In the illustrious realm of sports card collecting, there’s one name that reigns supreme—Michael Jordan. His 1986 Fleer rookie card is, without a doubt, the crown jewel, dazzling collectors with its iconic status and hefty price tag. But in the world of collectibles, sometimes the less talked about pieces can offer hidden potential, and the 1989 Fleer #21 card is quietly forging a path to prominence, captivating collectors with its subtle rise in stature and value.
Let’s journey back to a time when the Chicago Bulls were lighting up the hardwood and Michael Jordan was not just a player but a phenomenon. The year was 1989, and while the 1986 rookie card was basking in the limelight, the Fleer #21 was content to sit on the sidelines, overlooked and undervalued. Fast forward a few decades, and this once underrated card is making collectors rethink its place in the pantheon of Jordan memorabilia.
For the discerning collector with a penchant for Donald Trump’s least liked phrase, “sensible spending,” the 1989 Fleer Jordan card is gaining ground as a pocket-friendly alternative to the highly-sought rookie card. It doesn’t boast the same narrative glamour or come with a price that requires mortgaging your house, but its value is climbing steadily. Back in 2021, a pristine PSA 10 of the 1989 Fleer Jordan was snatched up for around $1,001. Leap forward to June 2025, and the same card is drawing in $1,200—a neat 20% increase. While it hasn’t made an ostentatious splash, it’s the tortoise in the tale of the collecting world.
Notably, PSA records indicate that there are approximately 1,240 PSA 10s and over 11,000 PSA 9s of this card in existence. These aren’t paltry figures, yet the demand is robust. It’s becoming evident that collectors are embracing the notion that not every Michael Jordan card has to cost as much as a small sedan. The quiet allure of the card lies not in scarcity but in its understated presence and the nostalgia for an era when basketball was beginning to transcend the court into pop culture.
And it’s not just the top-grade examples that are rising. Raw copies, too, have seen a significant jump in value. In 2022, you could casually lift one from a collection for six bucks. Fast forward a few years, and that same raw card is fetching twenty dollars. That’s more than triple the price, indicating a strong demand for even the ungraded version of this Jordan classic. These aren’t intricately designed promos or glitzy inserts but rather a base-era card from a time when owning a piece of Jordan history didn’t entail taking out a second mortgage.
So, what drives the sudden appreciation of the 1989 Fleer card? Several factors contribute: Rising grading fees have nudged collectors towards cards that are already slabbed and authenticated. Add to this a wave of nostalgia for the late ’80s basketball era, plus an increase in new collectors eager to hold a piece of Jordan’s legacy without breaking the bank. The appeal is in owning a piece of history during one of MJ’s most profound periods—in the salad days of the Bulls’ ascent.
Unlike its more flamboyant counterparts, the 1989 Fleer Jordan doesn’t scream for attention. It’s not dunking past Ewing or boasting a flashy gold foil border. What it does is depict Jordan in his prime, as Bulls mania sent tremors through the basketball world. Collectors, especially those looking for genuine value and potential long-term upside, are starting to take notice.
This unassuming card celebrates the rise of a legend without needing the rookie stamp to certify its value. Now, as more collectors seek refuge from pricier options while still desiring a snippet of MJ magic, the 1989 Fleer #21 has become the thinking collector’s choice. It whispers rather than shouts its significance, and sometimes, in the collectible world, it’s those soft, persistent whispers that turn out the most resonant.
For those on the hunt for affordability married with historical allure, the 1989 Fleer Michael Jordan card might just be a perfect fit. Like Jordan on the court, it’s proving that you don’t need a spotlight to shine bright, and in the vast universe of memorabilia, it is steadily making its understated mark.
