Is John Unitas #138 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1957 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 John Unitas #138 sells for $63,172 against $343 raw: a $62,829 spread, 184× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($9,478) 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)
- $343
- PSA 10
- $63,172
- PSA 9
- $9,478
- Gem premium
- 184×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $63,172 | +$62,804 | +$62,779 | +$62,679 |
| PSA 9 | $9,478 | +$9,109 | +$9,084 | +$8,984 |
| PSA 8 | $8,600 | +$8,232 | +$8,207 | +$8,107 |
Net = sale price − $343 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% | $22,901 | +$22,508 |
| 50% | $36,325 | +$35,932 |
| 75% | $49,749 | +$49,355 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $82,124 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $63,172 | −$18,952 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $37,903 | −$44,221 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $37,903 | −$44,221 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $63,172 | $37,903 | $82,124 | $37,903 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $17,249 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $9,478 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8,600 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $2,486 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Grading John Unitas #138 — FAQ
Is John Unitas #138 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Unitas #138 sells for $63,172 against $343 raw: a $62,829 spread, 184× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($9,478) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 John Unitas #138 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Unitas #138 (Football Cards 1957 Topps) sells for about $63,172 versus $343 for a raw near-mint copy — a 184× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Unitas #138?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $82,124, ahead of PSA 10 at $63,172. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Unitas #138 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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