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A guide to collecting the best Michael Jordan cards
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Michael Jordan Baseball Card Guide [23 cards]

A guide and closer look at some of the best Michael Jordan baseball cards ever made.
Updated

Included Michael Jordan baseball card values.

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On July 25 1990 - years before he would professionally walk out to the diamond - Michael Jordan took batting practice at Old Comiskey Park with the Chicago White Sox before they faced Cleveland. This was an initiative which benefited his charitable foundation however little did we know at the time it was glimpse into the future.

TL;DR - just show me some Jordan baseball cards!

A collection of some of the nicest Michael Jordan baseball cards around.

Michael Jordan baseball cards span this prophetic moment, with two baseball cards released commemorating the 1990 batting practice, right through his baseball rookie season and beyond.

This includes Jordan’s first pack pulled auto, Jordan’s first box topper auto, baseball cards in a basketball product, Michael Jordan baseball rookie cards and some very nice bat and glove memorabilia cards.

1994 and 1995 basketball card sets are light on the Jordan cards. Back in those days only really actively professional players were featured in basketball card sets so if you collected Jordan you had to head to baseball.

Thankfully Michael Jordan baseball cards from his playing days do not disappoint - in fact several also make my top 10 Michael Jordan cards.

Michael Jordan White Sox batting practice cards

As part of their 1991 baseball set Upper Deck released card number SP1 featuring Michael Jordan at the 1990 batting practice with the White Sox. Estimates put the card at around one per 72 packs or one in every two boxes. The back of the card details Jordan’s two home runs with one soaring into the Upper Deck.

Card number SP1 from 1991 is readily available to add to your collection. The value can range from around $20 for a nice raw copy to $50 for a PSA 9 up to $350-$400 for a PSA 10.

This card was not, however, the first to commemorate the prophetic batting practice. That title goes to the 1990 Sports Collectors Digest Price Guide.

The SCD November 1990 issue featured on the cover Michael Jordan posing in a White Sox uniform as taken as part of the batting practice at Old Cominskey Park a few months earlier. Inside was a series of cards (which had to be hand cut) one of which included this same photo of Jordan and details of the batting practice on the back.

Each of these cards predate Jordan’s first NBA retirement and foray into professional baseball.

1990 Sports Collector's Digest Michael Jordan baseball card
1990 Sports Collector's Digest Michael Jordan baseball card
SCD was first to release a Michael Jordan baseball card - prophetically in a White Sox jersey - in commemoration of his batting practice and charity event with the team.
91 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Baseball Card
91 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Baseball Card
In 1991 Upper Deck released the prophetic card number SP1 as part of their baseball set commemorating Jordan's batting practice with the White Sox.
The uncut inserted sheet and magazine cover of the November 1990 issue of SCD featuring the first Jordan baseball card.
The uncut inserted sheet and magazine cover of the November 1990 issue of SCD featuring the first Jordan baseball card.

Michael Jordan’s first autographed card

Jordan retired from the NBA and headed to the baseball diamond just in time for Upper Deck to include his first ever pack pulled auto in their 1995 SP Top Prospects set - one of the greatest Jordan cards ever created.

The autos are not serialled and its not known how many were signed - Upper Deck doesn’t release this information for non-serial numbered cards. Based on known copies it is considered to be very low however.

95 SP Top Prospects Michael Jordan Auto
95 SP Top Prospects Michael Jordan Auto
Jordan's first pack pulled autograph card was this baseball card.

Baseball card in a basketball set

I pulled one of these myself quite confused back in 1994. For their 94-95 Collector’s Choice basketball set Upper Deck included a Michael Jordan card after he had left the NBA. This card numbered 23 and part of the regular issue set featured Jordan playing baseball. Being part of the regular issue meant it also got the gold and silver signature parallel versions. The gold card in particular holds its own as an important and very nice looking Michael Jordan card.

Upper Deck didn’t stop there with this card - there was also a box topper blow-up and very rare Michael Jordan Blow-up auto box topper. These were 5x7 versions of the #23 card with the auto version featuring a huge autograph which was Jordan’s first in a basketball set.

This set actually bucks the trend at the time and features a number of other Jordan cards even though he was not playing in the NBA at the time.

The Gold Signature is valued at around $350 for PSA 9 and the Silver Signature around $30 for the same grade.

Take a look at the nice rainbow you can put together with these.

94-95 Collector's Choice Michael Jordan
94-95 Collector's Choice Michael Jordan
A Michael Jordan baseball card in a basketball set?!
94-95 Collector's Choice Michael Jordan Silver Signature
94-95 Collector's Choice Michael Jordan Silver Signature
Silver Signature parallel of the base Jordan baseball card in the Collector's Choice basketball set'.
94-95 Collector's Choice Michael Jordan Gold Signature
94-95 Collector's Choice Michael Jordan Gold Signature
Stunning gold foil on a Jordan baseball card released in a basketball set.
94-95 Michael Jordan Blow-up
94-95 Michael Jordan Blow-up
One of five box toppers from the 1994-95 Collector's Choice Series 2 hobby boxes.
94-95 Michael Jordan Blow-up Autograph
94-95 Michael Jordan Blow-up Autograph
A box topper randomly inserted with a large, bold Jordan auto.

Michael Jordan baseball rookie cards

The 86-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card and 84-85 Star Co Michael Jordan XRC are unfortunately both out of reach for many collectors however his baseball rookie cards were released at a time of huge production making them considerably more attainable.

Take a look below at some of the nicest examples of the Michael Jordan baseball RC.

94 Upper Deck Michael Jordan
94 Upper Deck Michael Jordan
1994 Upper Deck Michael Jordan baseball rookie card by Upper Deck.
94 Classic Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
94 Classic Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
We got a Classic card of Michael Jordan playing for the Barons in 1994.
94 Fleer Pro Cards Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
94 Fleer Pro Cards Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
Fleer Michael Jordan baseball card released in 1994.

1994 Upper Deck Michael Jordan card

I was a big fan of the design of 93-94 Upper Deck SE. The dark simplicity of the card design really sets off the excellent action shots. Unfortunately, there was no regular issue Jordan card - though there was a Jordan shadow card and inserts the retirement card and Johnny Kilroy.

In 1994 Upper Deck also included an insert in their Minor League release limited to 15,000 featuring Jordan in action for the White Sox.

94 Upper Deck Minor League Michael Jordan
94 Upper Deck Minor League Michael Jordan
Limited to 15,000 copies, this gold card was released by Upper Deck in their 1994 Minor League set.

Michael Jordan baseball parallel

Regular readers will know I’m a fan of parallels and in particular the Collector’s Choice parallels - especially the Gold Signature basketball cards. Here we have the very nice Collector’s Choice SE released by Upper Deck in 1995.

This card features Jordan playing for the White Sox with a very nice blue foil parallel enhancement.

This card is valued at around $50 for a PSA 9 copy.

95 Collector's Choice SE Michael Jordan
95 Collector's Choice SE Michael Jordan
Blue foil parallel of the regular issue Collector's Choice set in 1995.

Michael Jordan Classic cards

Due to licensing we had never seen a Jordan Classic basketball card before - however as holders of the appropriate licensing for baseball cards we get one at last. Here is the Classic and Team Issue Michael Jordan cards.

94 Classic Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
94 Classic Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
We got a Classic card of Michael Jordan playing for the Barons in 1994.
94 Classic Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons Team Issue
94 Classic Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons Team Issue
In addition to the regular Classic release of 1994 was this Team Issue Jordan Classic card.

Action Packed Michael Jordan baseball card

Similar to Classic we never saw an Action Packed official release Jordan card as the company never obtained the required licensing. We did however get the Michael Jordan Action Packed promo as part of their attempt to get into the basketball market.

Here we have an official released Action Packed Michael Jordan card sporting the signature rounded corners.

Around $25 will buy you a PSA 9 copy of the Jordan Action Packed baseball card.

94 Action Packed Michael Jordan
94 Action Packed Michael Jordan
We got an Action Packed Scouting Report card of Michael Jordan playing for the Barons in 1994.

Michael Jordan baseball inserts

There are plenty of Jordan baseball inserts - some already mentioned - however here I’ll list out some of my favourites.

The 1994 SP Holoviews Die Cut and 1995 SP Top Prospects Jordan Time Capsule feature excellent action photos and very nice die-cut designs. Both are standout cards documenting Jordan’s famous time in baseball.

94 Michael Jordan Holoviews Die-Cut
94 Michael Jordan Holoviews Die-Cut
A very nice die-cut insert released by SP while Jordan was playing baseball for the White Sox.
95 SP Top Prospects Michael Jordan Time Capsule
95 SP Top Prospects Michael Jordan Time Capsule
A similar design and die-cut to the SP Top Prospects Jordan auto, this very nice card stands out in any collection pairing with its set counterpart.

Michael Jordan baseball error card

Fleer Procards released baseball cards in the 90’s usually featuring somewhat posed, non-action photography.

1994 meant a card for Michael Jordan as the outfielder for the Birmingham Barons. Unfortunately, however the photo chosen originally was very unflattering. The card photo was changed after some had been released to the public giving us this Michael Jordan baseball error card.

It’s very rare and commands prices accordingly - Goldin Auctions recently sold a BGS 9.5 copy for $3000.

94 Fleer Pro Cards Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
94 Fleer Pro Cards Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons
Fleer Michael Jordan baseball card released in 1994.
94 Fleer Pro Cards Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons Error
94 Fleer Pro Cards Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons Error
The original design for the 94 Pro Cards Michael Jordan baseball card featured this unflattering photo and was not intended for public distribution.

Michael Jordan baseball bat cards

Not only bat cards but also glove, cleat and jersey cards are available featuring Jordan’s time in minor league baseball. These display beautifully alongside their basketball memorabilia card counterparts.

One of my favourites is the 2000 SP Top Prospects Game Used Bat auto card - this features a piece of game used bat along with a large, bold autograph and serial numbered to only 45. In 2021 a PSA Authentic copy sold through Goldin Auctions for $6000.

2000 SP Top Prospects Michael Jordan Game Used Bat Auto
2000 SP Top Prospects Michael Jordan Game Used Bat Auto
Limited to 45 featuring a piece of Jordan game used bat and large, bold autograph.

Michael Jordan Scorpions baseball cards

The vast majority of Michael Jordan baseball cards focus on his short time with the White Sox/Birmingham Barons however we shouldn’t forget his time with Arizona’s Scottsdale Scorpions. Jordan actually wore the number 35 for the Scorpions adding another jersey number to his tally - I haven’t been able to find any cards featuring this jersey number however.

The 2002 Upper Deck MJ Game-Worn Flashbacks #MJ-SS jersey card below makes mention of number 45.

01 Upper Deck Heroes of Baseball Michael Jordan dual jersey
01 Upper Deck Heroes of Baseball Michael Jordan dual jersey
Featuring dual jersey patches of Jordan as a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions and Chicago White Sox.
02 Upper Deck Minor League Michael Jordan Scottsdale Scorpions jersey
02 Upper Deck Minor League Michael Jordan Scottsdale Scorpions jersey
One of very few cards featuring Jordan in his time playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

I’m keen to hear from any Jordan baseball card collectors - what’s your favourite from the era and have you found anything unique?