Is Michael Jordan #19 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1994 Upper Deck MJ Rare Air · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #19 sells for $75.00 against $4.83 raw: a $70.17 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.92) 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)
- $4.83
- PSA 10
- $75.00
- PSA 9
- $39.92
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 | $75.00 | +$45.17 | +$20.17 | −$79.83 |
| PSA 9 | $39.92 | +$10.09 | −$14.91 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $9.99 | −$19.84 | −$44.84 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $4.83 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% | $48.69 | −$6.14 |
| 50% | $57.46 | +$2.63 |
| 75% | $66.23 | +$11.40 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 43%. 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 | $98.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $75.00 | −$23.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $45.00 | −$53.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $45.00 | −$53.00 | 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 1994 Upper Deck MJ Rare Air cards worth checking
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Grading Michael Jordan #19 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #19 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #19 sells for $75.00 against $4.83 raw: a $70.17 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.92) 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 #19 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #19 (Basketball Cards 1994 Upper Deck MJ Rare Air) sells for about $75.00 versus $4.83 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #19?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $98.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $75.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #19 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 #19 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #19 breaks even when it gems about 43% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.92).
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