Is Michael Jordan #61 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2005 Fleer Greats of the Game · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #61 sells for $108 against $8.00 raw: a $100 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($98.00) 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)
- $8.00
- Grade 9.5
- $108
- PSA 9
- $98.00
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $108 | +$75.00 | +$50.00 | −$50.00 |
| PSA 9 | $98.00 | +$65.00 | +$40.00 | −$60.00 |
| PSA 8 | $88.83 | +$55.83 | +$30.83 | −$69.17 |
Net = sale price − $8.00 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% | $101 | +$42.50 |
| 50% | $103 | +$45.00 |
| 75% | $106 | +$47.50 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGC 10 | $38.00 | best | 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 →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2005 Fleer Greats of the Game cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Michael Jordan #61 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #61 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #61 sells for $108 against $8.00 raw: a $100 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($98.00) 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.
What centering does Michael Jordan #61 need for a SGC 10?
SGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball 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.
