1998 Ultra Platinum Medallion Michael Jordan /99 #85 BGS 9 MINT

Low-numbered parallels of Michael Jordan always draw attention, and the Ultra Platinum Medallion is certainly in that class. Featuring Michael in a gravity-defying moment, the Ultra shows him in his original Chicago colorway Air Jordan I’s—the classic red, white, and black shoe—that he had originally worn back in 1984. In the Last Dance documentary, Jordan reminisced about his desire to play his last game in Madison Square Garden in the original shoe. While His Airness was uncomfortable in the antiquated Jordan I’s, he did not feel he could remove them because he was having such a good game. He scored a memorable 42 points as the Bulls beat the Knicks 102-89. When Jordan finally unlaced the shoes, his socks were covered in blood. Whether the shoe was a size small, or he had acclimated to the more comfortable versions developed in the 14 years since he first wore them is unclear—perhaps both. But what is not debatable is that Jordan always turned it up for Spike Lee and the New York fans. This BGS 9, with only one graded higher by the service, stamped 21/99 turns it up for Jordan collectors who appreciate playing-day issues that are hard to locate due to His Airness' immense popularity. Bidders will want to strap on their old Air Jordans and not unlace them until this auction is over. Once the hammer drops, the winner of this card will likely engage in a gravity-defying moment of their own, but hopefully, they will not have bloody socks. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 06/09/25.