Is 1985 Rookie of Year #6 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1986 Star Michael Jordan · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 1985 Rookie of Year #6 sells for $48,971 against $1,073 raw: a $47,897 spread, 46× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,514) 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)
- $1,073
- PSA 10
- $48,971
- PSA 9
- $5,514
- Gem premium
- 46×
- As of
- Nov 8, 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 | $48,971 | +$47,872 | +$47,847 | +$47,747 |
| PSA 9 | $5,514 | +$4,415 | +$4,390 | +$4,290 |
| PSA 8 | $3,232 | +$2,133 | +$2,108 | +$2,008 |
Net = sale price − $1,073 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% | $16,378 | +$15,254 |
| 50% | $27,242 | +$26,119 |
| 75% | $38,106 | +$36,983 |
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 | $63,626 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $48,943 | −$14,683 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $29,366 | −$34,260 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $19,577 | −$44,049 | 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 1985 Rookie of Year #6 — FAQ
Is 1985 Rookie of Year #6 worth grading?
A PSA 10 1985 Rookie of Year #6 sells for $48,971 against $1,073 raw: a $47,897 spread, 46× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,514) 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 1985 Rookie of Year #6 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 1985 Rookie of Year #6 (Basketball Cards 1986 Star Michael Jordan) sells for about $48,971 versus $1,073 for a raw near-mint copy — a 46× premium as of Nov 8, 2026.
Which grading company is best for 1985 Rookie of Year #6?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $63,626, ahead of PSA 10 at $48,943. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does 1985 Rookie of Year #6 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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