1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Michael Jordan PMG RED /100 #23 BGS 8.5

Vincent Van Gogh painted “The Starry Night” in 1889 as a mental hospital patient in Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in France. Although suffering from hallucinations and paranoia, his condition did not impede his creative genius. He could not see the outdoors from his room, so he drew it from his imagination. With its soft brush strokes, swirling sky, rolling clouds, and quaint village under the moon and stars, his masterpiece remains one of the world’s most celebrated works of art. Although a shrinking few have not yet made the connection between the art world and sports cards, the trading card industry has arrived on the art scene with the flair of Basquiat. In much the same way art collectors admire the color palette and design of a Vincent van Gough, card collectors admire the artistic brilliance of a T-206, ‘14 Cracker Jack, ‘33 Goudey, ‘48 Leaf, ‘52 Topps, ‘61 Fleer, Skybox PMG, and Panini Kaboom and Prizm, to name a few. PWCC features such a work of art in this month's Premier Auction. The Red PMG Jordan would be better suited for a gilded frame at the Met than a card case. For now, only “The Starry Night” hangs at the MET, but perhaps one day, the Red PMG will join it alongside other cards from Jefferson Burdick’s collection. But what makes this card so special? Its allure is multifaceted: its moment in NBA history, the design, limited production, condition sensitivity, and reputation elevated it above most from the period. The moment. As the back of this card indicates, it celebrates the 1996-97 season, during which the Bulls won 69 games and Jordan captured his fifth title and the Finals MVP. Most notably, in Game 5, with the series against Malone and Stockton of the venerable Jazz tied 2-2, Michael Jordan came down with the flu. But the flu had another think coming. The world soon learned that the only cure for the flu is Michael Jordan. Most players will never score 38 points in a game. Michael Jordan did it with a brutal flu in a pivotal Game 5 on the road. The only thing sicker than Michael Jordan was his performance. The image of Scottie Pippen carrying a wilting Jordan off the court remains as indelible as any moment in his career. After the game, Jordan said, “Probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I almost played myself into passing out just to win a basketball game.” That was the flu game—and this is the flu card. The design. The Red PMG shows “A Fiery Night,” the sky awash with flames—perhaps a meteor flashing by as Jordan splits it to score. His trailing shadow, fierce look of determination, and the red backdrop are reminiscent of similar palettes used in art and film, like the red-colored rhodochrosite base in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Or perhaps the red symbolizes Jordan’s temperature during the flu game or that he caught fire that night. Like art, the magic of these cards is that they leave interpretation to the collectors’ imagination. Limited production. There are probably a few billion Michael Jordan fans and only 100 of these cards that entered packs. While 100 examples might seem like a lot if it is a 1980 Topps Dale Berra card, it would not even be enough to whet the appetite of a miniature chihuahua for an MJ classic. Condition. The foil that surrounds PMGs did not enroll in the School of Preservation. As a result, it chips like a shoulder. With a scant print run of 100, this serial-numbered 56/100 example navigated the card industry obstacles like Lewis Hamilton. Relatively unscathed in its Beckett 8.5 case, you can almost see it sticking out its chest. PMG Reputation. Apropos of nothing, Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt starred in the 1990s movie “As Good as it Gets.” In the 1990s, Precious Metals PMG cards were as good as it got. Their sleek design and player selection catapulted the set to the top of chase lists as investors learned to appreciate their genius. And no doubt this example will make it to the top of bidders’ favorites list when PWCC fires up this month’s Premier Auction.