Michael Jordan cards from the ’80s
This article will discuss the top 25 Michael Jordan basketball cards from the ’80s and include stickers. Click on the link below each image to check updated pricing or shop that card on eBay. Make sure to read the other Michael Jordan articles listed below. Remember, collect what you like and spend what you can afford.
#25
1989 Hoops All-Star
Michael Jordan #21
PSA 10 sold for $100
1989 Hoops All-Star Michael Jordan card.
If you want to add an affordable yet collectible Michael Jordan card from the ’80s to your collection, consider buying his All-Star card from the Hoops set. Jordan is shown preparing to drive to the basket during his all-star appearance in the 1989 All-Star game on this well-designed card.
With the combination of red, white, and blue on the card and Jordan’s jersey, we get a USA patriotic feel, which is a bonus for any American collector.
How many has PSA graded?
PSA graded an impressive 17,978 of Jordan’s All-Star cards. Of that large number, 3,552 are in gem mint 10 conditions, 7,766 mint 9, 3,044 NM-MT 8, and the remaining in PSA 7 or less. By no means are these cards rare, which is why you can buy a PSA 10 example for $100.
#24
1989 Hoops
Michael Jordan #200
PSA 10 sold for $115
1989 Hoops Michael Jordan basketball card.
The second most affordable Michael Jordan card from the ’80s is the base card from the ’89 Hoops set. Despite being massively overprinted, these ’89 Hoops cards offer a clean design, including red borders, a sharp photo of Jordan, and his name prominently displayed at the top.
How many of Jordan’s Hoops cards are in a PSA case?
PSA graded 25,165 of Jordan’s ’89 Hoops base set cards, with 4,590 grading gem mint 10, 11,987 mint 9, and the remaining PSA 8 or less. In no way are these rare, even in PSA 10 condition, which is why you can buy one for $100. Is your collection complete without one, though?
#23
1989 Fleer
Michael Jordan #21
PSA 10 sold for $1,100
1989 Fleer Michael Jordan card.
The ’89 Fleer Jordan card is flooded with the Chicago Bulls team colors of red and white and even a team logo in the upper right-hand corner. This, to many collectors, makes this card highly collectible and a must-have in their collection.
What is the total PSA population of Jordan’s ’89 Fleer card?
1989 Fleer basketball cards aren’t known for their rarity. They are, however, somewhat difficult to get high grades in. So far, PSA has seen 9,968 of the Michael Jordan basketball cards from the 1989 Fleer set. Of those submitted, only 893 were found in gem mint condition. Which makes an example, when found in such condition, valued at around $150.
#22
1987 Merchante Stickers
Michael Jordan #113
PSA 5 sold for $1,250
1987 J. Merchante basketball stickers.
The 1987 Merchante basketball stickers are similar to Panini stickers and come with an album. They have advertisements on the back featuring Converse shoes with the saying “La Zapatilla de la Estrella,” a translation meaning The Slipper of the Star. This set has two Michael Jordan stickers, including #146 and #113. His card #113 seems to be the favored card, with Jordan shown doing a reverse dunk.
How many Michael Jordan 1987 Merchante stickers are there?
PSA graded 32 of his #113 stickers and 50 of his #146. No examples are in gem mint condition, and three are in mint 9. Because most stickers have been peeled and placed in an album, many examples are in less-than-mint condition.
#21
1988 Panini Spanish Sticker
Michael Jordan #285
PSA 10 sold for $1,325
1988 Panini Spanish basketball stickers.
1988 is the second year of the NBA Panini stickers. This set has three Michael Jordan stickers, including numbers 76, 261, and 285. Numbers 285 and 261 carry the same value; however, his number 76 is more valuable and is further up on the list. There are many Hall of Fame players in the set, including Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, and Hakeem Olajuwon name a few.
How many are in PSA’s population reports?
The three variations have a similar pop report, with roughly 100 submitted. They don’t appear very challenging to grade, with 15 examples in gem mint condition on each card.
#20
1986 Merchante Spanish
Michael Jordan #163
PSA 5 sold for $1,800
1986 Merchante Spanish stickers.
Another Spanish album sticker set with Michael Jordan in it is the 1986 Merchante Spanish set. Because this set was printed during Michael Jordan’s rookie year, the #163 card is recognized as a Michael Jordan rookie sticker card. When found in high grades, they are pretty valuable.
However, because they are stickers intended to be stuck in an album, they are tough to find in near-mint condition. High-grade examples are some of the rarest Michael Jordan Cards from the ’80s.
What is the population report on these?
As of today, PSA has graded and authenticated just 52 of these ultra-rare Jordan stickers. Of that small amount, the highest grade achieved has been a PSA 8 with just 1, which has yet to surface for auction.
The highest grade recorded selling has been the PSA 5 shown above. If it hits the auction table, we can only imagine what the PSA 8 example would sell for.
#19
1989 De La NBA Spanish Sticker
Michael Jordan sticker #13
PSA 3 sold for $1,901
1989 De La NBA Spanish Sticker set.
The 1989 Michael Jordan Spanish sticker is part of a scarce Spanish sticker set. They were distributed in Mexico to be collected and placed in an album entitled Los Ases de la NBA.
This set features 72 stickers of NBA players, many of which are in the Hall of Fame. Because they are so rare and the first of their kind, they are highly collectible and valuable.
PSA’s population report.
To discover just how rare these cards are, we must look at PSA’s population report. So far, they have authenticated and graded just 12 of the Jordan stickers.
With none grading higher than a 3, most examples submitted were probably peeled and stuck to the paper album, which significantly lowered the condition. Regardless, they are still very collectible and valuable.
#18
1988 Entenmann’s
Michael Jordan #23
PSA 10 sold for $2,280
1988 Entenmann’s basketball promotional set.
Of the many companies that printed promotional sets to advertise their products in the ’80s, Entenmann’s made one of the more popular. In 1988 Entenmann inserted sealed 12-card Bulls team sets in their products, which Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen highlighted. When found in gem mint condition, the Jordans can reach prices upwards of $2,000.
How many PSA examples are there?
PSA graded 333 of these sweet and savory cards, with 130 grading PSA 10, 160 mint 9, 21 NM-MT 8, and the remaining PSA 7 or less.. This means we have roughly a 50/50 chance of landing a 10 if submitting one. Because not many have been submitted, these are some of the rare Michael Jordan Cards from the ’80s to find in a PSA case.
#17
1987 Entenmann’s
Michael Jordan #23
PSA 10 sold for $2,460
1987 Entenmann’s Michael Jordan promotional card.
1987 is the first year of Entenmann’s NBA promotional cards; therefore, the ’87 issue holds more value. However, PSA 10 examples of the ’88 and ’87 sell for about the same price because the ’87 issue was; first, it holds slightly more value. It consists of the same amount of players (12) and features members from the Chicago Bulls.
What are the PSA population numbers?
PSA graded 382 of Jordan’s 1987 Entenmann’s cards, with 59 grading gem mint 10, 271 mint 9, 29 NM-MT 8, and the remaining PSA 7 or less.
#16
1988 Fleer
Michael Jordan #17
PSA 10 sold for $2,900
1988 Fleer basketball card set.
Jordan’s 1988 Fleer card is another excellent card flooded with the Chicago Bulls team colors. This is a classic Jordan card that most collectors who collected in the ’80s probably have in their collection.
However, when in raw condition, the price is significantly lower than in a graded example. This is because the print runs on these cards were much higher than the previous cards on this list. So, to find value in the ’88 Fleer card, it must be in a PSA 10 case.
Population Report
As of today, PSA has seen a staggering 12,212 of these early Jordan cards. Because the population is so high, near-mint-to-mint examples are much less valuable than gem-mint examples. There are only 492 PSA 10s, which average about $550 per sale. Mint 9 copies sell for $80 on average.
#15
1989 Fleer Sticker
Michael Jordan #120
PSA 10 sold for $3,161
1989 Fleer Sticker basketball cards.
Rounding out the list at #10 is the 1989 Fleer Michael Jordan sticker #3. Full of America’s patriotic red, white and blue, this card was part of an 11-card All-Star subset. The set highlighted the 11 players from the ’89 NBA All-Star team and included NBA Hall of Famers such as Larry Bird, Akeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and Michael Jordan.
Although very collectible, raw, un-graded copies are not valuable. What makes the selling price of this card so high is the sheer fact that it’s in PSA 10 case. Because this set has common issues with centering, soft corners, and whitening on the colored borders, they are difficult to find in high grades.
Population Report
A PSA 10 example of Jordan’s ’88 Fleer Sticker card is one of the rarest. Because 6,972 copies have been submitted to PSA and only 77 were declared gem mint 10, the rarest example in the set is such a condition. Other players in the set have much lower populations with slightly fewer gem mint 10s.
#14
1988 Fleer
Michael Jordan #120
PSA 10 sold for #3,500
1988 Fleer basketball card set.
Another valuable Michael Jordan card from the ’88 Fleer set is his All-Star #120 card. Unlike the ’88 Fleer base set card holding the #14 position on this list, the All-Star card is slightly rarer in a PSA case. This may impact the selling price being $200 more than the base set card.
Furthermore, the photo of Jordan soaring through the air is much more appealing than the photo of him dribbling in his #17 card. Also, this photo has a much brighter background that contrasts nicely with Jordan’s darker skin. Which allows for a much better photo of Jordan in his 1980s Chicago uniform.
Population Report
With 5,890 cards submitted to PSA, the availability is about half of the base set #17 card. There are, however, 317 PSA 10 examples in rotation which is more than half of the base set #17 card.
When it comes to collectability and value, I think it depends on the individual collector. Because both cards come from the same set, they should technically have the same print run and rarity factor.
#13
1988 Starting Lineup
Michael Jordan
PSA 10 sold for $3,550
1988 Kenner Starting Lineup Michael Jordan card.
The 1988 Starting Lineup Jordan card is valuable in gem mint condition. Because the borders are dark blue and the increased chances of being damaged in the Starting Lineup package, they are tough to find in high grades. Making them rare and collectible Michael Jordan Cards from the ’80s.
Population Report
Surprisingly, PSA has seen just 560 of the ’88 Starting Lineup Jordan cards. Even more surprising is that just 36 of those 560 were found in PSA 10, gem mint condition. This is why a prestigious PSA 10 example sell for so much more.
Consider picking up a Staring Lineup for about $30 and submitting the card to PSA. Look for a package with minimal wear and tear. You don’t want the card to have soft corners from being shaken or thrown around.
#12
1988 Panini Spanish Sticker
Michael Jordan #76
PSA 10 sold for #3,590
1988 Panini Spanish stickers.
A remarkable portrait of Michael Jordan can be found in his 1988 Panini Spanish Sticker. These are smaller than traditional sports cards measuring roughly 2″ tall by 1.75″ wide. Bright white borders that are even on both sides, crisp corners, and a sharp image are common gem mint 10 examples.
Because of the clean design and the rarity of this sticker, it is one of the more collectible Michael Jordan stickers from the ’80s.
Population Report
With 92 examples seen by PSA, Michael Jordan’s #76 sticker is the more populated option. It currently has just 15 examples graded in PSA 10, gem mint condition, which sell for roughly $500 apiece. Mint 9 copies are slightly more populated and fetch around $125.
#11
1989 Starting Lineup
Michael Jordan
PSA 10 sold for $4,076
1989 Starting Lineup Michael Jordan collectible.
In 1989, Starting Lineup created a One on One series with rivals of the same sport. Michael Jordan, of course, was paired up with his nemesis Isiah Thomas. This package is where you can find his 1989 Starting Lineup One on One card basketball card. Because they are loosely set in a plastic package that was more than likely shaken quite a bit during shipping and stocking, finding a gem mint example will prove to be pretty tricky. Which is why they sell for roughly $450.
How many Jordan cards are in PSA’s population report?
Just 97 cards have been submitted to PSA, and only 17 were declared gem mint 10. PSA 8 and 9 populations are balanced at around 30 each. The lowest grade given so far has been a 3. Because these came in an already collectible package, these are some of the most collectible Michael Jordan Cards from the ’80s.
#10
1989 North Carolina Collegiate Collection
Michael Jordan (Gold) #18
PSA 10 sold for $6,952
1989 North Carolina Collegiate basketball card set.
When browsing the internet for Michael Jordan cards, you’ve likely come across his 1989 North Carolina Collegiate cards. These were printed by Coca-Cola as promotional cards and are very common. However, the Gold parallels are fairly rare, especially in gem mint condition. There are said to be only 1,000 produced.
Gold cards can be distinguished by the gold foil border surrounding the photo of Jordan. Additionally, North Carolina’s Finest font is printed in similar gold foil. Furthermore, Michael Jordan is number 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 65 in the set. Of those seven cards, his #17 card is the highest seller.
How rare are the Gold parallel cards?
When looking at PSA’s population report for the ’89 Carolina Collegiate cards, you’ll notice the Gold parallels are much less populated than the base versions. For example, his #17 base card has an 8,111 population, while the Gold has just 135. Because they are much rarer, they are the more expensive Michael Jordan Cards from the ’80s.
#9
1986 Sports Illustrated Poster Test Sticker
Michael Jordan #4465
PSA 9 sold for $8,601
What are the 1986 Sports Illustrated stickers?
Have you ever shopped for a poster in the mall? Usually, there are metal bins below the poster with the designated number on the poster to pull the actual poster from. Well, these stickers were intended to be put in the bin of the corresponding poster in the display. They were never intended to be collected or saved. So, they are scarce.
How many players are in the set?
The set consists of 20 stickers of players from all sports, including John Elway, Don Mattingly, Lawrence Taylor, Magic Johnson, and more. They are a niche collection not meant for everyone to collect because they are so rare and hard to find. Take a gander on eBay and see if any 20 are available. You’ll soon realize how rare they are.
How many of Jordan’s Sports Illustrated stickers are there?
Amazingly, 46 Michael Jordan stickers managed to be saved and sent off to PSA for grading. Of that small amount, fourteen are in mint 9 conditions, thirteen in NM-MT 8, and the remaining PSA 7 or less. The most recent sale was of a PSA 9 example that sold in October 2022 on eBay for $8,601.
#8
1985 Prism
Michael Jordan rookie card sticker
PSA 6 sold for $10,100
1985 Prism/Jewel NBA stickers.
At first glance, with a prism-like shine, this Michael Jordan card appears to be from a modern set. However, it is a sticker measuring approximately 2 11/16″ by 4″.
Distributed in vending machines before Jordan’s rookie year, this is one of his first printed collectibles ever. It is part of a 40-card set with other NBA greats such as Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul Jabar, and Magic Johnson, to name a few.
Because of its elusiveness, this sticker is one of Jordan’s more valuable and rare basketball cards from the ’80s.
Population Report
Only 67 ultra-rare Jordan stickers are coming through PSA headquarters for grading. Of those 67 stickers, just 1 was declared to be in gem mint condition. Which drove the price up to a breathtaking $25,600 when it went up for auction in 2016.
#7
1985 Nike
Michael Jordan’s Promotional Card
PSA 10 sold for $15,600
1985 Nike Promo Cards
Jordan’s shoe and apparel company, Nike, produced two cards featuring its leading spokesman, one in 1985 and the other in 1991. In the 1985 set, Nike produced a five-card, multisport set of 5-by-7-inch postcards. Factory-sealed sets sell on eBay for roughly $200. With the Jordan card as the last card in the back, it is more susceptible to damage. So pay close attention to the corners and packaging if purchasing a set yourself.
How many of Jordan’s 1985 Nike promo cards are there?
PSA graded 3,674 of Jordan’s Nike promo, with 171 grading gem mint 10, 1,071 mint 9, and the remaining grading PSA 8 or less. The number of sets produced is unknown; however, the population report shows few in supply.
#6
1987 Fleer
Michael Jordan #59
PSA 10 sold for $16,200
1987 Fleer basketball card set.
With light grey borders, bright player action photos, contrasting font colors, and a boxed design, the 1987 Fleer set screams retro ’80s basketball card. You’re probably familiar with this set if you are an 80’s basketball card collector.
To summarize, it’s a 132-card set packed with the greatest NBA players from the 1980s, including Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and many more. These cards sell for monster prices when found in high PSA 10 cases. Mint condition cards have also been known to land pretty hefty prices.
Population Report
Overall, there have been 11,306 of the Jordan cards submitted to PSA. With only 196 landing a gem mint grade, they are becoming increasingly rare in such conditions. The next best card in this set is the Larry Bird #11 card, which sells for over $1,000 when found in a PSA 10 case.
#5
1988 Fleer Sticker
Michael Jordan #7
PSA 10 sold for $20,100
1988 Fleer Michael Jordan sticker.
Another more expensive Jordan sticker card is from the ’88 Fleer set. Although it’s just 1 year apart from the ’89 Fleer sticker, it’s 13 times more valuable when found in gem mint condition.
With the red, white, and blue colors on the ’88 Super-Star sticker, we discover where the ’89 All-Star card inherited its patriotic theme. Besides his rookie year, this is recognized as Michael Jordan’s most expensive Fleer sticker.
Population Report
4,436 Jordan Super Star stickers have been submitted to land a gem mint 10 grade. Unfortunately, just 11 copies were found in such a lustrous condition. Because only 11 examples can be found in such conditions, the cost of owning one has gone through the roof.
In 2016, an auction ended at $19,109! But has since gone down to more realistic numbers, like the sale of one in 2017 for $9,209.
#4
1987 Fleer Sticker
Michael Jordan #8
PSA 10 sold for $46,819
1987 Fleer Sticker basketball cards.
Regarding the Fleer Stickers, Jordan’s 1986 rookie sticker #8 is the one to own. It is part of a highly populated set with 32,772 examples submitted to PSA. With 11,000 of them being the Jordan card, he is the most popular of the 11-player set.
Even though 0ver 11,000 were submitted for grading, just 118 were found in gem mint condition. Common issues found in this set are poor centering, soft corners, and surface staining. Remember, they are over 20 years old and were printed in an era when card grading did not exist.
Raw condition
Because this is recognized as a Michael Jordan rookie card, un-graded and low-grade copies are still valuable, even though PSA has graded over 11,000. If you have a copy, you should consider having it encased by PSA.
#3
1986 Fleer Sticker
Michael Jordan rookie card sticker #8
PSA 10 sold for $47,433
1986 Fleer Sticker basketball card set.
The most valuable Michael Jordan sticker is his 1986 Fleer rookie card sticker. This is his first sticker from a mainstream sports card brand and can be found in packs of 1986 Fleer basketball boxes. There are 11 total players in the set, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Julius Erving, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Moreover, stickers were found one per pack, so they are slightly rarer than base set cards.
How many Michael Jordan rookie stickers are in PSA’s population report?
PSA graded 17,587 of Jordan’s rookie stickers, with 122 grading gem mint, 2,031 mint 9, 4,079 NM-MT 8, and the remaining PSA 7 or less. The majority of cards are in near-mint-to-mint condition, with 4,079. Be sure to grade your cards well before submitting them to PSA.
What is the value of Michael Jordan’s 1986 sticker rookie?
UIngraded examples of Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie sticker are between $300 – $1,000, depending on the condition. PSA 8 near-mint-to-mint examples sell for $1,100, while mint 9’s sell for $3,300.
#2
1985 Interlake Bulls
Michael Jordan rookie card
PSA 10 sold for $87,330
1985 Interlake Bulls Michael Jordan rookie card.
Jordan’s 1985 Interlake bulls card is his most valuable oversized card. It is an impressive 5″ x 7″ collectible – produced as a component of a Chicago Bulls team set jointly sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America and the Interlake Youth Incentive Program. This is a critical item in the great player’s early-career commemoratives.
Lookout for reprints and fakes.
When looking for this oversized card, be careful of forgeries. Because this is a high-demand card, you must be cautious of counterfeits. Counterfeits are easily distinguishable by their thin card stock and glossier surface.
#1
1986 Fleer
Michael Jordan rookie card #57
PSA 10 recently sold for $191,563
1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card.
Little introduction is needed for the number one Michael Jordan card from the ’80s. We all know it’s his 1986 Fleer rookie card. To many, the 1986 Fleer rookie card is his number-one basketball card of all time, even though it’s not his highest-selling card. Check out some of his highest-selling cards in the Ultimate Michael Jordan basketball card list. Despite having many of these cards printed, they still hold a lot of value due to the high demand.
How many ’86 fleer Jordan rookie cards are in PSA’s population report?
An impressive 24,417 of the ’86 Fleer Jordan rookies have been submitted to PSA. Of that massive amount, 319 are in gem mint condition, 2,891 in mint 9, 8,422 in NM-MT 8, and the remaining PSA 7 or less.
If the population for the 10 stays this low, keeping the supply down, I imagine the price will increase over the next 10 years.
What is the value of Michael Jordan’s 1986 Fleer rookie card?
Ungraded examples of Jordan’s ’86 Fleer rookie card are between $1,250 – $2,000, depending on the condition. Due to counterfeits and reprints, buying an ungraded example from a non-reputable dealer is not recommended. For the same money, you can buy a PSA authenticated or lower-graded example for under $3,000.
The highest recorded sale of a gem mint 10 example was for $738,000 by Goldin Auctions. This was during the height of Michael Jordan’s Last Dance documentary and the sports card boom.
From a young age, Matt dove deep into sports card valuation, turning to esteemed price guides like Beckett and Tuff Stuff. Eventually he extended to Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With a vision to sustain and nurture the hobby he loved, Matt established the ‘Graded Card Investor’ YouTube channel and website. He aims to foster a healthy community and offer invaluable insights to those entering the world of sports cards and TCGs. His depth of understanding, from the card market’s 2020 pinnacle to its 1990s valleys, is consistently fortified by meticulous research.
