Filed under: Fleer, Hall of Fame, NBA | Tags: 1986-87 Fleer basketball, Basketball, basketball cards, Beckett Grading Services, Beckett Media, BGS, BGS 10, chicago bulls, Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan Rookie Card, NBA
A BGS 10 Pristine copy of Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 Fleer Rookie Card has sold for $200,000 in a privately brokered deal.
The card, one of only two BGS 10s in existence, was purchased by Georgia native Sean Storms, an investor who focuses on elite cards such as these. His plans for the card? To pair it with its other BGS 10 buddy and tuck them away in his private collection.
“It won’t see the light of day for at least 10 years, maybe 15,” he said. “I’m very excited to have the card.”
The card wasn’t easy to find, and Storms is seriously interested in finding the other BGS 10.
“There are only two perfect cards in the world,” he said, noting that he’s confident that the 10s aren’t comparable to the 9.5s out there, many of which have been resubmitted by owners seeking grade bumps multiple times only to have had the 10 elude them.
It’s not the only notable transaction of the year for Storms, who works in the solar energy field, as he sold a BGS 10 Joe Montana 1981 Topps Rookie Card for $65,880 in June.
While 4,675 copies of the Jordan card have been graded, this perfect specimen is one of only two cards to receive the mark from Beckett Grading Services.
This card, which was the first Jordan RC to receive the perfect Pristine grade, was reportedly sold for $150,000 in 2006. However, that sale never was confirmed.
The card’s subgrades included 10s for its centering, edges and corners and a 9.5 for its surface condition. The only other BGS 10 has 10s across the board with the exception of a 9.5 subgrade for its edges.
The first BGS 9.5 copy of the Jordan RC — there have been 116 to reach that mark since — went for $77,600 in a June 2003 deal.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
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The Beckett Blog 
I know that card says pristine and has three 10s to show for it, but that 9.5 for surface sticks out like a sore thumb. Sad to say that about a 9.5 grade, but a 9.5 isn’t a 10. I understand the grading scale, just a comment.
Speaking of which, how big is the difference between a 9.5 surface and a 10? Are we talking one misplaced fiber? Wouldn’t that make it a 9? Ah, I’m just splitting hairs. Pun intended. :) Beautiful card, just not as good looking at $200k looks.
Comment by Newspaperman November 18, 2009 @ 11:02 am[…] […]
Pingback by Perfect Michael Jordan Rookie Card sells for $200,000 - Blowout Cards Forums November 18, 2009 @ 11:04 amwhy did the surface get a 9.5? what prevented it from getting a 10 on the surface?
Comment by President Obama November 18, 2009 @ 11:37 am[…] Here is the original: Perfect Michael Jordan Rookie Card sells for $200000 « The Beckett … […]
Pingback by How to Jump Higher in Basketball » Blog Archive » Perfect Michael Jordan Rookie Card sells for $200000 « The Beckett … November 18, 2009 @ 7:59 pmWho bought the card. These so-called sales are really only to the benefit of the seller and buyer (who I think were working together). They created an illusional value.
I remember in the early 1980s, a small group of collectors in the were selling 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards among themselves. It worked like this:
Collector A sells it to B for $100, then B sells it to C for $200, C sells it to D for $300, D sells it to E for $400 and E sells it to A for $500. (Now the publicity of the card is becoming well known). A then sells to Joe Blow for $600. All the while A, B, C, D, and E, have a stash of Mantles among themselves.
Comment by John Bateman November 18, 2009 @ 8:20 pmWho bought the card? Apparently you missed the second paragraph.
Explain to me how your buying scheme works when there are only two BGS 10 copies in existence. I don’t get it.
Comment by chrisolds November 19, 2009 @ 9:43 am[…] Jordan Rookie for $200k Apparently sports cards are still worth something, as a Michael Jordan rookie card (one of only two in the world given a condition grade of 10) just sold for $200,000. […]
Pingback by Jordan Rookie for $200k – spincitydotorg November 19, 2009 @ 10:45 am[…] of the most popular sports card price guide and the company that graded the card, published the story on their website about the card’s sale to Sean Storms. They claim in the article that the card is perfect, yet […]
Pingback by You call that perfect? | Bent Corner November 19, 2009 @ 1:34 pmI have three of these 1986-87 Fleer Rookie Card’s in my private collection. One is totally bent up and beat to crap, the other two though are in perfect shape. When looking how these cards are graded I cant help but think one of my cards would come in at around an 8. The other, it looks just as good as the one above. I have not taken these cards out of my private safe in close to 15 years but, seeing the amount of money that they ring makes me want to 1. send it out to get graded and 2. SELL the things.
Comment by Face5535 November 19, 2009 @ 3:52 pmi’m still waiting on an explanation as to why the surface got a 9.5. do the graders fill out paper work explaining what defects they found? half grades are stupid. the difference between a 9.5 and a 10 are microscopic. i can understand why a card recieved a 9 and not a 10
Comment by President Obama November 19, 2009 @ 4:55 pmI have one that was giving to me and claims to be rated at 8.0 is that worth anything.
Comment by Mike November 19, 2009 @ 8:02 pmI just got an amazing rookie fleer number 57 jordan that was in a hockey card collection that I picked up for 50$.The card looks perfect(but we all know how these grading services are!!) and I sent it off today to beckett grading.
Comment by ButerX November 24, 2009 @ 3:07 pmI cannot wait to see what grade it will get??
Under the magnifying glass everything looks flawless.
[…] rookie sells for $200,000 came across this how sick is that! Perfect Michael Jordan Rookie Card sells for $200,000 The Beckett Blog __________________ Personal collection http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/a…%20collection/ 4 […]
Pingback by jordan rookie sells for $200,000 - OzCardTrader.com.au December 2, 2009 @ 12:08 am[…] just sold recently for $200,000. In fact it looks like they used the same photo as in the article. Perfect Michael Jordan Rookie Card sells for $200,000 The Beckett Blog __________________ . Interested in trading for: Jason Kidd Aaron Rodgers HOF Basketball […]
Pingback by 1986-87 michael jordan fleer rookie card pristine grade - Blowout Cards Forums December 17, 2009 @ 11:05 amA better question is… why is this card currently on ebay? http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-87-MICHAEL-JORDAN-FLEER-ROOKIE-CARD-PRISTINE-GRADE_W0QQitemZ200418299124QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Basketball?hash=item2ea9dc8cf4
Comment by Richie December 17, 2009 @ 1:51 pmCall me an a-hole but just looking at it I
don’t even think the centering deserves a “10”.
Comment by grimjim December 31, 2009 @ 1:38 pmi have a Michael Jordon card that i would like to sale it looks to be in mint condition and i need to have it graded but dont known where to do it at.It has the same picture as shone up above.the number on the back says 57 of 132.need some advise where to get it graded.Ryan
Comment by ryan weland January 22, 2010 @ 5:09 pmif its worth so much then why does beckett list it from 300-600 in gem mint condition?
Comment by dm February 11, 2010 @ 10:32 pm[…] Fleer Premier #57 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan Rookie PSA 7 Basketball Card: Sports & Outdoors Perfect Michael Jordan Rookie Card sells for $200,000 This card HAS to be fake because I paid for the whole 64 card lot and it was not that much so I […]
Pingback by WTF!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in here NOW!!!! May 29, 2010 @ 6:53 pmI have an original picture of Michael Jordan when he was playing baseball probably around 10 – 12 years of age.
Comment by laham July 6, 2010 @ 2:23 pmi found one in a bag and i found a retirement card of him in big black leather bag i have done some research on the card i am shoked on how much it is woth 2 me it is worth 600000 to me
Comment by Anonymous August 4, 2010 @ 7:58 pmI have a perfect 86 jorday rookin kard #57 of 132 nothin wrong with it I wanna sell it
Comment by james August 13, 2010 @ 6:59 pmI have a THIS same Card in a Glass Case That his been kept put away fpr years. In Great Condition and i want to sell it!
Comment by Ken August 31, 2010 @ 10:22 pmI have This same card as well that is sealed and has been kept in our Safety Deposit Box if anyone is interested in buying.
Comment by JC Soles September 27, 2010 @ 2:08 pm[…] one, just an attention seeking tool. There are only two graded 10's in existence anyway >> looks familiar << Reply With Quote + Reply to Thread « Previous […]
Pingback by why would u do this.. seriously... - OzCardTrader.com.au November 14, 2010 @ 11:18 pmThe left side of that card is more dominate than the right. I. E. it’s off centered! Forget what Beckett or the other grading services say, this is not pristine!
Comment by Jason Eades November 18, 2010 @ 4:05 pmHi I think I have the 2nd Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 Fleer Rookie Card that sold for $200.000 to Sean Storms I have one of only two BGS 10s in existence,mint condition. it was purchased by Georgia native Sean Storms, an investor.“There are only two perfect cards in the world.
Comment by Rudy Quintanilla December 31, 2010 @ 5:04 pm[…] […]
Pingback by Your Best/Favourite NBA Cards - OzCardTrader.com.au January 5, 2011 @ 8:51 amI have two Jordan rookie cards in excellent conditiion they have been in a hard case for 23 years
Comment by Anonymous January 8, 2011 @ 8:49 pm1 have 1 of this cards in plastic case i would like to sell 9.5 to 10 i would say
Comment by Gary harp January 19, 2011 @ 12:45 pm