Is Walter Johnson #21 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1985 Woolworth · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Walter Johnson #21 brings $29.00 versus $1.59 raw — a $27.41 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.59
- Grade 9.5
- $29.00
- PSA 9
- $26.00
- Gem premium
- 18×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $29.00 | +$2.41 | −$22.59 | −$123 |
| PSA 9 | $26.00 | −$0.59 | −$25.59 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $8.99 | −$17.60 | −$42.60 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.59 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% | $26.75 | −$24.84 |
| 50% | $27.50 | −$24.09 |
| 75% | $28.25 | −$23.34 |
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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Grading Walter Johnson #21 — FAQ
Is Walter Johnson #21 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Walter Johnson #21 brings $29.00 versus $1.59 raw — a $27.41 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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