The Ultimate Guide To Michael Jordan Rookie Cards
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Regarding sports icons, none are more recognizable than basketball legend Michael Jordan. Even though MJ hung up his Nike’s nearly twenty years ago, his legacy remains stronger than ever.
Love and admiration for Jordan’s talents on the basketball court have also spread to the collectibles world.
Today, Michael Jordan’s rookie cards from the mid-80s Fleer and Star basketball sets remain among the hottest and most valuable cards in the hobby.
In this resource guide, we’ve assembled some basic facts about Michael Jordan’s rookie cards for basketball card collectors.
What Year Is Michael Jordan’s Rookie Card?
For years, the most commonly accepted Jordan rookie card among collectors has been the 1986 Fleer Basketball #57 Michael Jordan card.
It was widely released, issued in wax packs, and produced by a major basketball card manufacturer (Fleer). At the time, Fleer was also the only big card manufacturer making basketball cards.
However, one year prior (1985), Star Company held the only NBA card license. It produced several Michael Jordan cards, which some consider to be rookie cards, yet are officially labeled as ‘Extended Rookie Cards’ or XRC for short.
Are Star Basketball Michael Jordan Cards Considered Rookie Cards?
As noted above, the officially accepted answer is that each of Jordan’s Star basketball cards produced in 1985 should only be considered an ‘Extended Rookie Card’ or XRC.
What Is An XRC?
XRC stands for ‘Extended Rookie Card’ and was a term created by Beckett in the 1980s. It helped differentiate between sports cards issued via packs from a major manufacturer (such as Topps, Fleer, Upper Deck) and those issued in box sets or as part of a regional release not sold via wax packs. Some common XRC cards include mid-1980s Topps Traded cards such as the Barry Bonds or Bo Jackson rookie cards.
Star Company basketball cards were released in poly bag team sets and distributed in limited quantities to local dealers and sporting arenas. Thus, rightly or wrongly, most collectors consider all of Jordan’s Star Basketball cards to be Extended Rookie Cards.
PSA started grading Star basketball cards recently, after a long hiatus due to concerns about the counterfeit market. This has certainly provided more interest in the Jordan Star rookie cards.
How Many Michael Jordan Cards Qualify As Rookie Cards?
I am a big fan of the 1980s Star Basketball cards and thus consider Jordan’s 1985 Star issues important enough releases to qualify as rookie cards. Thus, I include Jordan’s Star cards here as ‘rookie cards.’
In addition to the iconic 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 Rookie card, Jordan also has a sticker from the same set.
Aside from the 1986 Jordan Fleer #57 rookie card and the Jordan sticker rookie card, Jordan has three cards that were issued one year prior in the 1984-85 Star Company basketball set.
The 1984-85 #101 Star Jordan is considered a base card of the Star Basketball set and is considered by collectors as the Jordan rookie card from the Star Co. release that year.
Two other Michael Jordan cards were issued in the same set: a #195 1984 Gold Medalist card and a #288 Rookie Of The Year card. These are both highly sought-after cards; however, neither has the same value as the #101 XRC Jordan.
How Rare Are Michael Jordan Rookie Cards?
Many collectors believe the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is a rare card, but that is not true.
Based on estimates from Reed Kasaoka, a longtime hobby veteran and buyer at Dave & Adams, Fleer printed 250K copies of each card in the 1986 Fleer Basketball set.
”With regards to how many Jordans were printed, in the late-90s a high-level Fleer executive told me in there were 250,000 of each card printed for 1986/87 Fleer Basketball. Is this a realistic number? I suppose so, considering it was their first basketball product. He also said because of the product’s disappointing reception on the market, they cut production in half for 1987/88.
– Reed Kasaoka, Buyer, Dave & Adams Card World
There are nearly 26,000 PSA-graded 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Cards, 3000 SGC-graded Jordan rookies, and roughly 13,000 Beckett-graded Jordan rookie cards, for a grand total of over 40,000. Thus, many ‘raw,’ ungraded Fleer Jordan rookie cards are still out there.
However, it is believed that Star Company issued 5,000 or fewer full sets of the 1984-85 Star Basketball set, making Jordan’s three Star ‘XRC’ cards much rarer.
| Michael Jordan Rookie Card | Estimated Print Run |
| 1986 Fleer Jordan #57 | 250,000? |
| 1986 Fleer Jordan Sticker | 250,000? |
| 1985 Star Jordan #101 | 5,000? |
| 1985 Star Jordan #195 | 5,000? |
| 1985 Star Jordan #288 | 5,000? |
How Much Is A Michael Jordan Rookie Card Worth?
A 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card in top condition (Gem Mint PSA 10) can easily top six figures. However, this does vary significantly between different grading companies, as PSA-graded cards often command a significant premium.
See Latest Jordan Rookie PSA Auction Prices
The 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie card has experienced big swings in value in recent years. There was a huge spike during the pandemic-fueled card bubble, followed by a massive decline as collectors realized things had gotten way out of hand.
At the peak in 2021, a Gem-Mint Jordan Fleer rookie shattered records, selling for $738,000. Since that sale, the value of a PSA 10 Fleer Jordan has fallen by a mind-boggling 78%. It might take a very long time for that buyer to get back to even.
Today, a PSA 10 Fleer Jordan is valued at around $160,000.
While a PSA 10 Jordan Rookie sells for low six figures, other lower to mid-grade Jordan rookies are more attainable for collectors.
The average values for Jordan Rookies ranging from PSA 2 through PSA 8 range from about $2K to $7K.
Of course, these totals fluctuate wildly based on the overall demand for Jordan Rookie cards.
See our 1980’s Michael Jordan Price Guide for more pricing data.
How Do I Tell If My Jordan Rookie Card Is Real Or Fake?
The 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is one of the most commonly faked cards in the history of the hobby.
Some fakes are easy to spot, especially when you have an authentic 1986 Fleer common card nearby to compare.
But if you want a complete guide to figuring out whether your 1986 Fleer Jordan is a fake, start here. Then, read this guide for even more help in identifying a Jordan Fleer Rookie.
Below, I’ve marked up key spots to examine on the back of an authentic 1986 Fleer Jordan.
One of the more notable and often unknown markings on a real Jordan rookie is the little dot on the bottom half of the card.
If you look at the CORP text on the bottom of the card, focus on the RP, and move higher to the pink background, you will see a tiny white blemish found on all Jordan rookie cards. Under a microscope, it almost looks as if someone chipped off a part of the card.
In addition, many counterfeiters have gone as far as inserting fake Jordan rookie cards in altered or fake grading cases. For help identifying Jordan rookie cards in fake ‘flips,’ read this resource guide.
If you are looking for help in identifying a fake Jordan Fleer Rookie sticker, read this guide.
And for an expert opinion, feel free to post on our Forum and I’ll try to respond.
Finally, if you are on the hunt for a new Star #101 Jordan rookie card, be sure to read this authentication guide to make sure you don’t get burned.
Are Jordan Rookie Reprints Worth Anything?
While counterfeit Jordan rookie cards (those made with the intent of deceiving collectors) are worthless, some later-year reproduction (or reprint) cards have some minor value.
The most notable are the 1996 Ultra Decade Of Excellence Jordan or the Michael Jordan 1996-97 Stadium Club Finest Star #101 Reproduction cards. Note that the Finest set also includes a refractor parallel, shown below.
What’s The Long-Term Investment Potential For Jordan Rookie Cards?
Michael Jordan’s Rookie Cards have seen a huge surge in collector demand over the past several years, however it has been a bumpy ride.
Pandemic-driven hobby demand drove 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie card values into bubble territory, followed by a huge drop in values.
The slack in demand for Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie card has been picked up by intense demand for Jordan’s Star Company rookie cards. The demand has been fueled by PSA’s decision to grade Star Basketball cards, a big turning point in the industry.
As noted, Jordan’s Star rookie cards have significantly limited supplies compared to the 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie card.
If you are looking to invest in a Jordan rookie card, I recommend considering any of the Star Jordan rookies. Due to their limited population, I believe they have better long-term potential.
Where Can I Safely Buy A Michael Jordan Rookie Card?
eBay is still a great place to shop for any Jordan rookie card, and thankfully, eBay now offers more peace of mind with its ‘Authenticity Guarantee’ program.
Many collectors are tempted to buy raw, ungraded Jordan rookies to save money; however, given the amount of fakes in circulation, I suggest purchasing a graded copy.
You can save some money by purchasing a graded Jordan rookie from any non-PSA gradings company like SGC, Beckett, or CSG. The reason is that PSA-graded Jordans sell for a premium. Buy one in an SGC slab for example and you can crossover to PSA to earn a premium on any sale.
Also, look at our store; we often have Jordan rookie cards for sale.
Where Should I Get My Michael Jordan Rookie Card Graded?
I recommend PSA for grading any Michael Jordan rookie card. PSA now also grades any Star Jordan rookies. Ultimately, PSA will provide a significant premium to either SGC or Beckett.
Check out our Michael Jordan PSA Grading Guide for a visual guide to the 1986 Fleer Jordan Rookie card in various conditions.
How Do I Sell A Michael Jordan Rookie Card For Top Dollar?
Again, eBay is a great, liquid marketplace for selling your cards. For high-grade Jordan rookies, you can also consider an online auction house. PSA now offers the ability to sell directly through eBay after grading. This is a great option since you don’t need to handle any shipping or payment collection.
All Vintage Cards is always buying high-quality cards, so feel free to reach out!
Is Jordan’s Second Year Fleer Card Worth Anything?
Jordan’s 1987 Fleer second-year card has a much lower-graded population than his 1986 Fleer rookie card. Still, the 87 Fleer card is only worth a fraction of his rookie cards.
Why Are Rookie Cards Worth More Money?
A PSA 10 1987 Fleer Jordan is worth about $15K to $20K, although mid- to higher-grade copies can be found for under $1000 in many cases.
Keep a heads up for fake copies, as many are floating around.
