Is Michael Jordan #GL1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Gold Label · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #GL1 sells for $1,000 against $107 raw: a $893 spread, 9.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($198) 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)
- $107
- PSA 10
- $1,000
- PSA 9
- $198
- Gem premium
- 9.3×
- 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 | $1,000 | +$868 | +$843 | +$743 |
| PSA 9 | $198 | +$65.74 | +$40.74 | −$59.26 |
| PSA 8 | $120 | −$12.32 | −$37.32 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $107 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% | $399 | +$241 |
| 50% | $599 | +$442 |
| 75% | $800 | +$642 |
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 | $1,300 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| SGC 10 | $1,279 | −$21.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $1,000 | −$300 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $600 | −$700 | 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 | $1,000 | $600 | $1,300 | $1,279 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $200 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $198 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $120 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $88.01 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Topps Gold Label cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Michael Jordan [Black Label] #GL1 1998 Topps Gold Label card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/1voAAeSwizZqU622/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Black Label] #GL3 1998 Topps Gold Label card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2RgAAeSwi7NqH4EW/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #GL1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #GL1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #GL1 sells for $1,000 against $107 raw: a $893 spread, 9.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($198) 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 #GL1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #GL1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Gold Label) sells for about $1,000 versus $107 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.3× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #GL1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,300, ahead of SGC 10 at $1,279. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #GL1 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