Is Merlin Olsen worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1972 Sunoco Stamps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Merlin Olsen sells for $89.00 against $2.45 raw: a $86.55 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($80.77) 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)
- $2.45
- Grade 9.5
- $89.00
- PSA 9
- $80.77
- Gem premium
- 36×
- 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 | $89.00 | +$61.55 | +$36.55 | −$63.45 |
| PSA 9 | $80.77 | +$53.32 | +$28.32 | −$71.68 |
| PSA 8 | $24.03 | −$3.42 | −$28.42 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $2.45 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% | $82.83 | +$30.38 |
| 50% | $84.88 | +$32.43 |
| 75% | $86.94 | +$34.49 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 1972 Sunoco Stamps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Merlin Olsen — FAQ
Is Merlin Olsen worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Merlin Olsen sells for $89.00 against $2.45 raw: a $86.55 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($80.77) 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.
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.
