This Michael Jordan memorabilia is raking in the dough!
The NBA legend continues to cause a scene, even well into retirement, after a game-worn patch card with his signature sold for a record-breaking $2.7 million.
According to TMZ, the rare card is considered one of the greatest hoop cards ever made. It not only has the basketball star’s autograph, but also includes a swatch of the jersey worn by him during the 1992 NBA All-Star Game (There are only 23 copies of the card).
“It makes sense that this card — and the innovative new designs and card styles that it spawned in the industry — is one of the most pivotal in our hobby,” said Ken Goldin, the president of Goldin Auctions who’s responsible for auctioning off the artifact.
This is the first card to feature a signature and a piece of a game-worn jersey, which is why experts are calling it historic.
Jordan first entered the league in 1984 as a Round 1, third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls, where he played until retiring with the Washington Wizards in his final season from 2001-2003.
He played a significant role in helping to popularize the NBA across the globe in the 1980s and 1990s and ultimately became a global cultural icon in the process earning the nicknames “Air Jordan” and “His Airness” due to his leaping ability within the game.
“Owning this card is like owning a sliver of MJ’s legacy and we were proud that we were trusted with this record-breaking transaction,” Goldin said.
TMZ says another reason that this card is a rarity is because it comes from the All-Star game where Magic Johnson made his return to the NBA after retiring prior to the 1991-92 season.
This is not the first time that Goldin Auctions has been responsible for auctioning off a historic piece of Jordan memorabilia. Earlier this year, a different version of this same card, numbered 21 out of 23, sold for $2.1 million.
The recipient of the card has not yet been revealed.
