Michael Jordan’s jersey sold for a net US $3M. There’s no doubt that the market for Michael Jordan collectibles has been incredibly popular over the past couple of years. In 2021, for example, a pair of red and white Nike Airships officially became the most expensive pair of game-worn sneakers. During the auction, the signed sneakers garnered approximately US$1.5 million.
Nearly a year later, the opportunity to purchase another piece of basketball memorabilia has resurfaced. During his appearance in the 1998 NBA Finals, the game-worn Chicago Bulls jersey is auctioned online at Sotheby’s New York, estimated for around US $3-5 million dollars.
Sports memorabilia, especially from the major sports leagues, suddenly becomes a beautiful investment opportunity with numbers like that. In this article, we go over how to go about that.
Michael Jordan Jersey
Photo from cnn.com
What are Sports Memorabilia
In its simplest form, sports memorabilia are collectibles associated with sports. These include equipment, trophies, sports cards, sports collectibles, autographed memorabilia, and photographs.
Today, there exists a multi-billion-dollar industry that has grown up around the trading of sports memorabilia. Individual items can be worth tens of millions of dollars, especially if they’re 1 of 1.
The values of signed memorabilia will generally be relative to the profile of the signer or user, and the scarcity of its items. That Michael Jordan jersey that sold for US$3-5 million USD? Yep, that’s 1 of 1.
Evaluators can also assess the value of an article of the past based on its condition, authenticity, and historical significance. All these add to the legend behind the memorabilia and when the memorabilia is part of something intense and beautiful, its legend only grows - and the value rises.
3 Famous Pieces
Sports memorabilia can come in all shapes and sizes, from signed shirts and photos to the winning ball or stick. Again, depending on scarcity and who the piece in question is tied to, the items will range in value. On top of many lists like these, famous legends such as Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan, and Babe Ruth will usually top.
Here are some of the most expensive sporting memorabilia of all time.
A. Original Olympic Games Manifesto
Olympic Games Manifesto
Photo from dailymail.co.uk
The original Olympic Games Manifesto was written in 1892 by French Aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin, fetching $8.8 million on Wednesday at Sotheby’s New York. The sale set a new world record for any sports memorabilia. Rightfully so, as the historical significance of such a manifesto far outweighs that of any jersey any single player could have.
The 14-page manifesto outlines de Coubertin’s vision for reviving the Olympic Games as a modern, international athletic competition. The pricetag that this piece was sold at is a testament to the lasting impact that de Coubertin continues to have on the sporting world.
The manuscript is the only known copy of the manifesto in existence.
B. Babe Ruth 1928-1930 jersey
Babe Ruth Jersey
Photo from cbsnews.com
Babe Ruth’s career is literally the stuff of legend. Even though it’s been more than a century since Babe Ruth started his baseball career, his legend only continues to grow.
A Babe Ruth New York Yankees jersey from 1928-1930 fetched $5.64 million at auction, making it the most expensive piece of clothing memorabilia ever sold. The previous record was a 1920 Babe Ruth jersey that went for $4.4 million.
The record-breaking jersey was found to be part of a collection of artifacts related to The Sultan of Swat. Babe Ruth continues to be one of the most prolific baseball players to have ever lived. His legendary career spanned 22 years, 714 home runs, and four World Series titles.
Baseball memorabilia is particularly popular among collectors with autographed baseballs, signed baseballs, and baseball cards getting sold for high values.
C. James Naismith’s 1891 Rules of Basketball
James Naismith Rules of Basketball
Photo from history.com
Here in the Philippines, basketball is basically our religion. James Naismith wrote the 13 rules 119 years ago with the aim of creating a new indoor winter sport for boys at a Massachusetts YMCA.
On December 10, 2010, the original rules of basketball were sold for a whopping $4.3 million dollars. The birth certificate of one of the world’s most popular sports, this certificate is just a great piece of history with a fitting price.
3 Reasons To Invest In Sports Memorabilia
Normally, you wouldn’t appreciate sports memorabilia with the word investment. But the investment market for this scene has only grown so much over the pandemic and towards its end.
- It’s One of A Kind
If you’re considering investing in sports memorabilia, now that there’s a difference between that and collectibles. There are tons of collectibles available on the market, but only very few memorabilia. As it turns out, memorabilia has been authenticated by a reputable dealer, who certified that the autograph is legitimate. The market is huge as it’s worth $5 billion global market. This can range from signed helmets for those football fans, to signed basketballs, signed pucks, framed jerseys, game-used items, and more.
- Its Value is Infinite
If you have the right player’s memorabilia, then sports memorabilia can be a great investment. A rare, mint-condition player's card could sell for well over $1 million dollars. There’s so much nuance that goes into the potential appreciation of a piece of sports memorabilia.
The best part? There’s no way to say how far the value will go up. Based on several sports memorabilia analysts, the value of an item only goes higher when the players have retired and established themselves as pillars of the game.