MidpointCard Centering Grading Portfolio App

Is Mike Macfarlane #479 worth grading?

Baseball · Baseball Cards 1989 Topps · full price guide →

Grading rarely pays for this card

Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Macfarlane #479 sell for $12.00, only $10.93 above the $1.07 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.00) 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)
$1.07
Grade 9.5
$12.00
PSA 9
$11.00
Gem premium
11×
As of
Sep 3, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Mike Macfarlane #479: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…Sells forEconomy / bulk (~$25.00)Standard (~$50.00)Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5$12.00−$14.07−$39.07−$139
PSA 9$11.00−$15.07−$40.07−$140
PSA 8$9.99−$16.08−$41.08−$141

Net = sale price − $1.07 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?

Mike Macfarlane #479: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gemsExpected saleExpected net (standard fee)
25%$11.25−$39.82
50%$11.50−$39.57
75%$11.75−$39.32

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Mike Macfarlane #479 graded prices by company and grade
GradeGraded
9.5$12.00
9$11.00
8$9.99

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.

Other 1989 Topps cards worth checking

Full set checklist

Grading Mike Macfarlane #479 — FAQ

Is Mike Macfarlane #479 worth grading?

Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Macfarlane #479 sell for $12.00, only $10.93 above the $1.07 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.00) 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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Or try it on the web →

Best on iPhone & Android

The full Midpoint experience is in the app

Scan with your camera, get AI grades with corner and edge close-ups, issue Grade Certificates, set price alerts, track your portfolio and talk to other collectors — everything here, plus the parts a browser can't do. Free to start.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play