Why is centering such a big deal for this card?

1986 Fleer production frequently produced off-center cards. The colored borders make centering issues immediately visible, making perfectly centered PSA 10 copies extremely rare.

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 Value & Price Guide (2026)

Name: 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 Rookie Card
Brand: Fleer

Sports Cards

Michael Jordan's rookie card wasn't supposed to be a 1986 card. He entered the NBA in 1984. But Fleer wasn't making basketball cards that year - nobody was. The last major basketball set had been 1981-82 Topps. When Fleer finally returned to basketball in 1986, Jordan was already a two-year pro and the most electrifying player in the league. Card #57 became the most iconic basketball card ever produced. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, it's worth over $738,000. Even raw copies in decent shape sell for $2,000 to $4,000.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57
Year	1986
Category	Sports Cards - Basketball
Set	1986-87 Fleer
Card Number	#57
Condition Range
Raw, lower condition	$1,900 – $2,200
Raw, good condition	$2,950 – $3,700
PSA 7 (Near Mint)	$5,000 – $8,000
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$15,000 – $30,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$50,000 – $100,000
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)	$738,000+
Record Sale	$738,000+ (PSA 10)
Rarity	Common raw / Extremely Rare in PSA 10

The Story

Fleer hadn't produced basketball cards since losing a legal battle with Topps in the early 1980s. When they finally secured a license in 1986, they created a 132-card base set plus an 11-card sticker insert set. It was the only basketball card product on the market that year.

Card #57 features a young Michael Jordan in his Chicago Bulls uniform, mid-dribble, against a red, white, and blue bordered background. It's a simple image - but it captured the player who would become the most marketable athlete in history.

Jordan was already a sensation in 1986. He'd won Rookie of the Year in 1984-85 and was averaging 22.7 points per game. But the best was ahead: six NBA championships, five MVP awards, ten scoring titles, and a cultural impact that transcended sports entirely. Air Jordans. Space Jam. "Be Like Mike." The Bulls dynasty.

The 1986 Fleer set tracked Jordan's career arc in value. In the early 1990s, during the height of the card collecting boom, a Jordan rookie could be found for $20. By 2003, when Jordan retired for the last time, graded copies were reaching into the thousands. The Last Dance documentary in 2020 supercharged demand. PSA 10 copies, already rare, broke through $700,000.

As of February 2026, raw copies have been surging - up 147% in 30 days, with recent sales at $3,700 for a raw card.

How to Identify It

Key Visual Markers

Red, white, and blue striped border - the distinctive 1986 Fleer design
Jordan in Bulls uniform (#23), dribbling, photographed from the side
"MICHAEL JORDAN" printed below the photo
Card #57 on the back, with statistics and biographical info
Standard card size: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Centering - The Big Issue

The 1986 Fleer set is notorious for poor centering. The borders shift left-right and top-bottom during printing, so perfectly centered copies are extremely rare. This is the main reason PSA 10s are so scarce - even cards with perfect corners and surfaces often fail on centering.

Check centering by comparing the border width on all four sides. If one side is noticeably wider than the opposite side, the card is off-center. For a PSA 10, centering needs to be roughly 50/50 or very close.

The Jordan Sticker

The 1986 Fleer set also includes a Michael Jordan sticker (#8 in the sticker set). This is a separate card from #57 and is also collectible, though significantly less valuable. Don't confuse the sticker with the base card.

Value by Condition

Raw (Ungraded)

The raw market has been moving fast in early 2026:

Date	Sale Price
February 7, 2026	$3,700
February 5, 2026	$2,950
January 31, 2026	$2,200

That's a 147% increase in roughly one month. Whether this surge is sustained or a spike remains to be seen, but the trend is clear.

PSA Graded

Grade	Value
PSA 5 (Excellent)	$2,500 – $4,000
PSA 6 (EX-MT)	$3,500 – $5,500
PSA 7 (Near Mint)	$5,000 – $8,000
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$15,000 – $30,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$50,000 – $100,000
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)	$738,000+

The jump from PSA 9 to PSA 10 is staggering - roughly 7x to 15x. This reflects the tiny population of true Gem Mint copies. The colored borders show every imperfection, and centering issues eliminate most candidates.

Authentication & Fakes

Counterfeits Are Extremely Common

The 1986 Fleer Jordan is one of the most counterfeited sports cards in existence. The card's high value and relatively simple design make it a prime target.

How to Spot a Fake

Card stock: Genuine 1986 Fleer cards have a specific thickness and feel. Counterfeits are often slightly thicker or thinner, with a different texture.
Color saturation: Fakes frequently have colors that are slightly off - too bright, too dull, or with a color cast. Compare to known authentic copies.
Printing dots: Under magnification (10x or higher), genuine cards show a consistent dot pattern from the printing process. Fakes may show different patterns, smearing, or inconsistencies.
Back printing: The card back should have crisp, clear text and correct statistical information. Fakes sometimes have blurry text or factual errors.
The "shine" test: Genuine 1986 Fleer cards have a specific semi-gloss finish. Many counterfeits are either too glossy or too matte.

Get It Graded

For a card worth $2,000+ raw, professional authentication isn't optional - it's essential. Submit to PSA, BGS, or SGC. The authentication alone (regardless of grade) confirms you have a genuine card and protects you when selling.

Where to Sell

Raw or Lower Grades (under $10,000)

eBay - The most active marketplace. Use high-quality photos and describe condition honestly.
COMC - Consignment platform
Facebook groups - Active 1986 Fleer trading communities, but exercise caution

Mid to High Grades ($10,000+)

Heritage Auctions - Strong basketball card sales
Goldin Auctions - Major platform for high-end Jordan cards
PWCC Marketplace - Specializes in graded sports cards

PSA 10 ($500,000+)

Goldin or Heritage exclusively. A card at this level needs a major auction with global visibility.

Not sure about the condition of yours? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card worth?

Raw copies sell for $1,900 to $3,700 as of February 2026. PSA 8 (NM-MT) graded copies: $15,000 to $30,000. PSA 10 (Gem Mint): $738,000+. The value depends entirely on condition, with centering being the most critical factor.

Why is centering such a big deal?

The 1986 Fleer production process frequently produced off-center cards. The red, white, and blue borders make any centering issue immediately visible - you can't hide it. A perfectly centered card is genuinely rare, which is why PSA 10 copies command such enormous premiums.

Is the 1986 Fleer Jordan a good investment?

It has been historically. Values have climbed consistently over decades, with occasional spikes around Jordan-related events (documentary releases, anniversaries, cultural moments). But sports cards are not guaranteed investments. Buy what you can afford, get it authenticated, and think long-term.

How can I tell if my Jordan rookie is real?

The surest way is professional grading through PSA, BGS, or SGC. At home, check the card stock thickness, color accuracy, printing pattern under magnification, and back text clarity. When in doubt, spend the $30-$50 on authentication - it's the best insurance you can buy.

What about the Jordan sticker from the same set?

The 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan sticker (#8) is a separate collectible, worth roughly $500 to $5,000 depending on condition. It's nice to have but is not the marquee card - that's #57.