'Holy grail' Jordan-Bryant sports card sells for record $12.9M - ESPN

A signed sports collectible card featuring Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant sold for $12.932 million on Saturday night, breaking the record for the most ever paid for a sports card.

The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Jordan & Bryant card, numbered 1-of-1, surpassed the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, which sold for $12.6 million in late August 2022. The Jordan/Bryant card was sold with Heritage Auctions; the buyer's identity was not revealed.

The Jordan/Bryant card is the second-most expensive sports collectible of all-time behind Babe Ruth's 1932 World Series «called shot» jersey, which sold for $24.12 million almost a year ago to the day.

Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports auctions, said he remembers when Upper Deck first released Exquisite, charging $500 for one five-card pack/box for the 2003-04 release. That was the set responsible for a $5.2 million LeBron James rookie card, which previously held the record for most expensive basketball card until Saturday.

"[They were] kind of mocked, but it tapped into a demographic that wasn't interested in gimmicks: They just wanted the best of the best," Ivy says. «They were adding patches and signatures, Logomen — this was [one of] the first times logos from the jersey were used in this manner.»

In the years since, Panini's National Treasures & Flawless lines, both of which now run $3,000-plus per box upon release, have become the standard-bearer for basketball.

«But Exquisite was first, Exquisite paved the way,» Ivy said. «It's the pinnacle as far as modern card collectors are concerned, and this is the only time there's been Jordan and Kobe autographed Logomans. Another one can't be created. It's always been looked at by modern basketball