A new benchmark has been established in the realm of sports memorabilia, as a highly sought-after 2007 dual-autograph card featuring basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant fetched an astounding $12.9 million. This remarkable sale, confirmed by The Athletic, sets a new record within the competitive sports card collecting community.
This unique, one-of-a-kind “Logoman” card from Upper Deck Exquisite boasts two NBA logos, captivating images of both Bryant and Jordan, and genuine on-card autographs from these two iconic figures, widely regarded as among the sport`s greatest. Its rarity and historical significance contribute immensely to its value.
The historic auction for the card, which received a PSA 6 grade, concluded Sunday morning as part of Heritage Auctions` exclusive `Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction.` For now, the identity of the successful, anonymous bidder remains undisclosed.
Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage, emphasized the immense appeal of the card: “The demand for this card is astronomical, which makes sense, because it has everything, including photos, jersey patches and signatures from two of the greatest players who ever stepped on the court.” He further highlighted its unparalleled rarity: “The Dual Logoman card offered in this auction is the only example created that includes only Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant – making it the most sought-after example of the incredible Upper Deck Logoman series, and because of Kobe Bryant`s tragic death in 2020, it always will be the only one.”
Initially estimated to sell for $6 million, the card`s final price significantly surpassed this figure, attracting numerous bids that quickly exceeded the projection. Prior to this sale, the highest price ever paid for a sports card was $12.6 million in 2022 for a pristine 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card, as reported by CNN.
Preceding the Mantle record, a Honus Wagner card achieved $6.6 million in 2021. Notably, the Jordan-Bryant transaction more than doubles the previous record for a basketball card, which was held by Steph Curry`s rookie season (2009-10) Logoman card, sold for $5.9 million.
Coinciding with this excitement, on `Mamba Day,` Sunday, August 24, Nike paid tribute by re-releasing several popular Protro edition sneakers from Kobe Bryant`s legacy, including sought-after colorways like the Kobe VI Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kobe VIII What The Kobe, honoring the enduring impact of the legendary player.
