MJ's: Fleer #57 vs Star #101

[jmsc]

Interesting analyses of how Jordan's 1986-87 RC was eclipsed by his 1984-85 XRC. It only took 38 years.

www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/sports-cards

[JWBlue]

I dunno. I would rather have the Fleer. Star wasn't a major brand was it and they weren't packs. Interesting read though.

[mc1]

Its a bit premature to claim it has eclipsed the 86-87 Fleer RC after a record sale/transaction.

[pcptrade]

Originally Posted by jmsc

Interesting analyses of how Jordan's 1986-87 RC was eclipsed by his 1984-85 XRC. It only took 38 years.

www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/sports-cards

Didn't Dzendel have multiple (BGS 8/8.5's and PSA 7/8 graded) copies listed for sale at some point? How many copies does he still have? Perhaps he can now unload his remaining low grade copies at a higher price and keep the two PSA 9's at a lower cost or free of cost.

From the above article-

First, a concerted effort from people such as Taft and David Dzendzel, one of the biggest Star collectors in the world, who owns the other two PSA 9s, to get the word out that the Jordan card was not believed to be part of the counterfeiting. Second, as the population of the 1986 Fleer Jordans rose and rose, the Star cards stayed amazingly scarce.

Dzendzel, who bought one of his PSA 9s raw in January 2023 from a set still in a bag for $60,000, and another for $110,266 in March 2023, has now — at least at current comps — multiplied his money by 10 times over ($170,266 invested, $1.8 million value).

"The more I looked at the numbers, the more I was convinced that it was the most undervalued card in the hobby," Dzendzel said.

Dzendzel made some good money flipping into that insight. At the 2022 National, he sold a PSA 8 for $100,000 to Geoff Wilson, founder of Sports Card Investor."

[r338]

Originally Posted by jmsc

Interesting analyses of how Jordan's 1986-87 RC was eclipsed by his 1984-85 XRC. It only took 38 years.

www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/sports-cards

Grade for grade, the 1984 Star XRC has always been far more expensive than the 1986 Fleer.


But what is interesting here is a lower graded Star card eclipsed the peak 2021 price for the PSA 10 Fleer.

[hermanotarjeta]

Just because you have a lot of money doesn’t mean you have good taste.

[discodanman45]

It just takes a few influencers and some cardboard millionaires to push this Star card to the Moon. I am out on both cards, so my opinion doesn't matter. Happy with my 1987 and 1988 Fleer cards of Jordan.

[GOATcards]

has all the look of the usual ol' shameless pump and grift, barely touching upon the aesthetic elephant in the room

how do these people not know how distrusted this sort of thing is, by now

[Cardsandcoffee]

Interesting how the Star and Fleer card age gap isn’t nearly as wide as perceived… about a year between the two according to James Beckett. The Star was produced later than I thought.

Regardless I’m not a fan of the Star, the nostalgia of the Fleer set is way too real and strong for me.

[GOATcards]

the only real story here is condition rarity

which makes the pumpers and the writer flat-out liars, that's the best working assumption

[JWBlue]

Surprised this sold for this much.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by r338

But what is interesting here is a lower graded Star card eclipsed the peak 2021 price for the PSA 10 Fleer.

How many PSA 9 Stars are there?
How many PSA 10 Fleers are there?

Its that simple.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Surprised this sold for this much.

it's a PSA 9, it went for pretty much just what I'd have expected

BGS 9, probably half that, depends on subgrades (it isn't like there are more than a few BGS 9s either)

[GOATcards]

originally posted by grifters:

We just need to get more attention drawn to the Star 101, the true Jordan RC, it's been a dark horse for far too long. People just need to be informed about this card's true significance, and then to the moon we go! Only 4,000 copies made, get yours before they disappear into private collections like the Wagner T206!

We just need to get more eyes on this card, and it's Lambo money for the present owners

[HeyRelaxGuy]

Pumpers working around the clock! lol

[GOATcards]

I seem to vaguely remember a time when Babe Ruth's most famous cards were the '33 Goudey and then the '48 Leaf. The '15/16 M101 Sporting News issues didn't yet command a huge premium over the Goudeys. But over time, I'd say that the M101 Ruth RC has taken its proper spot in the hobby as one of the 3 or 4 most significant cards (for baseball) along with the Wagner and 52 Mantle. I think the Baltimore News Ruth is also ascending to maybe the top spot in the hobby given its first-ness as well as rarity, it's like a hobby Mona Lisa but with about a half-dozen copies in existence.

And both the M101 and Baltimore News Ruth are sustained by their eye appeal. Not-so-fortunately, '80s Star Co. cards vary in the eye appeal, some are really quite good and others call attention to limited production values

[BambinoShuffle]

The star set was never available to me as a kid. Maybe it just a personal connection I have to the experience, but I can respect the new generation’s preference to the Star complete set card. It’s a nice card for sure.

[Cardsandcoffee]

The hyping of the Star Jordan just doesn’t feel organic. My assertion is that a vast majority of kids growing up never wanted the Star, it was the Fleer. Ripping the wax, trading the dupes, gawking at whomever was lucky enough to pull the MJ, with him dunking the ball. To me, it’s just too sus how a subset of Star collectors, including some on this forum, are really pumping the Star version as the one to get. I wouldn’t be surprised that most of the individuals really talking up the importance of the Star, are doing so mainly for ulterior motives. Again my opinion but all this pumping and hype really makes me squint my eyes…

[drwnnglifgrds]

let the MJ 101 tank. after selling my PSA 7.5 last year, i’m hoping to avoid too much seller’s remorse lol

[eastbayak]

I don't particularly care for either card, but there's only one answer, and it's 86-87 Fleer.

It's the most iconic basketball card.

Can't blame the 101 pumpers though, easy money is easy money.

[pcptrade]

Originally Posted by Cardsandcoffee

The hyping of the Star Jordan just doesn’t feel organic. My assertion is that a vast majority of kids growing up never wanted the Star, it was the Fleer. Ripping the wax, trading the dupes, gawking at whomever was lucky enough to pull the MJ, with him dunking the ball. To me, it’s just too sus how a subset of Star collectors, including some on this forum, are really pumping the Star version as the one to get. I wouldn’t be surprised that most of the individuals really talking up the importance of the Star, are doing so mainly for ulterior motives. Again my opinion but all this pumping and hype really makes me squint my eyes…

What if they claim to be pure collectors and have no plans of selling their Star cards ever, i.e., card goes along with them to their grave? Will you still call it as pumping? What if their ulterior motive is take a five to six figure card along with them to their grave?

[r338]

Originally Posted by Cardsandcoffee

The hyping of the Star Jordan just doesn’t feel organic. My assertion is that a vast majority of kids growing up never wanted the Star, it was the Fleer. Ripping the wax, trading the dupes, gawking at whomever was lucky enough to pull the MJ, with him dunking the ball. To me, it’s just too sus how a subset of Star collectors, including some on this forum, are really pumping the Star version as the one to get. I wouldn’t be surprised that most of the individuals really talking up the importance of the Star, are doing so mainly for ulterior motives. Again my opinion but all this pumping and hype really makes me squint my eyes…

These cards have been around for almost 40 years. Has there been any point when the 1986 Fleer sold for more than the 1984 Star? Old Beckett price guides always had the Star XRC as the more expensive card.

[JWBlue]

How is it possible to distinguish between the reprints by Star made later on and the original?

[Bosoxfan5990]

I'm just happy we have another thread dedicated to this subject.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by pcptrade

What if they claim to be pure collectors and have no plans of selling their Star cards ever, i.e., card goes along with them to their grave? Will you still call it as pumping? What if their ulterior motive is take a five to six figure card along with them to their grave?

Haha, many have claimed to be "pure collectors" (including some of the most reputable/OG collectors in the hobby, including BO members) and cashed out once the money became too good to pass up.

Although some still exist, most have or will eventually cash out once a target price-point is reached (or card prices abruptly drops and FOMO on profits kicks in).

Nothing wrong with those cashing out on great plays either. But very rare in the current hobby landscape are those who are "pure collectors", most have transitioned to hybrid collector/flippers...and once again, nothing wrong with that.