Is Johnny Unitas #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1961 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #1 sells for $6,878 against $24.26 raw: a $6,854 spread, 284× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,927) 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)
- $24.26
- PSA 10
- $6,878
- PSA 9
- $3,927
- Gem premium
- 284×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $6,878 | +$6,829 | +$6,804 | +$6,704 |
| PSA 9 | $3,927 | +$3,877 | +$3,852 | +$3,752 |
| PSA 8 | $668 | +$618 | +$593 | +$493 |
Net = sale price − $24.26 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% | $4,664 | +$4,590 |
| 50% | $5,402 | +$5,328 |
| 75% | $6,140 | +$6,066 |
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 | $8,942 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $6,878 | −$2,064 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $4,127 | −$4,815 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $4,127 | −$4,815 | 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.
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Grading Johnny Unitas #1 — FAQ
Is Johnny Unitas #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #1 sells for $6,878 against $24.26 raw: a $6,854 spread, 284× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,927) 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 Johnny Unitas #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #1 (Football Cards 1961 Topps) sells for about $6,878 versus $24.26 for a raw near-mint copy — a 284× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Johnny Unitas #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $8,942, ahead of PSA 10 at $6,878. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Johnny Unitas #1 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.
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