1984-85 STAR CO. BASKETBALL MICHAEL JORDAN #101 ROOKIE CARD BGS 7.5 NEAR MINT+ (W/2 9.5 SUBGRADES).
Item Description
Presented here is one of the best kept secrets in the sports card hobby. While just about every basketball collector will immediately recognize the iconic image of all-time NBA great, many would say the GOAT, Michael Jordan prominently displayed on his 1986-87 Fleer Basketball rookie card #57 (see next item), very few collectors can state that they have ever seen, let alone owned, an NBA licensed Michael Jordan card that pre-dates his 1986-87 Fleer issue by two full seasons. Amazingly, that is the case w/this 1984-85 Star Basketball Michael Jordan RC #101, which was issued in conjunction with the Chicago Bulls team set from that season.
For those not familiar with the 1980s Star Basketball issues, the company obtained NBA licensing rights following the 1982-83 NBA season, one year after the expiration of Topps exclusive rights to produce professional basketball cards. Beginning with the 1983-84 hoops season, the Star Co. was the only printer of licensed NBA player trading cards. However, instead of issuing the cards in traditional box/pack format, the innovative founders at Star came up with the idea to issue their cards in limited quantities in the form of bagged team sets. In addition to producing the aforementioned team sets, Star would also issue bagged sets containing All-Rookie teams, All-Star teams, Slam-Dunk contestants, etc. Star would successfully continue to put out new issues over the next three years, with their last in 1985-86, one year before Fleer gained NBA licensing rights and produced their coveted 1986-87 basketball series.
Although the Star Co. would be given credit for producing "true" rookie cards of many of the NBA's all-time greats during the mid-1980s including Olajuwon, Barkley, Ewing and more, the most popular card they ever produced, by far, is the treasure being offered here. This beauty has been graded a 7.5 Near Mint+ by Beckett Grading Services. Sub-grades for this card are as follows: Centering 7, Edges 9.5, Corners 8 and Surface 9.5. Don't pass up this opportunity to own one of the truly underappreciated basketball rookie cards of all-time.
