In the realm of sports card collecting, certain pieces are often revered as holy grails—the undisputed titans that stand head and shoulders above the rest. For basketball enthusiasts and aficionados of cardboard relics, the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card has long reigned supreme. Its allure is undeniable; this well-loved treasure boasts the prestige of MJ’s rookie year and often comes with a price tag that can make wallets wince.
However, a more modest contender has been slowly and steadily climbing the ranks in the world of sports memorabilia—the 1989 Fleer #21 Michael Jordan card. This card might not splash headlines or empty banking accounts the way its rookie counterpart does, but for those collectors whose tastes align more with sensibility and budgetary modesty, this card represents a golden opportunity.
You might say it’s been creeping its way into the spotlight, one painstaking step at a time. A mere glance at recent auction results reveals an intriguing narrative. A PSA 10-graded 1989 Fleer Jordan, once fetching around $1,001 in the year 2021, rose to a value of $1,200 come June 2025. A fair 20% increase might not make for blockbuster news, but it’s a testament to the card’s steady rise and reliability in a market that can sometimes feel more tempestuous than a Chicago windstorm. After all, in the world of collecting, slow and steady often emerges triumphant.
The numbers tell their own story: approximately 1,240 PSA 10-grade copies exist, alongside a considerably larger number of PSA 9s, totaling over 11,000. These figures might initially seem staggering, yet demand continues unabated. Collectors appear to have embraced the notion that the thrill of owning a Jordan need not always come accompanied by a comma in its price tag.
Perhaps most surprising is the surge in value for raw, ungraded copies of the card. Just a few years ago, in 2022, acquiring one might have set you back a mere $6. Fast forward to more recent times, and collectors find themselves parting with around $20 for the same humble piece of card stock. That’s more than a tripling in price, all for a solid, base-era Jordan card that isn’t dressed up in the extravagant trimmings of rarity or special promotions. It’s an impressive leap for what was once a quiet, overlooked item.
So what’s driving this newfound affection for the 1989 Fleer Jordan? The answers are diverse and reflect shifts within the collecting community itself. With increasing costs associated with grading cards, many enthusiasts are turning their attention to items that are already encased and perfecly preserved. Simultaneously, a wave of nostalgia for late ’80s basketball—when short shorts and mullets were the status quo on the courts—has rekindled interest in cards from this memorable era. Moreover, there’s a simple, albeit poignant, motivation: many collectors yearn to own a piece of Jordan magic without the financial burden synonymous with high-end pieces.
The 1989 Fleer card neither aims to command the room with audacity nor seeks attention with ostentation. There are no audacious slam dunks over the great Patrick Ewing gracing its visage; no glimmering gold foil borders allure prying eyes. Instead, it offers collectors an image of Jordan in his glorious prime, etched into cardboard during the feverish ascent of Bulls mania. As such, it is slowly garnering the favor of collectors who appreciate a nuanced selection.
For those in pursuit of enduring value and the potential for growth, this card warrants serious consideration. It offers a respite from the myriad ‘rookie this’ and ‘limited edition that’ options that often saturate the market. Michael Jordan might not have needed the rookie crest to make a lasting impact during his exploits on the hardcourt, and similarly, the 1989 Fleer card does not require the limelight to deliver solid returns. If your collecting journey is guided by a strategic eye and an appreciation for underrated gems, this overlooked cousin just might be the trade secret worth testing.
