MJ's Baseball Days
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Though Jordan's baseball debut wouldn't come about until 1994, Upper Deck did manage to work him into their 1991 set as a short print chase card. Collectors were quite shocked that year to see this card featuring Jordan in a White Sox uniform taking batting practice at Wrigley Field before the annual "Windy City Classic" charity game between the Cubs and White Sox in 1990. Little did we know that Jordan would not only suit up for that charity game a few years later on April 7, 1994 but he collected a pair of base hits and knocked in two runs. It continues to be one of his most popular baseball cards. Jordan stepped away from basketball, and opted to try something new -baseball. MJ played baseball up until high school, and he wanted to return to his roots for his father. The Chicago White Sox signed him and the rest became history. The experiment lasted just one year but it was a memorable one for those who witnessed it and followed it.
It became a big deal in the card world as well. All of a sudden there was a fresh spin on Michael Jordan cards with plenty of opportunities. Upper Deck, in particular, took advantage, using Jordan as an anchor for many of their 1994 baseball products. But the history of Michael Jordan baseball cards goes back even further. The 1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan #SP1 was one of the most coveted cards of the hobby’s peak. Showcasing Jordan taking batting practice at Comiskey, it’s one of the early mainstream chase cards. For those who bought one or two packs at a time, it did seem like a tough card at the time. Still, there’s a lot of nostalgia and novelty surrounding the 1991 Upper Deck Michael Jordan #SP1 today. It might not sell for anywhere close to the amounts it used to, but it’s still one of the most memorable cards from the hobby’s biggest era. The set marked the third year Upper Deck issued a 800-card standard-size set in two separate series of 700 and 100 cards respectively. Cards were distributed in low and high series foil packs and factory sets. Rookie Cards in this set include Jeff Bagwell, Luis Gonzalez, Chipper Jones, Eric Karros, and Mike Mussina. A special Michael Jordan card (numbered SP1) was randomly included in packs on a somewhat limited basis. The Hank Aaron hologram card was randomly inserted in the 1991 Upper Deck high number foil packs.
Arguably Jordan's most recognizable rookie baseball card, the 1994 Upper Deck #19 shows him chasing down a fly ball in his White Sox uniform. Of the handful of Michael Jordan baseball cards to carry the RC tag, the one found in 1994 Upper Deck is probably the most recognized. Emblazoned with a massive Star Rookie banner running down the side, the foil front helps it stand out even further from the regular base cards in the set.
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