![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Rock Stars) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LMgAAeSwRZpqTYtr/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Rock Stars · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 sells for $13,008 against $1,600 raw: a $11,408 spread, 8.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,900) 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)
- $1,600
- PSA 10
- $13,008
- PSA 9
- $3,900
- Gem premium
- 8.1×
- 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 | $13,008 | +$11,383 | +$11,358 | +$11,258 |
| PSA 9 | $3,900 | +$2,276 | +$2,251 | +$2,151 |
| PSA 8 | $1,907 | +$282 | +$257 | +$157 |
Net = sale price − $1,600 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% | $6,177 | +$4,527 |
| 50% | $8,454 | +$6,804 |
| 75% | $10,731 | +$9,081 |
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 | $16,910 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $13,008 | −$3,902 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $7,805 | −$9,105 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $7,805 | −$9,105 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Rock Stars cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Tim Hardaway [Refractor] #RS8 1997 Topps Rock Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3AUAAeSw65JqIQYf/s-l500.jpg)
![Charles Barkley [Refractor] #RS4 1997 Topps Rock Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/c3YAAeSwxONqn1UG/s-l500.jpg)
![Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #RS14 1997 Topps Rock Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RxAAAeSwz0JqlTnO/s-l500.jpg)
![Gary Payton [Refractor] #RS9 1997 Topps Rock Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/srQAAeSwU0FqneMI/s-l500.jpg)
![Scottie Pippen [Refractor] #RS20 1997 Topps Rock Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lusAAeSwpfhqkb4B/s-l500.jpg)
![Kevin Garnett [Refractor] #RS12 1997 Topps Rock Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bPcAAeSwvRxqQ9Pc/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 sells for $13,008 against $1,600 raw: a $11,408 spread, 8.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,900) 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 [Refractor] #RS1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Rock Stars) sells for about $13,008 versus $1,600 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.1× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $16,910, ahead of PSA 10 at $13,008. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Refractor] #RS1 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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