Is Johnny Unitas #3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1981 TCMA Greats · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Johnny Unitas #3 sell for $6.00, only $3.53 above the $2.47 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($5.00) 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)
- $2.47
- Grade 9.5
- $6.00
- PSA 9
- $5.00
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- 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 | $6.00 | −$21.47 | −$46.47 | −$146 |
| PSA 9 | $5.00 | −$22.47 | −$47.47 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $2.47 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% | $5.25 | −$47.22 |
| 50% | $5.50 | −$46.97 |
| 75% | $5.75 | −$46.72 |
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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Other 1981 TCMA Greats cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Johnny Unitas #3 — FAQ
Is Johnny Unitas #3 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Johnny Unitas #3 sell for $6.00, only $3.53 above the $2.47 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($5.00) 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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