Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 sells for $3,804 against $943 raw: a $2,861 spread, 4.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,713) 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)
- $943
- PSA 10
- $3,804
- PSA 9
- $1,713
- Gem premium
- 4.0×
- 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 | $3,804 | +$2,836 | +$2,811 | +$2,711 |
| PSA 9 | $1,713 | +$745 | +$720 | +$620 |
| PSA 8 | $950 | −$17.80 | −$42.80 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $943 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% | $2,236 | +$1,243 |
| 50% | $2,758 | +$1,766 |
| 75% | $3,281 | +$2,288 |
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 | $4,945 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,804 | −$1,141 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,282 | −$2,663 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,282 | −$2,663 | 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 | $3,804 | $2,282 | $4,945 | $2,282 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $2,500 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $1,713 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $950 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #81 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/brMAAeSwRQtqSkHl/s-l500.jpg)
![Paul Pierce [Refractor] #235 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8yMAAeSwAZtqQu8j/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #175 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SyoAAeSwBdhqOFWt/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 sells for $3,804 against $943 raw: a $2,861 spread, 4.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,713) 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] #81 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 (Basketball Cards 1998 Finest) sells for about $3,804 versus $943 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.0× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,945, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,804. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 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.
Check my card free