In the bustling world of sports card collecting, where MJ aficionados tirelessly hunt rare treasures and iconic pieces, the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card has long been the reigning champion. Its reputation as a crown jewel from Air Jordan’s early years remains unchallenged, as collectors hail it as the ultimate must-have. But while this ’86 marvel continues to bask in eternal glory, an unassuming cousin—a solid, dependable contender—has quietly slipped, unnoticed, into the ring.
Enter the 1989 Fleer #21 Michael Jordan card—a subtle charmer in the backwoods of card collections. Like the unheralded middle child, it doesn’t have the swanky allure of its older sibling, yet it resonates with astute collectors who favor a marriage of quality and prudence.
Don’t let its lack of hype fool you; this card’s been steadily climbing in value, albeit in the shadows. In 2021, this gem of a PSA 10—a card graded as mint, without a blemish or crease—commanded around $1,001. Fast forward just four short years, and it’s now fetching a cool $1,200. That’s a neat 20% increase. It may not be telephoto lens flashy, but it’s chugging along with admirable consistency. In the realm of collectibles, it’s this quiet stamina that often wins the long game.
How did this come to pass? Well, like with many intriguing tales, it’s a combination of elements converging at just the right time. According to esteemed grading powerhouse PSA, there are approximately 1,240 PSA 10s and over 11,000 PSA 9s in circulation. By any standard metric, one might assume that’s a generous count, yet ardent collectors remain in hot pursuit. A sticker with a coveted name and face doesn’t always need to punch a hole in your finances.
An unexpected twist to this story is the flourishing saga of raw, ungraded copies of the 1989 Fleer Jordan. Once obtainable for a mere six dollars in the wild, ungraded copies now command a price of twenty bucks. That, my friends, is over threefold inflation for a straightforward base-era Jordan. Mind you, we’re not talking about a diamond-studded promo or a limited-edition insert, but a standard Jordan from an overlooked year.
The question is, why now? Why the sudden affection and enthusiasm for a card long seen as an understudy? A trifecta of reasons comes into play: grading fees reaching for the sky, guiding collectors towards already slab-certified cards; echoes of nostalgia from those heady late ’80s nights of Jordan’s brilliance; and the simple human desire to possess an MJ relic without incurring the wrath of a depleted checking account.
The 1989 Fleer card doesn’t make grandiose promises. It’s not flaunting gold foil or soaring majestically over a vanquished Ewing. It’s a portrait of Michael Jordan—a depiction of unrivaled talent amid the unstoppable rise of Bulls mania. Now, it inches toward becoming the thinking collector’s pick. Savvy card hunters know that beyond the siren calls of rookie stamps and glittering borders, lies value and potential for long-term appreciation.
If you are scouting for an investment with enduring appeal—and desire a refreshing departure from the usual suspects—give this card its due. Michael Jordan didn’t need a rookie label to dominate the hardwood, and his 1989 Fleer rendition doesn’t require the media spotlight to emerge as a worthy investment candidate. For those with an eye for stealthy gain and a craving for a slice of history’s allure, the 1989 Fleer offers a reassuring handshake from a bygone golden age of basketball wonder.
