1986–87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie Card (Condition PSA 9, Autograph PSA/DNA 10)

Card Grade: PSA 9 Mint

Autograph Grade: PSA/DNA 10 Gem Mint

The PSA Certificate Number: 08145016

Presented for sale is an extraordinary rarity, a Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Mint 9 graded card, featuring Michael Jordan’s flawless signature, which has been awarded a perfect Gem Mint 10 grade by PSA/DNA. The unparalleled combination of condition, authentication and provenance elevates this card to one of the finest autographed examples of Jordan’s rookie card in existence. Remarkably, no PSA 9 card with a PSA 10 autograph has ever been sold publicly, with only three PSA 9/10 examples known to exist. Six PSA 10/10s, the only known to exist, remain exclusively in the hands of a single private collector. This auction, a historic opportunity to own what could be the highest graded Michael Jordan rookie card that will ever come to market.

To understand the card’s significance is to understand the history of both Michael Jordan’s paramount career, and the hobby of card collecting.

Against the backdrop of his private golf course in Florida, in early 2024, Michael Jordan—widely celebrated as the greatest basketball player of all time—took a rare moment to sign nine select trading cards. With a blue Sharpie chosen specifically for the occasion, Jordan meticulously added his signature to cards that are nothing short of legendary: the 1986-87 Fleer #57 rookie card, a cornerstone of sports memorabilia. Eight of these cards rank among the finest examples ever graded, their authenticity and signatures verified by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). This extraordinary event, the culmination of nearly five years of coordination between a devoted collector, Michael Jordan and PSA, marks a monumental moment in the world of collectibles.

Jordan’s rookie season in 1984–85 set the sports world ablaze. Selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls, Jordan instantly lived up to the “hype”. By the end of his first season he was averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, carrying the once struggling Bulls back into the playoffs for just the third time in a decade.

That same season also marked the debut of a cultural icon: the Air Jordan I. Released to the public on April 1, 1985, the shoe that Nike projected could earn $3 million, brought in over $100 million by year’s end. Jordan was no longer just a basketball phenomenon; he was a global brand. His performance, style and monumental presence redefined the sport and the culture around it.

Roughly two years after his NBA debut, Jordan made another debut, his inaugural appearance in a traditional, mainstream basketball card set. Following a period of card producing limbo after Topps, the leader at the time in collectible basketball card manufacturing, halted production following the 1981-82 season, the Star Company acquired the license. The Star Company produced cards were issued in team-specific poly bags, never gaining widespread collector traction. Released in the fall of 1986, the 1986–87 Fleer set marked a pivotal moment in the hobby’s evolution.

Fleer brought back the classic wax-pack format—cards, stickers, and gum—ushering in a new era of basketball card collecting. The set featured rookie cards of future legends including Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Hakeem (then Akeem) Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and, of course, Michael Jordan. While collectors continue to debate whether Star or Fleer should be considered the “true” rookie card, Fleer’s enduring popularity and cultural significance are unmatched.

The 1986–87 Fleer design is instantly recognizable: bold red, white, and blue borders frame each card, evoking a distinctly American sense of nostalgia and identity. The set includes 132 player cards and 11 stickers, and while no rarity tiers were built into the release as in today’s products, condition scarcity—particularly centering and print quality—has driven premium valuations.

Leading with exceptional provenance and historical significance, made only more exceptional by the fact that of the 1986-87 Fleer examples that have been signed and graded by PSA/ DNA, there are only six that have received a higher grade, all six coming as a result of the 2024 signing, few cards embody the significance of what is widely regarded as one of the most iconic basketball collectibles ever created.

This card is more than a collector's item; it is a tangible piece of hobby history standing at the intersection of Jordan's transcendent career and one of the most revered sets in the basketball card canon. JOOPITER is proud to be able to offer one of the most exceptional basketball cards to ever come to market on our platform.

Authenticated by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).

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