Is Preston Pearson #3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1979 Stop N Go · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Preston Pearson #3 sell for $20.00, only $15.15 above the $4.85 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.50) 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)
- $4.85
- Grade 9.5
- $20.00
- PSA 9
- $18.50
- Gem premium
- 4.1×
- 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 | $20.00 | −$9.85 | −$34.85 | −$135 |
| PSA 9 | $18.50 | −$11.35 | −$36.35 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $4.85 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% | $18.88 | −$35.98 |
| 50% | $19.25 | −$35.60 |
| 75% | $19.63 | −$35.23 |
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 1979 Stop N Go cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Preston Pearson #3 — FAQ
Is Preston Pearson #3 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Preston Pearson #3 sell for $20.00, only $15.15 above the $4.85 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.50) 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 football 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.