• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on eBay
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched BGS, BVG Cards
    • Most Watched SGC Cards
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2023 Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Wander Franco Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2022-23 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2021-22 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2022 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Brock Purdy Rookie Cards
      • 2021 NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Joe Burrow Rookie Cards
        • Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
        • Jalen Hurts Rookie Cards
      • Josh Allen Rookie Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Top Sports Card Dealers on eBay
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
    • Vintage Sports Tickets, Stubs
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • UFC Cards
  • Top - Ad

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Around the Hobby / Avid Fleer Collector’s Jordan “Rookie Rainbow” Part of Wheatland Auction

Avid Fleer Collector’s Jordan “Rookie Rainbow” Part of Wheatland Auction

February 9, 2021 By Rich Mueller

One collector’s 34-year obsession with basketball cards—and 1980s Fleer in particular—is on display inside a unique run of the hobby’s hottest card now up for auction.

Wheatland Auctions is offering a run of Michael Jordan rookie cards—10 in all—including a run of cards in every grade, from PSA 1-8, all consigned by one avid 1986-87 Fleer basketball collector.  The auction also includes multiple Jordan rookie stickers, a complete set with all cards graded PSA NM/MT 8 and a sticker set with each graded 8.5 by Beckett.  Additional lots include other cards, a near set and an unopened pack graded PSA 9 from that landmark issue.

A “rainbow” of Jordan PSA-graded rookie cards, two BGS rookies and four Jordan rookie stickers were all consigned by the same collector.

The Pennsylvania collector who consigned much of the material asked that only his first name be used. He told us his passion for basketball cards started in the winter of 1987, a couple of months after Fleer’s inaugural basketball set was released with limited fanfare and lukewarm acceptance by most of the hobby.

“I walked into my favorite card shop, Groft’s Sportscards in Hanover, PA, to buy a wax box of 1986 Topps Baseball,” ‘Jason’ recalled.  “Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something that I didn’t recognize.  Wrapped in cellophane, a red bordered set of basketball cards sat securely on the top of his ‘value’ table.  On the top was the coolest basketball card I had ever seen, a young Michael Jordan flying through the air.  I had to have it.”

The shop owner encouraged him to buy 1986 baseball cards instead, indicating they had a better future, but Jason was undeterred. He bought the 132-card Fleer hoops set for $15. A complete sticker insert set was included with the deal.

“Since that day and beyond, I’ve probably owned hundreds of Jordan rookies and thousands of all the others,” Jason recalled. “Shortly after getting married in 2002, I decided to focus my collecting almost exclusively on 1986-87 Fleer basketball.  I have sold countless Jordan rookies to the masses, but still have held onto the very best ones until now.”

The auction, which also includes the last of the six autographed Babe Ruth cards from the famed “Uncle Jimmy Collection” is underway now and continues through February 21.

Jordan rookie card values have skyrocketed in recent months with even NM/MT graded copies fetching over $25,000, but Jason says he has no regrets about selling many of those he bought before prices went wild.

“I have always made a profit every time I’ve sold a Jordan so I don’t have regrets. It is that profit that has allowed me to buy more and create an incredible personal collection. It’s just that now prices are insane which makes the profit exponentially higher.”

He says he always focused on acquiring well-centered Jordan rookie cards, which made them easier to sell, regardless of the technical grade.  All cards from his “Jordan rainbow” run have received bids, even the PSA 1 (Poor) which is expected to fetch $2,500 or more.

“The one thing that stuck out about my first Jordan rookie was that it wasn’t centered, and that always drove me crazy. Perfectly centered Jordan rookies, whenever I came in contact with them, went into my PC.  All the others became fair game to sell off to buy more.”

While he’s selling off a strong chunk of his best cards, Jason says he’s still dabbling in ’86-87 Fleer “if the price is right.”

“There are still bargains to be had but there are fewer of those bargains every day in this market.  I’ve added a new passion of collecting game used NFL jerseys of Hall of Fame caliber players, the dirtier the better. I try to get ahead of the fads. I think that’s the next market to explode.”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Heritage September Showcase Auction Runs the Gamut 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Sticker Set Carving Own Niche ’52 Mantle, Mahomes, MJ Rookies Push Goldin Auction Past $30 Million Bidding for Unopened 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Case Already Over $1 Million 1986 Fleer Basketball Boxes from Storage Unit Find Bring Big Price (Empty Case, Too) High-End Michael Jordan Cards, Collections Arrive at Auction Old Mill Joe Jackson Hits $492,000; New MJ Rookie Card Record Buried Treasure: 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Wax Find Revealed

About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for over 40 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]

Filed Under: Around the Hobby, Popular Stories Tagged With: 1986-87 Fleer basketball, 1986-87 Fleer basketball set, Michael Jordan rookie cards, Uncle Jimmy Collection, Wheatland Auction

Primary Sidebar

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click on links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs opens in a new window
  • Graded pre-War Card Auctions
  • Graded Rookie Cards opens in a new window
  • Authenticated Photos opens in a new window
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs opens in a new window

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Pre-War Cards Under $100 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Complete Sets $20 and Less opens in a new window
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1 opens in a new window

RSS Auction Report

  • Sterling Sports Auctions of Vintage Cards & More Auction – Ending June 22, 2023
  • PWCC Marketplace June Premier Auction Ends June 22, 2023
  • REA Encore Auction of Cards, Memorabilia and More Ends June 18, 2023

Footer

Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Featured Articles
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Uncategorized

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forumopens in a new window
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cardsopens in a new window
  • Game Used Jerseysopens in a new window
  • Championship Rings For Saleopens in a new window
  • Vintage Basketball Cardsopens in a new window
  • NBA Signed Itemsopens in a new window
  • Autographed Baseballsopens in a new window
  • NASCAR Autographsopens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cardsopens in a new window
  • Player Picturesopens in a new window
  • Vintage Football Cardsopens in a new window
  • Sports Collectors Storeopens in a new window

Pages

Ending on eBay Soon
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
Top 100 on Ebay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
Most Watched on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • What’s Hot on eBay
Sports Memorabilia
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
About Sports Collectors Daily
  • Advertise with SC Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Sell Your Cards
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?

Copyright © 2023 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window