Long hailed as the crown jewel of collectible cards, the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card has led a reign of sheer dominance on the marketplace. As collectors beat paths around the world in search of this iconic treasure, another gem has been persistently waiting in the eaves, slowly gaining on the less-jaded segment of the cult of Jordan enthusiasts: the 1989 Fleer #21 card. Not particularly adorned with accolades nor weighed down by legendary status, it has quietly etched its place in the lore of the card hunting world.
The collector’s marketplace has watched as this unsung hero of Jordan’s preeminence steadily climbed from relative obscurity to partial prominence. Despite society’s preoccupation with headliners that come with an eye-watering price tag, the 1989 Fleer, sans its rookie trophy, offers affordability without simplicity. A once disregardable piece of card stock in immaculate PSA 10 condition sold for $1,001 back in 2021. Lo and behold, by June 2025, this ostensible underdog commands $1,200—a tidy 20% ascent. In the orbit of finance, it might not be a shoot to the moon, but it’s a favorable climb that’s hard to overlook.
What sets this card apart is the aura of accessibility inherent in its value—still steep, but not skyscraper priced. When graded by PSA, the premier organization for evaluating the condition of collector cards, about 1,240 Jordan cards of this batch rate a solid PSA 10, with over 11,000 bearing a PSA 9 rating. It might seem like a small army, but their continued attraction in the marketplace reflects an ongoing buyer’s interest. Collectors apparently have come to reckon that not every Jordan must be bought while mortgaging their homes.
Then, there’s the phenomenon around the card in its natural state, the so-called “raw” cards. It’s gone from a humble $6 acquisition in 2022 to a current market price of $20. A cosmic leap when you consider that no ornate features or idiosyncratic anomalies grace its face. It’s merely a basic, unadorned emblem of basketball nostalgia that once languished, unnoticed yet unappreciated. But time, the great equalizer, has dealt the card a fair hand.
The question is, why now? Several elements come to play. Rising costs of grading services have nudged collectors toward seeking pre-evaluated, slabbed cards, allowing peace of mind without the expense. Add the natural longing for times past—an undeniable nostalgia for the halcyon days of ’80s basketball—and you find a recipe brewing for change. Let’s not ignore the simple truth: many simply want possession of a Jordan relic minus the financial toll.
To compare, the 1989 Fleer can’t possibly be mistaken for the loudest card on the scene. It lacks dramatic flair, with no soaring, rim-rattling dunks featured or ostentatious gilded borders displayed. Yet picture a prime-time Jordan, positioned before the explosion of Bulls fever—his athletic prowess immortalized on cardboard. It has quietly yet confidently emerged as the cerebral collector’s inclination.
Suppose you are in pursuit of a card that offers value, potential long-term appreciation, and relief from the headline act riots—your eyes might serve you well if they wander towards this card. Jordan, universally recognized not by any rookie moniker but by his excellence on the hardwood, sees his legacy preserved and even enlarged by this silent guardian of his greatness. The 1989 Fleer may not need to hoard the limelight, but with its unobtrusive growth, it still manages, in its own right, to portray dominance—an ode to Jordan’s legacy paralleling a succinct metaphor: you don’t need the flashiest journey to showcase brilliance.
