Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Planet Metal · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $9,769 against $1,415 raw: a $8,354 spread, 6.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,565) 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)
- $1,415
- PSA 10
- $9,769
- PSA 9
- $2,565
- Gem premium
- 6.9×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $9,769 | +$8,329 | +$8,304 | +$8,204 |
| PSA 9 | $2,565 | +$1,125 | +$1,100 | +$1,000 |
| PSA 8 | $2,000 | +$560 | +$535 | +$435 |
Net = sale price − $1,415 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% | $4,366 | +$2,901 |
| 50% | $6,167 | +$4,702 |
| 75% | $7,968 | +$6,503 |
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 | $12,700 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $9,769 | −$2,931 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $5,861 | −$6,839 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $5,861 | −$6,839 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $9,769 | $5,861 | $12,700 | $5,861 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $4,275 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $2,565 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $2,000 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $1,267 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Grading Michael Jordan #1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $9,769 against $1,415 raw: a $8,354 spread, 6.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,565) 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 #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Planet Metal) sells for about $9,769 versus $1,415 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.9× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $12,700, ahead of PSA 10 at $9,769. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #1 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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