1984 Star Michael Jordan: Can Money Rewrite History? 

I am 46, born and raised in Chicago (West Lakeview, 7 blocks from Wrigley Field, and about 10 minutes Northwest of the United Center). I began collecting in 1985. By 1991 I was a card dealer & worked at a Card shop, in Palatine. To me, and my coworkers; and the people that did shows back then and through the early 90’s, the 1984 Star Jordan 101 was always the more sought-after & valuable card, vs the 1986 Fleer. The 1986 Fleer was also very respected, but I don’t recall the card being any more “valuable” until the pandemic when influencers & auction houses hyped them up, and in PSA 10 condition, they sold for 100’s of thousands of dollars (which with how many are on the population report, could NEVER sustain those price heights. The Star Card was still as valuable, but there arent enough to compare sales wise, and at the time only BGS graded them. Also, The “facts” you’re talking about are not facts at all. Type 2’s only occurred for the ‘85-‘86 Star set, not the 1984 set that MJs rookie is in. Once PSA started again grading them, it was only a matter of time until we would start to see record sales. Everything has evolved up until now; where a PSA 9 101 sells for $925k & even more recently, a PSA 7 on PWCC sold for $50k this past weekend. The 1984 Star Card was printed in bis rookie year & is his true rookie.

The star 101 wasn’t a nationally distributed product and that’s the big problem. Not to mention the card came in a team bag. The Fleer is the true rookie.

The 84 Star is his rookie card. It was licensed and that’s the end of the story. The Fleer came out 2 years after his rookie season. Love the Fleer, but it’s not his rookie card.

Both are killer cards. Star for the rarity/ investment aspect and Fleer for the iconic-ness and just overall cool card. Have both and I think most Jordan 80s collectors cherish both instead of picking sides.

Love the video and I’ve been arguing some of these same points for a while now. The 84 Star 101 was a mythical card to me when I was a kid, not being able to see one. Limited distribution, low print runs and holders made it hard to get. I wanted one as a kid but couldn’t get one until much later as an adult. Both have their issues but both are rookie cards and there is no reason not to love them both.

The concerning part is Star card grading was proprietary to beckett for years. Home shopping network sold reprints of them that nobody could tell the difference in early 90s.

Love this video. The arrogance of today’s culture of throwing away the old context because today’s criteria is “better”; then try to apply that to the past. It’s like revoking an oscar award from a past winner and giving it to another nominee because we decided the standards of what good acting today is better. Also, if availability was indeed a criteria in the past, as MJ is a global icon; availability should be considered beyond the US. We had no access to star in the 80s in asia, and we are equally passionate fans. We all grew up with fleer as the rookie, and it always will be. And in the same breath i celebrate that star is getting attention! We can do that without rewriting history.

I just remember seeing these things at shows for 1/100th the price and shaking my head at how ridiculous that was.

At the end of the day, the 84 Star is his first card. It’s perfectly fine to say that the 86 fleer was his first true rookie card but for the greatest of all time, there is value to his first card. Nothing will diminish the iconic 86 fleer but it will never be his first true sports card.

Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Agree with you about this.

Okay, small disagreement. I think the *rc compromise is inconsistent with what you said leading up to that. The star card was not a pack pulled major release and so is plainly not a rookie card. Just like all the junk era extended sets and just like the obscure releases of guys like Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. It’s kinda always been that way. The fact that one guy spent a lot of money for a particular card has nothing to do with whether that card is a rc. 52 Mantles are definitely not rookie cards, and every legitimate source agrees, despite the fact that they sell for more.

Great video! You nailed it regarding this scenario. New subscriber look forward to your channel!!

Gave a video like - Enjoyed hearing your thoughts as always, Victor

I feel like Michael Jordon does NOT have a rookie card. It's a first Fleer card. He started playing professionally in the NBA two seasons earlier. By the same token, 1981 Donruss is not Jack Nicklaus's rookie card. He won his first professional major in 1962: nineteen years earlier! Not everyone has a rookie card. The market can pay whatever they want for whichever card they want. Having said all that, my official position on Michael Jordan's rookie card is this: Meh. Also, our disagreement will go a lot more smoothly if you just tell me that I'm right and you're wrong. ;-)

This has always been a heated debate. I always thought Star was ugly for Jordans rookie. I dont own either card, and I just prefer to own original photos of Jordan. However, I do collect Star Company Griffey rookies and Nova sets. These are very undervalued and overlooked. Could you imagine the rookie card debate between Griffey 1988 and 1989 Star Company sets versus his 1989 Fleer Glossy, 1989 Topps Tiffany, and 1989 Bowman Tiffany? Throw in all the mass-produced rookies and you have a massive mess.

Another solid video Victor! Appreciate you!

If the majority of people think that the 1984 Star 101 his true rookie card, its market cap of all copies should be higher than the 1986 Fleer card. A couple of big sales is just scarcity and some people wanting to change the narrative for their own profit.

paying attention to the past investors "intel" as criteria for preserving a rookie status is not logical at all. If their data was not correct when they made the purchase, or its dynamic, then thats their risk. Not for the future minds to preserve... Investment due diligence should not be part of the rookie card classification. 86 is Fleers 1st card of Jordan. Not a rookie card. Some players just dont have rookie cards... in the 80's, 1st card was usually worth more (like minor league cards). Not a comment on Star; just saying what the mentality was. The term rookie card was sometimes interchanged with 1st card like Kleenex and facial tissue. Classifying their value is what its really about. Sales are the truth! Good video

This debate reminds of the 51 Bowman visa viz the 52 Topps Mantle rookies.

Interesting video. Seems like another case of how someone can make some more $ with the star cards. Sad that a lot of people are only in it for money and could care 0% about collecting

A UN negotiation? This is ‘dangerous’ talk Victor 😂

Entering video Victor.

That’s right! The people trying to rewrite card history probably bought a bunch of Star Jordans & now there trying to cash out.

The 1984 star 101 is jordans TRUE rookie card! I know the dealing was unconventional. But they were licensed by the NBA, and the only card company selling basketball cards. Jordans 86 fleer, is technically jordans 3rd year card! Whats next that beckett needs to update from the 80s is the outdated "xrc" signia. Now that PSA has started regrading star cards, prices have gone through the roof! And you can thank PSA for the price hikes. Expect jordans 101 to hit the million dollar mark soon. Its pretty much surpassed jordans fleer. What i cant believe is collectors have slept on this card for 38 years! Its time...

At first I wasn’t agreeing with your argument. IE were you there? Do you study Jordan’s cards extensively? Wouldn’t be fair to other people who own the 1986 card. Nonsense arguments. BUT then you finished with labeling both with an asterisk. Totally agree with you now. You changed my mind. Thanks for the video

I feel like I used to disagree with you a bunch, but now I can’t recall any reasons why. Your takes here are not only correct, but feel obvious. I think also that Star cards were not pack issued major releases and that standard was not only the standard of the 1980s, but also for many decades before and after. It’s not just a Jordan issue. There are countless examples in the entire post-war history of the hobby, including many of the biggest names.

They're real, and they're spectacular! 😆🏀 Well done ,Victor. #manofpeace

What card is Babe Ruth’s rookie card and why?

Unpopular opinion; I think they're both pretty significant. Two cards the majority of collectors can't afford. The people that owned the star or multiple of them most likely got burned overpaying for the fleer the last 4 years so they are pumping the star to dump it.

Two types of hobbyist. One will collect HISTORY and pass it down. (You are this type sir) The other with SELL history for as much as they can.

😂 these influencers have been pumping this card. I guarantee a few people got together to sell this to each other to drive the price up so they can sell their others just like Vegas Dave did with his Mike Trout. Good for them. They get rich taking advantage of us hobbyists.

👍👍👍

INCORRECT about "re-writing history" if you grew up in Chi and was a huge card collector and Bulls fan back then (like i did) you would know that in the beginning (and up unitl early 90s) people just called them both his RC, but EVERYONE knew the Star 101 was his better RC. Beckett magazine is the one that changed that later with the "X" and tried to "re-write" history. Also, you saying type 2 counterfeits "fact" and then saying later you know it doesn't apply to the 84' 101, but whatever is hilariously dumb 😂

This is an ambiguous video that really doesn’t offer anything except for your opinion, which utterly falls short by not taking a side. The constitution is constantly altered to fit the times in which we live in, which is the genius of the document. What’s different in distribution today compared to Back then? Seems like the same folks pull all the great cards today, right? Your comparisons have fatal flaws so I am not really sure this video has enlightened anyone or anything related to the Jordan rookie debate.

Why can’t both be rookie cards?

RC's HAVE to be pack issued, period. Great channel. I was collecting in 84-86 and nobody knew of these STAR cards outside of regional areas. Here is where you are DEAD WRONG, MJ is NOT the greatest athlete of all time. Bo Jackson is the greatest athlete off all time.

Money maybe not. Influencers yes.

of course the 86 fleer jordan is the rookie.. alot of newbies trying to make money are trying to change that.. it wont happen… the star cards are great cards and I own both jordan cards.. but I certainly konw the 86 fleer is his true rookie card… no question

The problem with this hobby is too many people put their emotions into this topic instead of looking at the big pictures. The 1984 Star is Michael Jordan's rookie card period. His 1986 Fleer is technically his 3rd year card. It was easy to obtain the Star cards back in the mid 80's so don't give me that BS that it was tough. I was able to order the entire set in 1984 as a 14-year-old. How the hell was this not available for everyone if a snot nose kid like me was able to order the entire set? Stop with the copouts. Take your emotions out of it, especially if you own either card.

I think you could just as easily change your title to "Can money write history?". The whole of your argument is based on an invalid comparison. You try and compare a perception/opinion to a document/entity created. Obviously this makes no sense in any capacity. Here is a hint - It more compares to a wrongful conviction/opinion - which can be overturned/changed. This is what is playing out now. Also you clearly dont want to "compromise" as you sarcastically slam people who view this very different (check your crying emoji). I was hoping you were above that - I was incorrect obviously.

I disagree with the assessment both cards are rookie cards due to "fairness and Money spent". I have the 86 Jordan card for many years and I recently purchased the 84 STAR. The term rookie by definition is the first year of sport, to rewrite the English literature to define the word rookie could mean a third year at a sport doesn't fly. Michael Jordans rookie year is the one depicted on the STAR basketball card. There is also more counterfeited 86 fleer cards than there are 84 star. I listened to your podcast but cannot say the 86 fleer is Jordans first year NBA card based on the reasons you listed. Year one is year one, year 3 is not year one but year 3. Thanks Victor I liked and subscribed

Great video. I am with you but the shady actors and loud mouths of the hobby don’t agree with us. Did you ever research the hobby past of Jesse Craig? He is a bad person and should be banned but in the hobby we reward his behavior. Jesse was one of the master minds behind Hero Of Sport REPACK scam that sports card radio has documented. Jesse Craig and anything he is involved should always include his past history. Oh he was at pwcc when eBay kicked them off for shilling bidding

Never happened please