In the dazzling world of sports card collecting, there’s always that one card that hogs the spotlight. For fans of basketball and Michael Jordan, it’s undoubtedly the 1986 Fleer rookie card. Celebrated and coveted, it’s the jewel of many collections, with a price tag that some dare not utter without a gulp. But what if there’s another card quietly making its mark, softly insisting on its own place in history?
Enter the unassuming yet increasingly intriguing 1989 Fleer #21 Michael Jordan card. Often referred to as the rookie card’s overlooked cousin, this card is steadily climbing the ranks in the world of collectors. It might lack the media fanfare of its older sibling, yet it’s delivering consistent value, proving that sometimes, slow and steady really does win the race in the long-term investment stakes.
The numbers don’t lie. In 2021, a PSA 10 of this card was snugly priced around $1,001. Fast forward to the midway point of 2025, and collectors are shelling out approximately $1,200 for the same pristine grade. Sure, it might not make headlines like a 1986 Fleer that commands six figures, but a 20% increase in this context is not to be sneezed at, especially for hobbyists or investors on a budget.
So what’s steering this rise? Several currents swirl around the ascent of the 1989 Fleer. There’s the fiscal reality of card grading. As fees have climbed, collectors often gravitate more towards already slabbed cards, bypassing the cost and stress associated with submitting raw cards for grading. Then there’s the sentimental heartbeat—nostalgia. The late ’80s marked a golden era for basketball, with Michael Jordan cementing his legacy as the greatest of all time. Owning a slice of that era comes with its own charm and prestige, especially as Bulls mania during that period was nothing short of electrifying.
And let’s talk about those raw copies. In 2022, they were akin to pocket change—around six dollars each. Fast forward a couple of years, and collectors are coughing up twenty dollars, a fact that begs the question: why? Part of the appeal is undoubtedly the allure of snagging a Jordan card without the prohibitive cost that typically comes with iconic cards. It’s not rare like some promotional or special edition cards, but it’s rock-solid—emblematic of Jordan in his heyday, a tangible token of an era when number 23 was more than just a number, but a global phenomenon.
This card may not scream or shout with dramatic visuals—no athletic footnote, no dazzling foil fireworks. It simply presents Jordan at a time when he was rewriting the basketball playbook day by day, and for collectors, that in itself is a narrative worth owning. The aura of MJ adds an almost magical quality, and while it might not boast a rookie year ‘86 stamp, it carries more than enough legacy and cultural capital to justify its rise in the market today.
For anyone with an eye for long-term investments or those weary of chasing the high-profile, this card is a refreshing reminder that not all that glitters is gold—sometimes it’s the understated sparkle that holds the true worth. As collecting becomes an increasingly sophisticated pursuit, nuanced picks such as the 1989 Fleer card weave into the strategy of the discerning collector.
The 1989 Fleer #21 isn’t chasing the cheers. It’s not about the immediate spotlight or speculative flips. It’s about the enduring narrative of owning a piece of history, one that echoes the days when gravity-defying dunks were routine and the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme.
As the years proceed, it will be interesting to see how this humble gem continues to perform against its more illustrious counterpart. In a marketplace obsessed with seismic shifts and record-shattering sales, there’s a comfort in finding value in a card that reflects the solidity and suave of Jordan himself: understated yet undeniably impactful. For those who appreciate the ballet between economic savvy and fandom affection, this card might just be the perfect match.
