.17 | −$38.17 |
| 50% | $13.45 | −$37.89 |
| 75% | $13.72 | −$37.62 |
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 1987 Donruss Rookies cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading John Smiley #39 — FAQ
Is John Smiley #39 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of John Smiley #39 sell for $14.00, only $12.66 above the $1.34 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.89) 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.
