There is a special lane in the hobby for second-year cards that capture a superstar right as the hype turns into inevitability. Michael Jordan’s 1987-88 Fleer #59 sits squarely in that lane. The photo, the white border, the clean team color trim, it all reads like late 80s basketball design without getting loud, and the card has lived on as a companion piece to the famous 1986 Fleer while being far more approachable for most collectors.
Recent sales sketch a clear picture of the market. On September 12, 2025, a PSA 5 closed at 225 dollars after 50 bids with 4.80 shipping out of North Carolina. The same day a PSA 7 posted at 360 dollars on a Buy It Now from Texas. One day earlier a PSA 8 sold for 575 dollars as a Buy It Now from Delaware. A PSA 9 MINT crossed the block on September 11 at 1,777 dollars after 37 bids through a major consignor in New Jersey. A PSA 9 with the OC qualifier sold August 27 for 600 dollars as a Buy It Now, a helpful reminder that qualifiers compress prices compared to true 9s. Raw copies are changing hands in the 150 to 300 range depending on how well they present, especially centering and surface.
Condition is where this card separates fast. Centering is the first look, both front and back, since off-center cuts are common for this run. The glossy surface will reveal light scratches and tiny print snow when you tilt it in good light. Corners and edges tell on handling quickly because of the white border, while faint tilt and factory rough cuts show up often enough to deserve a second check. Back printing can wander, and small fisheyes on the front can pull down the grade even when the rest of the card looks strong. Eye appeal matters as much as the number on the flip. A PSA 7 with square centering and clean color can feel better in hand than a technically similar copy with a left lean.
The 1987-88 Fleer set itself is part of the appeal. It is a compact checklist that gives you established stars, on the heels of the landmark 1986 release, and Jordan’s second-year base has always been the stop for collectors who want a flagship Bulls uniform card without jumping to the rookie. The companion sticker is its own chase, but the base #59 is the card you see most often in cases, paired with 1986 Fleer, Fleer Stickers, and the early Skybox run to tell a story across Jordan’s first three or four seasons.
Pricing tiers make sense once you line them up. Mid-grade slabs like PSA 5 and PSA 6 live near the raw range when the raw is genuinely clean. PSA 7 and PSA 8 form the liquid middle, where most buyers land, and they have been changing hands at 349 to 575 dollars in the first half of September. PSA 9 is where the jump begins, with auction results like 1,777 dollars showing the spread between a true 9 and an OC qualified copy at 600. Population reports keep the ceiling in context, but the day to day story is about finding a copy without the centering issues that plague the set.
If you are evaluating a copy in person, start with a quick four step scan. Centering first, using the inner frame and nameplate as guides. Surface second, tilt the card slowly to pick up print snow or light roller lines. Edges and corners third, since a speck of chipping on white borders stands out. Back alignment last, along with any wax or factory marks. For graded examples, read the autograph style font and label era if that matters to you aesthetically, since some collectors prefer newer holders or matching label runs in a display.
Collectors tend to build around this card in a few satisfying ways. One path is a small run of 1987-88 Fleer Bulls, adding Scottie Pippen’s rookie and the Jordan sticker for a tidy three or four card display. Another is a year pair with 1986 Fleer and 1988 Fleer, which shows the shift in photography and design while keeping uniform consistency. A third is to use the 1987-88 as the “daily driver” in a PC, then keep the 1986 Fleer tucked away, a practical split when you want something you can show without anxiety.
The liquidity is real because demand crosses experience levels. Newer hobbyists recognize the design immediately, show veterans know where the common flaws hide, and both sides understand why a centered PSA 8 looks great in a slab. With raw examples sitting 150 to 300 and graded landing at 225 for a PSA 5, 349 to 575 for PSA 7 to 8, and a recent PSA 9 at 1,777, the market is giving you a straightforward ladder to climb as you upgrade over time.
