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For quite some time, the hobby has been dominated by the more popular kinds of sports memorabilia, like cards and sneakers. While they're definitely a force to be reckoned with in the market, there's always room for a new player or two to make an impact among collectors. It just so happens that the latest entrants to make a buzz are items that feature two legends in their respective sports – Michael Jordan and Jackie Robinson.
One of the two highest graded Jackie Robinson debut tickets has just sold at @HeritageAuction for $480,000.
A year ago today, one of the six others sold for $40,800. pic.twitter.com/H5gAtsieFs
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 27, 2022
In a tweet by Darren Rovell, Heritage Auctions announced that they have sold Robinson's 1947 big-league debut encased in a PSA 2 slab for $480,000 via auction. This transaction, which occurred during the company's Winter Platinum Night Sports Auction, makes it the most expensive sporting event ticket in the market.
This ticket to Michael Jordan’s debut sold for $468,000 last night.
To put this in perspective:
Jordan was paid $550,000 by the Bulls for his rookie season.
Jordan was paid $500,000 by Nike for his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/Z2Xt7ISzz3
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 27, 2022
But it isn't just the baseball legend who's having a great day in the market. During the same event, a full ticket featuring Jordan's debut in October 1984 and authenticated by PSA sold for $468,000. Like Robinson's debut ticket, this piece of Michael Jordan basketball memorabilia broke the record for the most expensive sports ticket set in September. The previous record-holder was a stub from Jordan's first game for the Chicago Bulls that sold for $264,000.
Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions for the aforementioned company, said that the interest in the Jackie Robinson debut ticket, and other sports memorabilia belonging to the baseball legend, was immediate and came all over the globe at the very moment the auction was opened. Ivy added that Robinson wasn't just a Hall of Fame player, he was a trailblazer.
Some of the Jackie Robinson memorabilia that were sold during this Heritage Auctions event includes a 1948 Leaf rookie card inside a PSA 8 slab ($468,000), a 1946 Heilbroner Baseball Bureau information card signed by the Hall of Fame player himself before making his debut for the Montreal Royals ($120,000), and a copy of his Wait Till Next Year book ($144,000) with a special note for Pee Wee Reese, his teammate, and friend.
The Jordan debut ticket, meanwhile, was kept inside a Manila envelope for 37 years before being sent to PSA. The grading company then authenticated the said ticket which featured His Airness' first game as a Bull against the Washington Wizards. The then 21-year old rookie posted 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 106-93 win over the opposing squad.
With sports cards getting much of the attention in the market, it's truly a welcome development to see these graded tickets break new records. With these Michael Jordan and Jackie Robinson memorabilia making a statement, it's not farfetched to think that other tickets of the same magnitude will soon capture more of the hobby's interest.
