Auctions
1984 Star Michael Jordan card sets record in $7M auction at Memory Lane
Though not generally considered his official rookie card, Michael Jordan’s 1984 Star Basketball card continues to attract record prices on the sports card market.
A 1984 Star #101 Michael Jordan card graded BGS 9 sold for $387,484 to headline the 2026 Winter Rarities Auction at Memory Lane Inc. The sales price is a record for the card in that grade, selling for three times more than the previous record.
Related Content:
The Jordan card also sparked another big sale—a factory-sealed 1984 Star Bulls team set including the Jordan rookie, which sold for $98,245.
The auction generated $7.1 million in sales across more than 1,400 lots, with seven pieces surpassing $100,000.
Other top sales included: a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card graded PSA 5 for $231,484, beating the old record of $174,000; a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie (PSA 7) for $112,003; a PSA 6 1933 Goudey #53 Babe Ruth for $96,043; a 1948 Bowman Yogi Berra rookie card (PSA 9) for the same price; and a 1948 Leaf Warren Spahn rookie (PSA 9) for $91,470.
The Jordan rookie was not the only basketball cards to attract big prices. A 1957 Topps Bob Cousy rookie (PSA 8) sold for $38,879, while several other cards from a higher-grade set sold individually for $10,000-$20,000 each.
Autographed cards from the popular 1986-87 Fleer basketball set also proved popular with bidders, with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson cards, each with dual card and autograph grades of PSA 10, sod for $35,264 and $25,063, respectively. A signed 1981 Topps Magic Johnson card also brought $23,011.
Baseball cards also dominated the auction, with several vintage and modern cards bringing five-figure prices. Top sales included: a 1959 Topps Mantle PSA 8.5 for $47,257; a 1953 Topps Satchel Paige (PSA 8.5) for $43,565; a 1975 Topps Gary Carter rookie (PSA 10) for $41,413; a 1953 Topps Whitey Ford (PSA 9) for $35,264; a 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson rookie (PSA 9) for $32,832; a 1954 Dan-Dee Potato Chips Mantle (PSA 8) for $31,986; and a 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson rookie (PSA 8.5) for $30,463.
Modern standouts included a pair of Mint 9 2018 Donruss Shohei Ohtani autographs, each bringing over $20,000.
The auction also included a large selection of autographs and unopened material. A Christy Mathewson signed canceled check (PSA/DNA Authentic) realized $23,644, while a 1955 Topps baseball 5-cent wax pack (PSA 5) sold for $22,014.
