Michael Jordan is considered to be the best basketball player that has ever lived. Drafted as the third overall pick for the Chicago Bulls, Jordan went on to become a legend, winning six NBA titles while also being the Finals MVP each time as well. He was the rookie of the year, a five time MVP and even a 14 year all-star; there isn’t much Jordan hasn’t accomplished in the NBA. He is such an accomplished and world renowned player that his rookie card sells for so much, it could pay for a house.
One of the first Michael Jordan rookie cards to ever be sold was back in 2003 for $77,600. All cards are rated for the condition of their edges, corners, front and back, and this Michael Jordan rookie card was rated with an overall score of 9.5. At the time, this was the highest sold sports card beating out a Joe Montana rookie card that sold for $65,880.
The first perfectly rated (10/10) Michael Jordan card did not surface until 2009 where a collector was able to snatch up the piece of sports history for $82,000. There are rumors that the same card was sold for $150,000 in 2006 yet there has never been any confirmed proof. The card was rated with 10’s for everything aside from it’s surface condition which was graded at a 9.5, but someone was still willing to toss out massive money to get their hands on it.
The most recent Michael Jordan rookie card to be sold was back in 2011, when a near perfect copy of the Fleer card found its way to a Memory Lane Inc. store where they sold it in one of their “Own it Now” sales. The card was rated at a perfect 10, and it was discovered that 5,500 Michael Jordan rookie cards were submitted for grading with only three being given a 10 out of 10. The card was sold at the auction house to an unknown west coast buyer that paid $100,000 for the piece of sports memorabilia, which set the record for being the most expensive Michael Jordan rookie card to date.
2011 was the first time that Memory Lane had possessed and been able to auction off a Michael Jordan rookie card, which is a big deal. Companies that sell and auction products like this know that a Michael Jordan rookie card will easily bring in a six figure sale because of how rare it is. The Michael Jordan rookie card is easily one of the most legendary pieces of sports history that few are lucky to get their hands on. While there are plenty of his rookie cards out there, most will not be in pristine condition, and that’s why people are willing to spend enough money for a house on a single sports card.
Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational
