Is Mikko Makela #44 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1988 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Mikko Makela #44 sell for $5.00, only $3.21 above the $1.79 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($4.43) 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)
- $1.79
- Grade 9.5
- $5.00
- PSA 9
- $4.43
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $5.00 | −$21.79 | −$46.79 | −$147 |
| PSA 9 | $4.43 | −$22.36 | −$47.36 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $1.79 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% | $4.57 | −$47.22 |
| 50% | $4.71 | −$47.08 |
| 75% | $4.86 | −$46.93 |
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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Grading Mikko Makela #44 — FAQ
Is Mikko Makela #44 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Mikko Makela #44 sell for $5.00, only $3.21 above the $1.79 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($4.43) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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