Is Michael Jordan #169 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #169 sells for $168 against $3.00 raw: a $165 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.05) 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)
- $3.00
- PSA 10
- $168
- PSA 9
- $41.05
- Gem premium
- 56×
- 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 | $168 | +$140 | +$115 | +$14.58 |
| PSA 9 | $41.05 | +$13.05 | −$11.95 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $23.50 | −$4.50 | −$29.50 | −$130 |
Net = sale price − $3.00 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% | $72.68 | +$19.68 |
| 50% | $104 | +$51.31 |
| 75% | $136 | +$82.95 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 9%. 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 | $218 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $168 | −$50.42 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $101 | −$117 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $101 | −$117 | 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 | $168 | $101 | $218 | $101 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $41.05 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $23.50 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $11.52 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Upper Deck cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Paul Pierce [Bronze] #321 1998 Upper Deck card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bzgAAOSwRt9l2~bY/s-l500.jpg)
![michael jordan, scottie pippen [heart, soul] #25 1998 Upper Deck card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bO4AAeSwtoJqT8R3/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #169 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #169 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #169 sells for $168 against $3.00 raw: a $165 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.05) 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 #169 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #169 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck) sells for about $168 versus $3.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 56× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #169?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $218, ahead of PSA 10 at $168. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #169 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 #169 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #169 breaks even when it gems about 9% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.05).
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.
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