Is Johnny Unitas #9 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #9 sells for $79.39 against $1.62 raw: a $77.77 spread, 49× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.99) 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)
- $1.62
- PSA 10
- $79.39
- PSA 9
- $30.99
- Gem premium
- 49×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $79.39 | +$52.77 | +$27.77 | −$72.23 |
| PSA 9 | $30.99 | +$4.37 | −$20.63 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $9.20 | −$17.42 | −$42.42 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $1.62 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% | $43.09 | −$8.53 |
| 50% | $55.19 | +$3.57 |
| 75% | $67.29 | +$15.67 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 43%. 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 | $103 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $79.39 | −$23.61 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $48.00 | −$55.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $48.00 | −$55.00 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $79.39 | $48.00 | $103 | $48.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $33.57 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $30.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $9.20 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Upper Deck Legends cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Jack Kemp [Autograph] #AL-124 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/v8EAAeSwCy1p4Att/s-l500.jpg)
![Mike Webster [Autograph] #AL-176 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OcQAAOSwUGRnwNu4/s-l500.jpg)
![Ken Stabler [Autograph] #AL-166 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YsoAAeSwINxqVWD-/s-l500.jpg)
![Johnny Unitas [Autograph] #AL-9 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/q8YAAeSw6I1ogDkD/s-l500.jpg)
![Bob Trumpy [Autograph] #AL-175 1997 Upper Deck Legends card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/A0kAAOSw~6ZnFBNe/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Johnny Unitas #9 — FAQ
Is Johnny Unitas #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #9 sells for $79.39 against $1.62 raw: a $77.77 spread, 49× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.99) 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 #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #9 (Football Cards 1997 Upper Deck Legends) sells for about $79.39 versus $1.62 for a raw near-mint copy — a 49× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Johnny Unitas #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $103, ahead of PSA 10 at $79.39. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Johnny Unitas #9 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 Johnny Unitas #9 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Johnny Unitas #9 breaks even when it gems about 43% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.99).
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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