Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Championship Galaxy · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $44,968 against $4,726 raw: a $40,243 spread, 9.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,800) 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)
- $4,726
- PSA 10
- $44,968
- PSA 9
- $7,800
- Gem premium
- 9.5×
- 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 | $44,968 | +$40,218 | +$40,193 | +$40,093 |
| PSA 9 | $7,800 | +$3,050 | +$3,025 | +$2,925 |
| PSA 8 | $4,038 | −$713 | −$738 | −$838 |
Net = sale price − $4,726 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% | $17,092 | +$12,317 |
| 50% | $26,384 | +$21,609 |
| 75% | $35,676 | +$30,901 |
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 | $58,459 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $44,968 | −$13,491 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26,981 | −$31,478 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $26,981 | −$31,478 | 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 Michael Jordan #1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $44,968 against $4,726 raw: a $40,243 spread, 9.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,800) 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 Championship Galaxy) sells for about $44,968 versus $4,726 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.5× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $58,459, ahead of PSA 10 at $44,968. 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.
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