Is Magic, Bird #MB1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1993 Hoops · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magic, Bird #MB1 sells for $81.97 against $1.61 raw: a $80.36 spread, 51× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.55) 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)
- $1.61
- PSA 10
- $81.97
- PSA 9
- $27.55
- Gem premium
- 51×
- 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 | $81.97 | +$55.36 | +$30.36 | −$69.64 |
| PSA 9 | $27.55 | +$0.94 | −$24.06 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $17.62 | −$8.99 | −$33.99 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $1.61 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% | $41.16 | −$10.45 |
| 50% | $54.76 | +$3.15 |
| 75% | $68.36 | +$16.75 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 44%. 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 | $107 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $81.97 | −$25.03 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $49.00 | −$58.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $49.00 | −$58.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $81.97 | $49.00 | $107 | $49.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $30.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $27.55 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $17.62 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $8.21 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1993 Hoops cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Magic, Bird [5th Anniversary Gold] #MB1 1993 Hoops card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jikAAeSwSdhqA9e8/s-l500.jpg)
![Shaquille O'Neal [5th Anniversary Gold] #155 1993 Hoops card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kSIAAeSwJrVqTj5C/s-l500.jpg)
![East NBA All-Star Team [5th Anniversary Gold] #281 1993 Hoops card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ry4AAeSwMm1qN1Ql/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [5th Anniversary Gold] #257 1993 Hoops card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CpwAAOSwIXxmsnhA/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Magic, Bird #MB1 — FAQ
Is Magic, Bird #MB1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic, Bird #MB1 sells for $81.97 against $1.61 raw: a $80.36 spread, 51× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.55) 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 Magic, Bird #MB1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic, Bird #MB1 (Basketball Cards 1993 Hoops) sells for about $81.97 versus $1.61 for a raw near-mint copy — a 51× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic, Bird #MB1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $107, ahead of PSA 10 at $81.97. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic, Bird #MB1 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 Magic, Bird #MB1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magic, Bird #MB1 breaks even when it gems about 44% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $27.55).
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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