Lot # 13: Iconic 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie PSA 10 GEM MINT

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $50,000.00

Bids: 19 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring '23 Rarities Auction",
which ran from 4/13/2023 9:00 AM to
5/6/2023 7:00 PM




(LOT 13)
Iconic 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie PSA 10 GEM MINT

PSA 10 JORDAN ROOKIE!!!... Iconic to say the least, 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie-era subject continues to be one of the hobby's most exalted cards, standing right alongside the likes of the '48 Bowman Mikan, '57 Topps Russell, and '61 Chamberlain basketball rookie marvels. Presented here just happens to be a highly coveted PSA 10 GEM MINT '86 Fleer #57 Jordan, with PSA's Pop chart indicating only a mere 1.3% of the total 24,700+ PSA encapsulated examples fortunate enough to reflect the hallowed "10" assessment. That staggering number of total graded specimens more than substantiates the unparalleled prestige of the 1986 Jordan subject, with virtually every hobbyist seeking this Hall of Fame worthy card.

It's PSA 10 pricing points currently range between $175K - $225K, with several examples having previously fetched over $700K! Simply stated, the Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer heirloom has firmly established itself as a bona fide cardboard icon, with its esteemed stature not only widely regarded within the basketball collecting circuit, but extending across all sports cards. Indeed, the '86 Fleer Jordan joins a host of other rookie-era issues for legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle ('51 Bowman & '52 Topps), Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron, just to mention a few of the most significant rookie cards on the planet.

Not even Hollywood could write a more storybook script for the final game of the 1998 NBA finals when Michael Jordan's final jump shot with 5.6 seconds left bested the Utah Jazz by an 87-86 score! Incredibly, that would be the final shot Jordan would ever take for the Chicago Bulls, as MJ would temporarily retire after winning his sixth and final NBA Championship, all of which he was named finals MVP. Of course, a few years later, His Airness would eventually come out of retirement and play a few seasons with the Washington Wizards, but it is his unparalleled career with Chicago that has earned him the undisputed title as basketball's "greatest all-time player". In 15 seasons, this iconic shooting guard/small forward would amass over 32,000 points (4th all-time), achieve the highest points per game average ever (30.12), win an unfathomable 10 NBA scoring titles and claim five NBA MVP awards!

Yet for all of these extraordinary accomplishments, it was his fierce competitiveness and uncanny ability to thrive in pressure situations that arguably places him as the finest basketball player ever. His legacy in sports is comparable to that of the immortal Babe Ruth, and we cannot imagine a more significant keepsake than his exalted 1986 Fleer rookie card in a PSA 10 holder. All of the technical qualities associated with this cardboard gem are consistent with sheer perfection including the flawless surfaces, rich hues, crystal clear clarity, razor sharp corners/edging, near-perfect 50/50 centering and complete absence of any surface flaws. In fact, we have not seen another Jordan '86 Fleer exhibiting finer centering, with the remarkable positioning of Jordan's awe-inspiring pose the best of the best. It's so fitting that the image used for this legendary offering portrays Jordan in mid-air on his way to another majestic dunk, for it was his uncanny athleticism that placed him a step above his inferior peers.

The hobby has established a secure place for its most renowned cards with the T206 Wagner being the ultimate Holy Grail, and the '52 Topps Mantle the king of all post-WWII issues. However, most enthusiasts would agree that the multi-six figure pricing points realized for 1986 Fleer Jordan PSA 10s equally earn it a rightful place alongside those aforementioned cardboard gems. At its mere mention, the '86 Fleer "Jordan 10" could literally stop traffic, for no world-class rookie-era card collection could ever be considered complete without one of these PSA 10 keepsakes. Unquestionably speaking, this revered Michael Jordan memento is now forever etched in hobby folklore, and synonymous with Jordan's pinnacle player stature, stands tall among a myriad of its inferior sports card peers!

MIN BID $50,000
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