This month’s auction is generating massive excitement in the sports collectible world, particularly with the spotlight on a unique basketball card that merges the legacies of two of the greatest players: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. This one-of-a-kind 2007 Upper Deck dual Logoman card features both players’ autographs in blue ink, along with game-worn jersey patches from their respective teams—the Chicago Bulls for Jordan and the Los Angeles Lakers for Bryant. Currently expected to fetch around $6 million, this card is poised to become the most expensive basketball card ever sold.
The rarity of this card adds to its allure. Kobe Bryant signed only eleven dual Logomans before his tragic passing in 2020. Notably, this card is the only one he co-signed with Jordan, who himself has signed just eight dual Logomans. The card’s unique attributes have stirred a frenzy of interest among collectors, with current bids already at $2.9 million. Heritage Auctions’ Summer Platinum Night Sports sale is set to conclude on August 23, and many experts believe that this card will surpass the existing record for a basketball card—a Steph Curry-signed Logoman sold for $5.9 million in July 2021.
Heritage Auctions’ director of sports auctions, Chris Ivy, emphasized the card’s unmatched significance due to the connection it symbolizes between two basketball legends. The attention toward this collectible attests to the rich history and admiration surrounding both players within the sports community. As the auction approaches, many are enthusiastic about its potential to set new records while also honoring the legacies of both athletes.
In addition to the dual Logoman card, the auction features other significant sports memorabilia, including an impressive 8-by-8-foot hardwood slab from the famous United Center, where Jordan led the Bulls in the 1990s. This notable piece is adorned with Jordan’s expansive signature and various accolades, currently attracting bids around $155,000, but experts anticipate that it could ultimately sell for around $500,000.
The auction isn’t limited to basketball; it also includes noteworthy baseball collectibles. Among these is a game-worn and signed 1960 New York Yankees jersey belonging to baseball legend Mickey Mantle, expected to reach about $4 million. An elementary school picture of a young Mantle, featuring his earliest known autograph, could also generate interest with anticipated bids of around $80,000. Ivy remarked on the deep narrative associated with Mantle’s journey from a small-town upbringing to baseball royalty, reinforcing the significance of these collectibles.
Finally, the auction also highlights a gold World Championship watch, worn by Babe Ruth following the Yankees’ 1923 title, which could achieve bids of around $3 million. Additionally, a team-signed photo from the iconic 1927 Yankees, renowned as one of the greatest baseball teams in history, is also expected to fetch about $200,000. Collectively, these sports memorabilia underline both individual greatness and the storied history of American sports, capturing the essence of what makes them so valuable to collectors and fans alike.
