1986-87 FLEER BASKETBALL #57 MICHAEL JORDAN (HOF) ROOKIE CARD BGS 9 MINT.
Item Description
Presented here is arguably the most iconic sports card of the modern era, the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan Rookie Card #57. For many years now, this treasure has been making a slow but steady climb in price, while working its way up the chart of key basketball rookie cards to own. Early in 2020 it was announced that ESPN would be airing an in-depth 10-part documentary series entitled "The Last Dance" presenting Michael Jordan as the GOAT in the sport of basketball. The ESPN series would be exceptionally well received, thus igniting a worldwide interest in Jordan that had not been seen since the end of his playing days.
Investors have entered the market in droves this past year, with basketball cards being at the forefront of this explosion in hobby interest. Opinions differ but many believe that the financial gains realized during 2020 were a result of worldwide interest in basketball as opposed to primarily U.S. based interest in both baseball and football. In addition, several highly influential individuals started pouring money into the hobby early in 2020 with the primary targets being those top-tier individuals, namely Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, three of the greatest and most iconic players from the modern basketball era. While all rookie, autograph, and relic cards of these three greats have exploded in value during the past year, none have been able to match the volume of sales and rate of appreciation of the Michael Jordan base rookie card, the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball #57.
The 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set was a landmark offering. After the expiration of Topps license to produce NBA basketball cards following the 1981-82 season, there would be no major card manufacturer producing basketball cards for the next four years until Fleer finally obtained the rights to produce NBA cards in 1986. Due to the four year absence of basketball cards, all of the rookies who entered the league from 1982-86 had no nationally distributed basketball cards, thus, making this Fleer edition, the highly sought after source for rookie cards of NBA stars: Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, Malone and many others.
The example offered here has been graded MINT 9 by Beckett Grading Services. The central image of Michael Jordan flying through the air for another one of his breathtaking slam dunks is truly captivating and the patriotic red, white and blue borders add the finishing touches. This pack-fresh card has received sub-grades of: Centering 8.5, Edges 9, Corners 9 and Surface 9. With Gem-Mint graded examples of this card now well into the six-figure range (and climbing) at auction these days, here is an opportunity to pick up a Mint example that looks nearly as good to the naked eye at a fraction of the Gem-Mint cost.
