Most Valuable Michael Jordan Baseball Cards
Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. He averaged an impressive 28.2 points per game in his rookie season, and after 18 years and 15 seasons later, he still averaged 20 points per game in his last one – truly impressive numbers.
After ten years of professional basketball, when Jordan was at the peak of his career, he decided to retire and play baseball. It was a shocking event that left everyone speechless. However, that didn’t stop Jordan from joining the Chicago White Sox’s AA affiliate – the Birmingham Barons. He played on an average level but drew attention from everywhere because he was by far the most dominant player in the NBA at that moment.
Once Jordan entered the MLB court, he was surrounded by even more journalists trying to get a piece of him. He struggled at first but then picked up the pace and with a lot of dedication and hard work, he managed to become a decent baseball player. Trying hard was exactly what made him a basketball superstar, so that was not unfamiliar to him.
Why Did MJ Quit the NBA?
MJ felt like the NBA was his playground because he achieved everything there was. No player was a match for him. Although he was playing the position of a shooting guard, he was easily defending playmakers, shooting guards, small forwards, and even some of the best NBA power forwards of all time.
After his success in the NBA for the previous 10 seasons, Jordan decided to pursue the dream of his late father, who always envisioned him as one of the best baseball players. However, when the big MLB player strike happened in 1994, Michael feared that he would be used as a replacement player for the pros, and he didn’t like that, so he went back to the Chicago Bulls arena.
The Value of Michael Jordan Cards
Baseball fans often collect cards from their favorite players, and since Michael Jordan was part of the baseball world, he’s expected to have his own baseball card, too. If you’re a fan, you probably already know there is a Michael Jordan Upper Deck baseball card as a player of the Chicago White Sox, but its value is not significant.
What is more interesting is that Michael Jordan’s basketball cards are more valuable than his baseball cards, which is normal because he is considered one of the best and most influential NBA players, and in the MLB, he only had a minor appearance.
His basketball cards are sold as low as $500, and there’s rarely a well-preserved card that will be more affordable than this. The high end of the prices can reach овер а million. The most expensive one is the 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie baseball card in gem mint condition, which sold for $1.44 million in October 2021 at auction.
How much is a Michael Jordan baseball card worth?
Most cards, especially those of the 1991 Upper Deck #55 edition will be available for around $20 to $50. These prices will be available for cards that are rated high in mind condition. Cards in poor condition will be available for lower prices.
1994 Upper Deck #24 Michael Jordan baseball cards are more pricey. They will go from $200 and up to $2000 depending on their mint condition. Of course, signed cards have a much higher value and can be way more expensive as they are very rare.
On the list of the most valuable Michael Jordan baseball cards, number one is the 1991 Upper Deck – #SP1 card that reached a price of almost $19,000. As you can see, there’s a huge difference between MJ’s baseball and basketball cards.
Are Michael Jordan baseball cards a good investment?
You may say that everything that has value is a good investment, but if you must make a choice between basketball and baseball cards, then it’s better to go with the NBA rather than the MLB. Cards get their value by demand and rarity, and Michael Jordan is a basketball icon, so it’s normal that everyone wants to have the basketball player MJ in their collection rather than the baseball player.
The price of baseball cards has grown over the years, but the growth rate is not as high as one investor might want. If you bought a card for a few dollars 10 years ago, your value might have doubled, but you won’t get rich out of it.
On the other hand, basketball cards continually grow at a much higher rate because of the higher demand and the popularity of Michael Jordan. If you must choose, always go with the basketball option. If profit is your main goal, that’s the better option, but if you’re a passionate baseball fan, then don’t underestimate your feelings and opt for a baseball card.