there are superstars of the hobby and then there is michael jordan. he transcends all that comes his way and the michael jordan cards will be the measuring stick for all that follows.
no matter the release, michael jordan cards sell. while there are thousands selling from the price of lunch to a hefty home mortgage, there are some elite standouts.
The list of Michael Jordan cards below isn’t all about value, although there are certainly tons of pieces worth investing in here. Rather, we look at 23 Michael Jordan cards that could be considered cornerstones of just about any collection. they trace his early years, wacky inserts, limited parallels, autographs and memory cards. above all, they capture our attention.
Buy qualified michael jordan cards at auction on ebay.
This is not a definitive list of the best Michael Jordan cards. there are too many of them. elite michael jordan cards are like works of art made by the masters. every time these cards appear, they seem to break records. Here are 23 Michael Jordan cards worth looking at and dreaming about adding to your cardboard collection.
jordan has many other standout cards, including the 1980s core cards and core inserts, in addition to his exquisite collector cards strong> premium and even a selection of baseball cards and golf cards.
see also: hot list of michael jordan cards in real time
the 23 best michael jordan cards to collect
Sets linked in description go to detailed product profiles. Check current prices and values ​​using eBay links.
1986-1987 michael jordan rc #57
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the rookie card 1986-87 rookie of michael jordan is one of the most important cards in the history of the hobby. For modern playing card collecting, it could be argued that it is as iconic as the 1952 Topps baseball Mickey Mantle to vintage collectors. however, given their popularity and value, mj rookie counterfeits are a big deal, so be careful when buying.
Those who look beyond their first traveler card are in luck, as there are also many more michael jordan key cards from the 1980s.
1996 spx michael jordan autograph
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The 1996 spx michael jordan autograph is his first signed basketball card. these die-cut beauties feature signatures on the cards and rarely go on sale.
1996-97 e-x2000 a cut above michael jordan #5
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is it a basketball card or a circular saw? 1996-97 e-x2000 a cut above cards 1:288 packs were inserted, making any given card extremely difficult to come by. given the intricate design, condition can also be an issue.
1996-97 style display legacy collection row 2 michael jordan #23 #/150
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the path of high end michael jordan cards is paved with a ton of low number parallels. While the Michael Jordan Legacy Collection Row 2 1996-97 Style Showcase isn’t the rarest, it’s certainly one of the most beautiful. Combining an action shot in the foreground with an emotional portrait in the background, the card shines with elegance.
1996-97 metal net-rageous michael jordan #5
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the 1996-97 metal mesh michael jordan is another outrageous mid-90s insert that’s ridiculously hard to find. Loud and proud, the die-cast playing cards can be found in 1:288 packs.
1997-98 e-x2001 jambalaya michael jordan #6
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another wild insert from the era, 1997-98 e-x2001 jambalaya focused on the best shooters in basketball. And when you talk about the best shooters in the game, Michael Jordan is king. inserted at a very difficult 1:720 pack rate, jambalaya remains one of the most desirable insert sets ever created.
1997-1998 thrill seekers michael jordan #7
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Mixing a holofoil gloss, a matte front, and some hideous fonts, there’s no mistaking the era that 1997-98 thrill-seeker michael jordan came from. the cards in the ten card set are a box hit, dropping 1:288 packs.
1997-98 metal universe precious metal gems michael jordan #23 #/100
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grandfather of parallels, if you have a 1997-1998 metal universe michael jordan precious metal gems, you have some tuition payments for your children’s college education. and textbooks. and a lifetime supply of kraft dinner. the bright red background is perfectly appropriate for jordan. Although numbered up to 100, only 90 of the famous precious metal gem cards are red.
the remaining 10 cards are green. and if you have one of those, you can trade it for a house, white picket fence and all.
1997-98 supreme ultra star power michael jordan #sps1
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if you haven’t figured it out yet, fleer ruled the wild insert designs, parallels, and hard pulls of the mid to late 1990s. the 1997-98 ultra star power supreme michael jordan is a parallel case hit that combines a die-cut design with holofoil. Individual singles in the 20-card set appear in 1997-98 Ultra Series 2 Basketball 1:288 packs.
1997-98 ultra stars gold michael jordan #1
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1997-98 ultra stars was the success of series one of the series. of those, ten percent received the ultra gold star treatment. basically, the 1997-98 ultrastars gold michael jordan is an impossible parallel to an almost impossible set. and has everything jazz and flash collectors expect and love.
1997-98 michael jordan top cover game jersey #gj13
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the first jersey card used in a michael jordan game might not be the prettiest. but it’s still the first. with 22 cards in the game, even odds of one per box would make it difficult. try 1:2,500 boosters for any card in the set. that’s 1:55,000 packs for the 1997-98 michael jordan top cover game jerseys.
There is also an autographed version that is hand numbered up to 23 copies.
1998-1999 fleeting tradition michael jordan theater #9 #/100
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Limited to 100 copies, the 1998-1999 Michael Jordan Theater with Game Makers lore has a lot going for it. it is embossed and has a great golden shine. collectors should beware of versions that do not have engravings or serial numbers. They were probably in fleer’s files when the company went out of business and the assets were sold.
1998-99 hoops slam bams michael jordan #1 #/100
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michael jordan, 1998 to 1999, is a strange beast. while he has great photography, the overall design is among the busiest he has ever come across. oh yeah, he’s numbered at 100 copies, so he turns heads every time he shows up.
1998-99 metal universe precious metal gems michael jordan #1 #/50
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Instead of reaching 100 like the previous year, the 1998-99 metal universe michael jordan precious metal gems has only 50 copies. The parallel’s immense popularity and low numbering make this one of the best Michael Jordan card prizes.
1998-99 skybox michael jordan cast metal fusion #41#/250
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The 1998-99 Skybox Diecast Metal Fusion Michael Jordan is unique with its tiny die-cut dots that combine to create the portrait of the legend. while the basic fusion parallel has a number of 250, a titanium version is much stronger at only 40 copies.
1998-99 skybox premium star rubies michael jordan #23#/50
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Reminiscent of something Pacific might have created with his Prism Lines a few years earlier, the 1998-99 Star Rubies Michael Jordan Skybox Premium is one of the most desired side cards of all time. Numbered up to 50, it shows Jordan preparing to drive to the hoop.
1998-99 skybox thunder noyz boyz michael jordan #9
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Who names these cards? Although the title may be horrible, it’s memorable, kind of like those late-night TV jingles that stick with you for months. The distinctive die-cut design and rarity (1:300 packs) make the 1998-99 Skybox Thunder Noyz Boyz Michael Jordan one of the best insert cards in the hobby.
1998-99 michael jordan top cover game jersey
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Based on the 1997-98 Upper Deck insert, the 1998-99 Upper Deck Basketball Worn In-Game line of jerseys offers another key mj jersey heirloom card.
In addition, Upper Deck released six different Michael Jordan autograph jersey cards in 1998-99, all of them numbered up to 23. They all rank among the best Michael Jordan cards ever created.
1999 michael jordan top deck clerk game shirt #/275
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The upper deck staff has obtained incredible exclusive cards over the years. Perhaps none is more beautiful than Michael Jordan’s 1999 Top Deck Clerk Game T-shirt. Numbered 275, the card shows Jordan taking the last original shot of his. the card was produced for staff only and was not inserted into packages.
1999-00 top cover hologrfx shoetime autograph michael jordan #mja #/23
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when you think of michael jordan, a handful of iconic things come to mind: the number 23, his impressive dunks and his signature sneakers. The air jordan shoe line is bigger than the game. However, it has only appeared on a handful of Michael Jordan cards. The 1999-00 top cover michael jordan hologrfx shoetime autograph is one of the first of a few shoe cards signed by the greats.
2000-01 definitive collection signatures gold michael jordan #mjg autograph #/25
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the greatest strength of the michael jordan ultimate 2000-01 signatures gold collection is its simplicity. and autograph. and numbering limited to 25.
2003-04 u cup 1-2 jersey combo autographs lebron james, michael jordan #ljmj #/10
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the 2003-04 ud glass 1-2 lebron james/michael jordan combo jersey is the only lebron james rookie year card to combine the pair’s signatures and jersey swatches. Numbered to just ten copies, the design is somewhat understated given its importance. The couple signed many more letters together since then, but this is one of the best.
2003-04 exquisite collection michael jordan #3 #/225
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When was the last time you saw a modern base card that wasn’t a rookie card for $500 or more? It’s unheard of, almost. michael jordan and the exquisite 2003-04 collection are two very special beasts. one is the best player, the other is the best team. mj also has many other awesome exquisite cards.
