Is Michael Jordan #S1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck Retro Old School, New School · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #S1 sells for $193 against $21.05 raw: a $172 spread, 9.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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)
- $21.05
- Grade 9.5
- $193
- PSA 9
- $175
- Gem premium
- 9.2×
- 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 | $193 | +$147 | +$122 | +$21.95 |
| PSA 9 | $175 | +$129 | +$104 | +$3.95 |
| PSA 8 | $23.00 | −$23.05 | −$48.05 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $21.05 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% | $180 | +$108 |
| 50% | $184 | +$113 |
| 75% | $189 | +$117 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 1999 Upper Deck Retro Old School, New School cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Michael Jordan #S1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #S1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #S1 sells for $193 against $21.05 raw: a $172 spread, 9.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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.
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