This Michael Jordan rookie card isn’t scarce. Not in the true sense of the word. PSA has examined over 17,000 of them alone and when you count Beckett and SGC and the many cards sitting in sets or just left ungraded, it’s clear you don’t have to go far to find one. However, the 1986-87 Fleer Jordan rookie card is clearly the most popular basketball card ever made and prices continue to steadily climb. You can check out a list of the popular Jordan cards on eBay below.
There is plenty of Michael Jordan memorabilia to buy if you’re so inclined and the rookie card is at or near the top of the list.
It’s not ‘rare’ like the T206 Honus Wagner but the story is kind of a modern era equivalent to the Babe Ruth autographed baseball: many exist, but still not enough to satisfy demand.
Investing in Michael Jordan rookie cards
From kids who idolized his ability and are now grown and able to afford one to adults who believe there is more growth to come and are investing in Michael Jordan rookie cards, there is always interest. Way back in 2009 we wrote that high grade Jordan rookie cards still seemed to be a good buy and indeed, dealers have seen semi-explosive growth in the last several years. In short, if you took our advice back then, you’ve made out like a bandit.
A card you could have pulled from a 50-cent pack at the time of issue has proven to be one of sports collecting’s best investments. While the product wasn’t a smash hit at the time, Jordan’s ascension to international superstar and the rise in popularity of basketball cards has helped fuel the growth.
The key to what your Michael Jordan rookie card is worth has everything to do with condition–and you can’t really rely on our own naked eye evaluation. If it has four sharp corners and is well centered with no print marks, it has a chance to earn a high grade. Grading any MJ rookie is worth it, though, if you’re thinking of selling. And don’t buy an ungraded one unless you know what to look for. There are too many counterfeits.
Near Mint and Mint Graded Jordan Rookie Cards
From September of 2013 to February 20 of 2014, no Jordan card graded 8.5 (NM/MT+) by PSA sold for over $1,000. Since then, the average price has risen to over $2,200.
Prices for mint Jordans (graded 9) have doubled since 2014. PSA 9s often struggled to reach $2,000 early in 2013 but the average price now stands at over $3,800. Just five or six years ago, $1,600-$1,700 was the going rate.
Beckett Graded 9.5 Michael Jordan rookie cards are hot, too. After a Pristine BGS 10 sold for $100,000, there was growth for lesser graded Jordan rookies. Now, BGS 9.5 examples average $7,000-$8,000, while BVG 9s, a little more plentiful, still average almost $3,000–up about $1,000 from where they were selling five years ago.In the summer of 2015, they were selling for an average of $15,300, again showing a 300% growth rate compared to 2007 levels when the going rate was 
around $5,000. Even in 2012, average selling prices fell between $8,000 and $9,500.
Now, however, the PSA 10 Jordan Fleer rookie card has taken up residence in the $20,000-$25,000 neighborhood. That’s quite a return on investment–even if you bought in just a few years ago. Prices in all grades have dipped a bit from unusually high levels in 2016 but the settled market has once again given investors and collectors a little more confidence.
Part of the reason the appeal and value of Michael Jordan rookie cards may be long-lasting is basketball’s appeal as a worldwide sport. There are basketball collectors all over the world who covet a Jordan rookie, which increases already strong demand. Other interest has some from investors who have seen the strong performance of what has become the most popular basketball card of all-time.
The Jordan sticker from that inaugural 1980s Fleer set has also been climbing in price, especially graded examples.
A live list of the ‘most watched’ graded Jordan rookie cards currently up for auction on eBay is below.
Sell Your Michael Jordan Rookie Card
The fastest way to sell your Michael Jordan rookie card is on eBay. You can sign up to buy and sell here. You can literally put it up for sale or auction in a few minutes and have the selling price in your Paypal account right after the auction.
If you have a graded example and you want someone else to handle the process for you, you might reach out to one of the auction companies that advertise on our website. They love to sell high-grade Jordans.
Here are some related articles:
- Michael Jordan Rookie Cards Still Strong
- 30 Cool, Cheap Michael Jordan Cards
- Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
- New Record Price for BGS 9.5 1984-85 Star Company Jordan Rookie
- Upper Deck Renews Autograph Contract with Michael Jordan
Most Watched 1986-87 Michael Jordan Rookie Cards on eBay
Love collecting? Want to keep up? Get our daily headlines delivered via email. Click here to sign up.
Related Stories:
New Record Price for BGS 9.5 1984-85 Star Company Jordan Rookie
1980s Fleer Basketball Stickers Skyrocket
1986-87 Fleer Basketball Cards Weren’t an Instant Hit
2003-04 Exquisite Collection Basketball: 10 Years Later
Historic Sports Card Pricing Tool Launched; Includes 14 Years of Data
PSA Launches Pricing, Research Tool for Graded Cards
1986-87 Fleer Wax Box Break Yields 3 Jordan Rookies
Editor’s Blog: Impact of Surging Card Prices
PSA to Give Away 3 Jordan Rookie Cards as Part of NSCC Promo Plans
[…] adds this today… Value of 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Cards Soaring __________________ […]