![Michael Jordan [Red] #42 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ulUAAeSwAydqr1Ks/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Red] #42 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Red] #42 sells for $429 against $28.76 raw: a $400 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.74) 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)
- $28.76
- PSA 10
- $429
- PSA 9
- $59.74
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $429 | +$375 | +$350 | +$250 |
| PSA 9 | $59.74 | +$5.98 | −$19.02 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $38.86 | −$14.90 | −$39.90 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $28.76 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% | $152 | +$73.29 |
| 50% | $244 | +$166 |
| 75% | $337 | +$258 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. 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 | $558 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $429 | −$129 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $257 | −$301 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $257 | −$301 | 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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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 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Red] #4 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YscAAeSw4E1qTTlx/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Red] #40 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BcYAAeSwpLBqmfmO/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Bronze] #45 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LuUAAeSwXyxqj6SI/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Red] #42 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Red] #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Red] #42 sells for $429 against $28.76 raw: a $400 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.74) 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 [Red] #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Red] #42 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Mjx Timepieces) sells for about $429 versus $28.76 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Red] #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $558, ahead of PSA 10 at $429. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Red] #42 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 [Red] #42 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan [Red] #42 breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $59.74).
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