Is Michael Jordan #88 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck Century Legends · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #88 sells for $70.69 against $4.10 raw: a $66.59 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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)
- $4.10
- PSA 10
- $70.69
- PSA 9
- $30.00
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $70.69 | +$41.59 | +$16.59 | −$83.41 |
| PSA 9 | $30.00 | +$0.90 | −$24.10 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $24.96 | −$4.14 | −$29.14 | −$129 |
Net = sale price − $4.10 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% | $40.17 | −$13.93 |
| 50% | $50.34 | −$3.76 |
| 75% | $60.52 | +$6.42 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 59%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $92.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $70.69 | −$21.31 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $42.11 | −$49.89 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $42.00 | −$50.00 | 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.
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Grading Michael Jordan #88 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #88 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #88 sells for $70.69 against $4.10 raw: a $66.59 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Michael Jordan #88 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #88 (Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck Century Legends) sells for about $70.69 versus $4.10 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #88?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $92.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $70.69. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #88 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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.
What gem rate makes grading Michael Jordan #88 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #88 breaks even when it gems about 59% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.00).
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