Michael Jordan is one of the most famous athletes of all time known primarily for his legendary basketball career with the Chicago Bulls. What many people may not realize is that Jordan was also a standout baseball player in high school and had aspirations to play professional baseball before deciding to pursue a career in the NBA. While his baseball career was relatively short-lived, Jordan’s time playing the sport led to some highly sought after baseball cards that have become very valuable collectors items over the years. Here is a closer look at some of the best and most valuable Jordan baseball cards on the market today.
1984 Fleer #57 – One of the earliest and rarest Jordan baseball cards is from his rookie season in 1984 with the Fleer brand. Only about 100 of these cards are known to exist in mint condition making it extremely scarce. The card features a young Jordan in his baseball uniform from Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Given its rarity and status as Jordan’s true rookie baseball card, mint condition versions have sold for over $100,000 at auction. Even well-worn copies in poor shape can still fetch thousands. This is considered the holy grail for any serious Jordan or baseball card collector.
1991 Stadium Club #76 – After leaving basketball to pursue a minor league baseball career in the Chicago White Sox organization in 1994, Jordan’s time in the minor leagues made him eligible for prospect cards. The 1991 Stadium Club release stands out as one of the more iconic from this period. It shows a smiling Jordan in his Birmingham Barons uniform from the Class AA Southern League. Higher grade copies have sold for $15,000-$25,000 depending on condition. This remains one of the key Jordan baseball cards for any collection.
1991 Score #469 – Another prospect card released during Jordan’s time in the minors. What makes the 1991 Score issue unique is the photo, which was taken during an actual baseball game and shows Jordan swinging at a pitch. This on-field action shot gives the card a memorable look. Near mint copies have sold for $8,000-$12,000 at auction in recent years.
1994 Score #770 – As Jordan’s lone season playing professional baseball was coming to an end in 1994, Score released one final baseball card featuring #23. It captures him in the dugout for the Barons. While not quite as iconic as some of his earlier prospect issues, it serves as the bookend to chronicle his time spent pursuing baseball. Higher grade copies typically sell for $2,000-$5,000.
1995 Upper Deck Minors #70 – After retiring from baseball in 1994, Upper Deck still wanted to commemorate Jordan’s time in the minor leagues with one final card in their 1995 Minors set. It reuses the same photo from his 1991 Stadium Club issue. While not quite as early or rare as some others, it remains a key piece for any Jordan baseball card collection. Mint condition copies have sold for $1,000-$2,000.
As his popularity and legend continued to grow after returning to the NBA, Jordan’s prospect baseball cards from the early 1990s have become some of the most valuable and sought after in the entire collecting hobby. Even relatively common issues still carry premium prices due to the association with Jordan’s name and status as one of the most iconic athletes ever. For the serious collector, finding high quality copies of his earliest rookie cards from 1984 and 1991 could require a small fortune. But assembling a complete set of Jordan’s baseball cards serves as a fascinating window into a lesser known chapter of his athletic career before he cemented his legacy in the NBA.
