Is Cris Carpenter #39 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Donruss · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Cris Carpenter #39 sells for $44.00 against $1.00 raw: a $43.00 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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)
- $1.00
- Grade 9.5
- $44.00
- PSA 9
- $39.99
- Gem premium
- 44×
- 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 | $44.00 | +$18.00 | −$7.00 | −$107 |
| PSA 9 | $39.99 | +$13.99 | −$11.01 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $1.25 | −$24.75 | −$49.75 | −$150 |
Net = sale price − $1.00 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% | $40.99 | −$10.01 |
| 50% | $42.00 | −$9.00 |
| 75% | $43.00 | −$8.00 |
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 1989 Donruss cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Cris Carpenter #39 — FAQ
Is Cris Carpenter #39 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Cris Carpenter #39 sells for $44.00 against $1.00 raw: a $43.00 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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.
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.
