Is Michael Jordan #2 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Gatorade Michael Jordan · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #2 sells for $943 against $8.32 raw: a $934 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($109) 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)
- $8.32
- PSA 10
- $943
- PSA 9
- $109
- Gem premium
- 113×
- 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 | $943 | +$909 | +$884 | +$784 |
| PSA 9 | $109 | +$75.88 | +$50.88 | −$49.12 |
| PSA 8 | $35.59 | +$2.27 | −$22.73 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $8.32 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% | $318 | +$259 |
| 50% | $526 | +$468 |
| 75% | $734 | +$676 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $1,225 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $943 | −$283 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $566 | −$659 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $566 | −$659 | 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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Other 1998 Upper Deck Gatorade Michael Jordan cards worth checking
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Grading Michael Jordan #2 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #2 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #2 sells for $943 against $8.32 raw: a $934 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($109) 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 #2 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #2 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Gatorade Michael Jordan) sells for about $943 versus $8.32 for a raw near-mint copy — a 113× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #2?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,225, ahead of PSA 10 at $943. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #2 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.
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