MJ’s secret signing of ten 1986 Fleer cards ✍️

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Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• MJ’s secret signing of ten 1986 Fleer cards ✍️

• How did O.J. Simpson’s death affect his card prices? 📈

• Auctions ending soon 🔎

• People to follow in the hobby 👥

• Meme of the day 🃏

MJ’S SECRET SIGNING OF TEN 1986 FLEER CARDS ✍️

In yet another card story I didn’t expect to be on my 2024 bingo card, Michael Jordan reportedly signed ten 1986 Fleer cards in a private signing for a collector, with at least six of the cards being PSA 10s. First reported by Darren Rovell on cllct.com, the collector reportedly paid PSA to fly down to Florida to oversee the signing and ensure there were no hiccups.

Three of the signed cards were regraded PSA 10/AUTO 10, and three other cards were both signed and inscribed. It’s being reported that Jordan wasn’t paid a single penny for the signing.

Interestingly, a PSA 8/AUTO 9 sold last month for 205k on PWCC. Another PSA 8/AUTO 9 sold for $162k last September, also on PWCC. In June 2022, Christie’s auctioned off a BGS 8.5/AUTO 9 1986 Fleer Jordan, which went for roughly $1 million (it had an estimate of $2-3 million). Funnily enough, that exact card sold in August 2023, more than a year later, for $264k — a whopping 74% loss in a single year. Regardless, the collector behind this recent signing came out with well into the millions of increased card value.

My take: Jordan is explicitly known for not signing cards, memorabilia, or anything that could easily be flipped as a collectible — there’s gotta be something to this story that we’re missing. My money is on Jordan losing a golf bet with this as the prize. I wonder how owners of other autographed Fleer Jordan cards are feeling right now?

HOW DID O.J. SIMPSON’S DEATH AFFECT HIS CARD PRICES? 📈

It’s been a little more than a week since O.J. Simpson passed away — what’s happened to his card prices since? I found his highest population card, his 1970 Topps #90 in a PSA 6 (pop 887), and pulled recent sales data from Card Ladder.

On April 7, the card sold for $150. After his death on April 10, there have been three sales: $220 (April 11), $292 (April 12), and $316 (April 14). Using the most recent sale as our benchmark, the price of the card has increased 111% in the last week.

My take: This could be a new (and morbid) investing strategy! Realistically, the price of the card is going to go down over the next couple months as people lose interest, and as people offload all of their O.J. memorabilia. On top of that, you’d have to time the market (aka the player’s death) fairly well — the post-death prices for the card above are actually inline with how much the card sold for in 2021, so you would’ve only broken even if you bought then. That doesn’t stop people from cashing in, though, even the owners of O.J.’s infamous white Ford Bronco are looking to sell it for $1.5 million!

AUCTIONS ENDING SOON 🔎

• PWCC Premier Auction: ends April 18 (tonight)

• Sirius Sports Cards: ends April 18 (tonight)

• Greg Morris Marketplace: ends April 21

• REA Spring Auction: ends April 21

PEOPLE TO FOLLOW IN THE HOBBY 👥

• Apex Cards: Flipping content and storage finds

• FJF Sports & Collectibles: Ins and outs of NFL cards

• Cards & Comics: Box openings, reviews, and mail days

MEME OF THE DAY 🃏