Is Daryl Johnston #137 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 43× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Daryl Johnston #137 sells for $73.40 against $1.69 raw: a $71.71 spread, 43× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.53) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.69
- PSA 10
- $73.40
- PSA 9
- $17.53
- Gem premium
- 43×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $73.40 | +$46.71 | +$21.71 | −$78.29 |
| PSA 9 | $17.53 | −$9.16 | −$34.16 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $8.67 | −$18.02 | −$43.02 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.69 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% | $31.50 | −$20.19 |
| 50% | $45.47 | −$6.22 |
| 75% | $59.43 | +$7.74 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 61%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $95.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $73.40 | −$21.60 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $44.00 | −$51.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $44.00 | −$51.00 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Metal Universe cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Barry Sanders [Precious Metal Gems] #162 1997 Metal Universe card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AAwAAeSwXn5paOIX/s-l500.jpg)
![Brett Favre [Precious Metal Gems] #156 1997 Metal Universe card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mtwAAeSwI6dpsYDS/s-l500.jpg)
![Steve Young [Precious Metal Gems] #27 1997 Metal Universe card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SZ4AAeSwRTtqZWzO/s-l500.jpg)
![Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 1997 Metal Universe card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LcoAAeSw7sJqRn3K/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Daryl Johnston #137 — FAQ
Is Daryl Johnston #137 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Daryl Johnston #137 sells for $73.40 against $1.69 raw: a $71.71 spread, 43× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.53) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Daryl Johnston #137 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Daryl Johnston #137 (Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe) sells for about $73.40 versus $1.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 43× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Daryl Johnston #137?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $95.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $73.40. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Daryl Johnston #137 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.
What gem rate makes grading Daryl Johnston #137 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Daryl Johnston #137 breaks even when it gems about 61% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $17.53).
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.
