Is Michael Jordan #156 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #156 sells for $115 against $3.61 raw: a $111 spread, 32× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.55) 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)
- $3.61
- PSA 10
- $115
- PSA 9
- $34.55
- Gem premium
- 32×
- 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 | $115 | +$86.30 | +$61.30 | −$38.70 |
| PSA 9 | $34.55 | +$5.94 | −$19.06 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $22.62 | −$5.99 | −$30.99 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $3.61 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% | $54.64 | +$1.03 |
| 50% | $74.73 | +$21.12 |
| 75% | $94.82 | +$41.21 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. 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 | $149 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $115 | −$34.09 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $69.00 | −$80.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $69.00 | −$80.00 | 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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Other 1998 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Michael Jordan #156 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #156 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #156 sells for $115 against $3.61 raw: a $111 spread, 32× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.55) 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 #156 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #156 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend) sells for about $115 versus $3.61 for a raw near-mint copy — a 32× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #156?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $149, ahead of PSA 10 at $115. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #156 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 #156 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #156 breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $34.55).
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