So I’m digging through my old stuff last week, right? Found this dusty box of basketball cards under my bed. Pulled out a Michael Jordan autographed card and thought, “Huh, wonder if this thing’s worth anything?” Grabbed my laptop right there on the carpet and started searching like crazy.
The Rabbit Hole Begins
First I checked average eBay sales – big mistake. Prices were all over the place! Saw one listed for $500, another for $15,000. Made zero sense. Called my buddy Dave who collects Pokémon cards and asked, “Yo, you know anything about signed Jordans?” He just laughed and said, “You’re in deep now, pal.”
Next day I drove to three different comic book shops pretending I might sell it. First guy barely glanced – “It’s fake, nobody authenticates these right.” Second dude took 10 minutes staring through a loupe then offered me $200 cash. Third place had a case full of Jordans behind glass. Owner tapped the glass saying, “Real ones? Graded PSA 10s go for five figures easy.”
The Grading Nightmare
Decided to get it graded. Mailed it to PSA with a $50 service fee, biting my nails for two weeks straight. Got an email saying “Alterations detected – cannot authenticate.” Nearly threw my phone against the wall! Turns out mine had fake ink bleeding around the signature edges. Total junk.
Learning The Hard Way
After crying over my $50 loss, I actually researched properly. Here’s what matters:
- Real signatures feel slightly raised under a light – mine was flat printer ink
- Certificates must trace to official signings – Upper Deck stuff holds value
- Condition is EVERYTHING – bent corner? Value drops 80% instantly
Talked to this veteran collector at a card show last Sunday. He showed me his 1986 Fleer Jordan rookie card, NOT signed but graded PSA 9. “This baby’s worth more than most fake autographs,” he said, wiping it with gloves like handling diamonds.
My Big Takeaway
Unless you pulled it from a sealed 90s pack yourself or got it signed personally? Probably worthless. Investment potential only exists for graded cards with ironclad authenticity – and even then it’s gambling. Saw a PSA authenticated 1998 Metal Universe card sell for $14k on Goldin auctions… but that’s lottery odds stuff.
Mine’s back in the dusty box now. Lesson learned? If it looks too good to be true in your attic, it definitely is. Might just frame it above my toilet for laughs.
