There has been no extra common athlete of the final 50 years than Michael Jordan. The legendary Chicago Bull revolutionized the sport of basketball and collectors hunt down not solely his footwear and attire but additionally his basketball playing cards. The crown jewel of many a group is #23’s 1986 Fleer rookie card. Unfortunately, the cardboard comes at such a price that many collectors are priced out. And in some instances, collectors may even buy rarer and costlier playing cards. Below are some enjoyable alternate options to that well-known subject.
1985 Star Gatorade Slam Dunk
After the 1981 season, Topps stopped producing basketball playing cards. Fleer’s set wouldn’t come till 1986. An organization known as Star moved in to bridge the hole. In 1985, the cardmaker created a set to commemorate the 1985 Slam Dunk contest, the place Jordan fell to Dominique Wilkins.
The playing cards have been distributed in polybags, which made them extra susceptible to injury. Beckett Grading Services is the one grader who will authenticate the Star Cards, which additionally had a severe subject with counterfeiting. The playing cards, which predate the 86-87 Fleer set, are usually obtainable on-line, although collectors are inspired to solely purchase graded copies. A BGS 8 of the Jordan Slam Dunk card sells for round $2,000.
1985 Nike Promo Card
No athlete has ever been extra related to a model than Michael Jordan is with Nike. The capturing guard’s profession ended 20 years in the past, however Air Jordan sneakers are nonetheless launched annually. In 1985, the connection between Jordan and Nike was nonetheless younger and the shoe firm put out a promo card to have fun the participant.
The promo card, which options Jordan skying for a dunk, is usually graded by authenticators and was launched prior to his well-known Fleer rookie. The subject has turn out to be extra common over time and a PSA copy will be had for just a little below $3,000.
1985 Prism Stickers
The 1985 Prism sticker set accommodates a rookie card for each Jordan and New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing. The playing cards have been solely obtainable through coin-operated machines in grocery shops. Since most individuals who bought the playing cards peeled the stickers and put them on one thing, they’re extremely uncommon. They are additionally topic to counterfeiting which signifies that collectors shouldn’t solely purchase copies that had been professionally graded.
For essentially the most half, that rarity signifies that the cardboard will typically promote for greater than the 86 Fleer. The outlier could be a PSA 10 model. An 86 Fleer in that situation would promote for greater than $250,000, whereas the Jewel sticker would promote for round $40K.
1986 Fleer Sticker
Image through PWCC
Jordan’s common subject wasn’t his solely card within the legendary 1986 Fleer set. The providing additionally featured a set of sticker playing cards that have been included with every pack. Like different stickers, these could possibly be arduous to discover in high quality situations since lots of the stickers have been peeled off the unique card.
Collectors have lengthy determined to buy Jordan sticker rookie playing cards reasonably than the costlier various and plenty of of them have continued to achieve this. A PSA copy of the rookie Jordan sticker sells for just a little below $2,000 in a PSA 8 grade.
1984 Star
Image through eBay
Jordan’s very first card got here within the 1984-86 Star set. As famous above, these points are extremely uncommon and topic to each poor situation and counterfeiting. And once more, the one firm that grades and verifies the authenticity of those playing cards is Beckett.
Due partially to the rarity of those playing cards, they might promote for greater than their 86 Fleer counterparts. In May of 2021, a Star rookie of Jordan graded in a BGS 9 bought for greater than $109,000. A BGS 9 of the 86 Fleer rookie is offered for below $15,000.
*Any perceived funding recommendation is that of the freelance blogger and doesn’t symbolize recommendation on behalf of GoCollect.
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