It's a must for every hobbyist to have Michael Jordan cards in their respective collections. Rightfully so, because the man is a legend after making his impact felt in the 80s right away, dominating teams in the 90s, and even playing well early into the 2000s. What he did during these different decades is a testament to His Airness' greatness and impressive talent all throughout those years.
No wonder a good portion of the hobby still holds Jordan in a special light. For those who wish to immortalize MJ in their collection, here are some that are worthy of attention and adulation.
6 Michael Jordan cards that capture his legendary career, ranked
6. 2002 Topps Chrome Black Refractor
Even after winning six rings for the Chicago Bulls, Jordan felt he had enough left in his tank for another run. Since returning to tbe team that drafted him wasn't an option, MJ chose to suit up for another Eastern Conference squad – the Washington Wizards. And even if the thought of him donning another jersey seemed strange, his second return to the NBA served as a bridge from one era of basketball to the next.
Those who want capture this part of Jordan's career won't go wrong with his 2002 Topps Chrome. It features MJ's signature fadeaway jumper front and center and Topps's classic design bordering this piece of sports memorabilia. It also features Jordan in a Wizards blue jersey, perfectly capturing the two years he played for the District.
While base copies of this card are fairly achievable in the market, this Black Refractor parallel encased in a BGS 9 slab is worth more. It recently sold for $1,514 on eBay.
5. 1994 Topps Finest
Speaking of Jordan returning, the first time he did it 1995 shook the whole world and placed the NBA back onto the map. During those games, His Airness wore #45 while trying to push the Bulls towards a deep playoff run. Even though Chicago failed and Jordan went back to 23 the following season, the fact remains that there aren't a lot of Michael Jordan cards with the 45 on it.
Those who are chasing this particular basketball card of Jordan can do no better than this 1994 Topps Finest. MJ's profile is larger, which gives the 45 on the jersey more emphasis. Just be careful, though, because these cards can discolor due to age. Even if that's the case, PSA 9 slabs of it still go for $1,270 in the market.
4. 1988 Fleer All-Star
During the 80s, the standard for slam dunks were those pioneered by Julius Erving and Dominique Wilkins, which emphasized more on flash and strength. It wasn't until Jordan did something in 1988 that left everyone with their jaws on the floor.
Starting off from the opposite end of the court, MJ propelled himself and leapt from the free throw line, a good 75 feet of distance from the rim. The six-time champion landed the jam and won the whole thing.
That image of Jordan is forever immortalized in his 1988 Fleer All-Star card. His profile, suspended in the middle of the jump with ball in his hands, is surrounded by Fleer's classic border look. And even if it doesn't have all the flash of today's chrome offerings, this particular Michael Jordan card can top them with a PSA 10 value of $5,995.
3. 1999 Upper Deck Employee Game Jersey
Jordan's final minutes as a Chicago Bull is defined by that one jump shot he made against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of their Finals matchup in 1998. That one jumper not only gave the Bulls their sixth championship ring, it also helped MJ obtain a total of six Finals MVP awards during the course of his career.
Those looking to have this moment in their collection have few options available in the market. Without a doubt, one of the best choices out there is this 1999 Upper Deck Employee Game Jersey card. It has Jordan's profile on the left with his signature jump shot and a patch of MJ's uniform on the right. The phrase “Farewell Shot” is on the extreme right part, which aptly describes this Michael Jordan card.
Since cards like these don't come by that often, it's understandable how much it can demand. A recent sale of a copy encased inside a PSA 10 saw its value jump up to $18,100.
2. 1986 Fleer rookie card
While a good number of collectors prefer chasing LeBron James or Kobe Bryant cards due to their relative availability, Jordan's rookie stock is somewhat out of reach for most people. That's quite understandable since these cards are more than three decades old and can't be just purchased from anywhere. These reasons, and more, just make Jordan's 1986 Fleer his definitive rookie card in the market.
The card's vintage design, paired with a classic Bulls's jersey on Jordan, makes it a worthy piece that captures his early years in the NBA. Taking all of these details into account, it's not far-fetched for PSA 10s of this Michael Jordan card to grab so much attention.
If price is an issue, the next best thing is to find one encased in a BGS 9.5 slab, which goes for $54,877 in the market. In any case, a gem-mint Michael Jordan rookie card will still look awesome in whatever authenticated and graded slab it is in.
1. 1984 Star rookie card
While Jordan's 1986 Fleer is his most popular rookie card, some would argue that there's one that predates it. It's his 1984 Star card, which accurately captures Jordan's actual first year in the NBA.
Its vintage design lines up with how sports cards looked during that time. Since they're harder to find and even harder to obtain in a good grade, it makes sense that this piece of Michael Jordan memorabilia can go up to $300,000 on eBay. With a career like MJ's, that price is certainly justified.
These Michale Jordan cards are not the only offerings that capture important parts of his career. Surely, there are a lot of these scattered in the market for pretty good prices. Just make sure to check those cards for any damage before you bite the bullet on them.
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