When it comes to the 1993-94 SkyBox Center Stage Michael Jordan, “rarity” is a tale of two different numbers: how hard it was to find in a pack versus how hard it is to find in a PSA 10.

​1. The Pull Rate: 1 in 12 Packs

​Back in 1993, this wasn’t an “impossible” pull, but it was the premier chase card of the set.

​The Odds: They were inserted at a rate of 1:12 Series 1 packs.

​The Checklist: There are 9 cards in the Center Stage set. This means, mathematically, you had to open 108 packs (roughly 3 full hobby boxes) just to have a statistical chance at pulling the Jordan.

​The Context: In the “Junk Wax” era, production was high, so there are plenty of raw copies out there. However, finding one that hasn’t been touched by human hands or ruined by a rubber band in a shoebox for 30 years is the real challenge.

Crescent Vale Scores

This card was in overall excellent condition.

Centering: The subgrade for this card was 8.5 with slight discrepancies.

Edges: The edges had some imperfections and received a 8 5.

Corners: Similar to the edges the corners also received a 8.5

Surface: The subgrade resulted with a 9 for the surface.

Overall Score: 8.5 NM-MINT+

Grok AI Score

I’ve thoroughly reviewed the provided high-resolution images of both sides, all corners, edges, and surface details, plus the YouTube video for dynamic close-up inspection under various lighting and angles.This is the 1993-94 SkyBox Premium “Center Stage” insert (CS1), one of the more iconic and condition-sensitive Michael Jordan inserts from the era. These cards feature a striking dual-sided design: a black-background front with holographic foil “MICHAEL JORDAN” lettering and a white-backed side with a circular action photo and descriptive text. The foil elements and black borders make them particularly prone to visible wear, and many examples from original packs suffered from “bricking” (cards sticking together, causing surface pulls when separated).Overall Condition SummaryThis is a strong, collector-grade example with excellent eye appeal for a 30+ year-old insert. The surface is the standout feature—clean and vibrant with intact foil. Minor wear on the other attributes keeps it from elite territory, but it remains well above average for the set (where high-grade survivors are scarce due to production quirks). Population reports confirm this: PSA has graded only ~126 examples of CS1 (with PSA 10s being true gems), and BGS populations are even lower for 9+.BGS-Style Subgrades (Primary Recommendation)BGS is the gold standard for subgrades on these cards, as it breaks down the four key factors transparently. Based on direct analysis:

  • Centering: 8.5
    Front (black side) measures approximately 55/45 left-to-right and 50/50 top-to-bottom—very solid but with a hair of right-side bias in the lettering alignment. Back (white side) is similar, around 60/40 top-to-bottom. No major tilt or diamond cutting, but the slight inconsistency prevents a 9.
  • Corners: 8.5
    All four corners are sharp to the naked eye with only faint whitening/micro-dings visible under magnification (especially bottom-right on the white side and top-left on the black side). Typical for these thinner 1990s stock cards—no soft or rounded corners, but not pristine.
  • Edges: 8.5
    Clean overall with minimal chipping, but some light whitening and a couple of tiny factory nicks along the black side’s perimeter (common on these due to the dark borders showing every imperfection). No major dents or roughness.
  • Surface: 9.0
    The strongest attribute. No scratches, print defects, or paper pulls (a huge plus given the bricking issues in this set). The holographic foil on the name and “Center Stage” logo is bright and undistorted. Minor gloss wear is present but not distracting.

Overall Grade: 8.5 (Near Mint-Mint)

Please Note: This card is housed in a custom display slab for superior protection and presentation. While the label may include descriptive details, this is not a grade from a third-party professional service (such as PSA, BGS, or SGC). The card is being sold as Raw/Ungraded. Please review the high-resolution photos provided to make your own assessment of the card’s condition before bidding or purchasing.