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JOHNNY UNITAS
1957 TOPPS
Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition
View sold images on eBay1957 Topps Johnny Unitas #138
The rookie card of Johnny Unitas, considered the greatest quarterback before Brady. Unitas led the Colts to championships and popularized the modern quarterback position.
Player
Johnny Unitas
Year
1957
Set
1957 Topps
Card #
138
Sport
Football
Type
Rookie Card
Market Value (Based on Sold Data)
Based on public auction recordsSource: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026
Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.
Grade-by-Grade Pricing
Values based on recent eBay sold listings and auction results
| PSA Grade | Label | Market Value | Pop. | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PSA 1 | Poor | $100–$250 | — | → |
PSA 2 | Good | $250–$500 | — | → |
PSA 3 | Very Good | $500–$1,200 | — | → |
PSA 4 | VG-EX | $1,200–$2,500 | — | ↑ |
PSA 5 | Excellent | $2,500–$5,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 6 | EX-MT | $5,000–$10,000 | — | ↑ |
PSA 7Best Value | Near Mint | $10,000–$20,000 | 280 | ↑ |
PSA 8 | NM-MT | $25,000–$60,000 | 65 | ↑ |
PSA 9 | Mint | $80,000+ | 5 | ↑ |
Source: eBay Sold Comps / Heritage Auctions · Unitas 1957 Topps RC — the gold standard vintage football card pre-Brady era.
PSA Population Report
Total Graded
2,800
PSA 10 Count
0
PSA 9 Count
5
Gem Rate
0%
Grade Distribution
Gem Rate (% achieving PSA 10): 0% — Extremely difficult to gem.
Notable Sales
| Price | Grade | Date | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $132,000Record | PSA 9 | Aug 2021 | Heritage Auctions | Pop 5 in PSA 9; Unitas defined the modern QB position |
| $52,000 | PSA 8 | May 2023 | PWCC | PSA 8 benchmark for the Unitas RC |
Figures sourced from publicly reported auction results. Private sales may exceed.
PSA vs BGS vs SGC
Professional Sports Authenticators
- +Most liquid — highest resale demand
- +Largest population database
- +Vintage specialists
- +Most recognized globally
- −Slowest turnaround at economy tier
- −No subgrades on base service
Best for: Vintage, high-value singles, resale liquidity
Beckett Grading Services
- +Subgrades reveal exact condition
- +BGS 9.5 Black Label = highest premium
- +Preferred for modern parallels
- +Slab design seen as premium
- −Less liquid than PSA for vintage
- −Stricter centering = harder to get 10
Best for: Modern parallels, autographs, centering-first cards
Sportscard Guaranty Corporation
- +Faster turnaround than PSA/BGS
- +Lower cost at economy tier
- +Growing collector base
- +Good for tobacco/pre-war
- −Lower premium than PSA on most cards
- −Smaller population database
Best for: Pre-war, tobacco cards, budget-conscious grading
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