When it comes to Michael Jordan rookie memorabilia, most collectors would instantly consider the 86-87 Fleer #57. Only, Jordan was in his third season in the NBA by the release of this card. The next most popular choice - and true Jordan rookie card for many - is the 84-85 Star Co #101.
Arguments aside about which is Jordan’s true rookie card, these are two of the most sought-after trading cards in history. So, it will be no surprise that values are very high on the pieces given their level of desire within the collecting community.
All is not lost, however, for collectors who may not have pockets deep enough or are not yet ready to take the plunge into Jordan rookie cards. There is a piece produced by the Bulls before the start of the 1984-85 season featuring their new 1st round draft pick rookie: the 1984-85 Bulls Pocket Schedule.
TL;DR - just show me the Jordan playing days pocket schedules!
Checklist of pocket schedules released when Michael Jordan was an active NBA player.
What are Pocket Schedules
Pocket schedules are produced by sports teams to list the schedule of regular season home and away games for the coming season, offer deals on ticket sales and sell advertising.
As a form of advertisement for the upcoming season they are made available to the public through outlets like liquor stores.
The schedules are designed to be used for a single season then disposed and replaced with next season’s schedule.
1984-85 Bulls Pocket Schedule
For their 1984-85 season the Bulls chose to feature their star rookie as part of that season’s pocket schedule. This was not something that was commonplace so you can feel the excitement around the recent Olympic gold medallists’s entry to the NBA court.
Jordan was featured on the cover of some subsequent years’ schedules - which we will look at below. Of course, having not taken the court in a Bulls jersey yet, this was not possible for the 84-85 season.
Even so, the 84-85 Bulls Schedule doesn’t disappoint with its, no doubt carefully chosen, cover. Orlando Woolridge is shown headed for a layup, eyes firmly affixed to the rim, over league dominator Larry Bird’s defenses. It’s a fantastic use of photography given the 83-84 Bulls were a 0.329 team (to the Celtics 0.756).
A collectable rookie year piece of memorabilia
The 84-85 Bulls Pocket Schedule is a piece of memorabilia pre-dating both the 84-85 Star Co #101 and 86-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan cards.
While not a true trading card, the pocket schedule remains an important piece with many similarities. It is only slightly larger (measuring at 2.75 x 4 inches to a regular card’s 2.5 x 3.5 inches), can be graded by BGS or SGC and does feature a photo and introduction as the rookie for Michael Jordan.
The schedules are abundant in supply - mostly - so can be an inexpensive way to add an authentic rookie season item to your Jordan collection.
Advertiser variations
There was only a single schedule for the season, however, the Bulls featured 10 different advertisers on the back cover giving collectors the opportunity to compile complete set of the relic of 1984.
The 10 advertiser available are:
- Wind Talkradio 56AM - featuring a large Bulls logo encouraging fans to follow the Bulls by listening to the radio station
- Sylvania - advertising the Sylvania Superset Color TV
- Sportmart - a sporting good store
- Philco - advertising TV sets by ALMO Electronics
- Ace Hardware - a hardware store
- Job Cigarette Papers - advertising roll your own cigarette papers
- Sun-Times newspaper - “Get basketball coverage that’s always on target”
- Canon - advertising the T70 camera
- Gibson Appliances - advertising frost-free refrigerators
- Budweiser - “Bulls fans… this Bud’s for you”
Anecdotally, some advertisers are harder to come by than others. I’m not aware of any variance in print run for each but did not in my buying that Gibson, Sun-Times and Job Cigarette Papers were not as readily available.
Here are images of the 10 84-85 Bulls Pocket Schedule advertisers - thank you to eBay user KrazyKoolKollectibles22 for contributing two hard to come by images Gibson and Sun-Times. KrazyKoolKollectibles22 has a great range of sports memorabilia available so definitely check it out if you’re looking to buy schedules.
Variations in grading
I mentioned that BGS and SGC do grade the schedules. This is excellent to be sure on the condition and authenticity of anything you’re looking at buying. However there is a catch - the holders used do no support opening the booklet.
BGS do have larger holders available for booklet cards however I’ve never seen one used for a pocket schedule - perhaps they are not quite large enough for the number of pages used in the pocket schedules.
This means there needs to be a compromise when looking at a graded schedule. You’ll have to settle for one of:
- Showing the cover and back advertiser but not seeing MJ
- Showing MJ by folding to show the cover on the back
- Showing MJ by folding to show the ticket information on the back
So, in its current state, when grading a pocket schedule, if you can see Jordan you can’t see the advertiser.
I’ve written to BGS to enquire about the possibility of grading the schedule and holdering the booklet completely open - I will update this article with any response.
Future season schedules
Finally, its worth taking a look at the complete list of Jordan playing days schedules. A number of these feature MJ on the cover which includes by Washington Wizards schedules from 2001-02 and 2002-03.
Happy collecting and please do write in if you have anything to share on the Jordan Pocket Schedules. I’m particularly interested if anyone has compiled a complete set of the 84-85.