Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1999-00 Upper Deck HoloGrFX UD Authentics Autograph #JO BGS 7/8 Autograph | On-Card Autograph

Sotheby’s is proud to offer via public auction for the first time since November 2022, a 1999-00 Upper Deck HoloGrFX UD Authentics Michael Jordan On-Card Autograph graded a BGS 7 with an 8 Autograph grade. This card rarely surfaces, it's the very definition of a ghost card in the trading card world. At the time of cataloging, and according to population report information listed online for Beckett Grading Services, only six copies of this card have ever been graded by BGS. According to population report information listed online for Professional Sports Authenticators, no copies of this card are active in PSA’s population report. 

Released in the 1999-00 product year as a retail  product, each box contains 36 packs, with each pack holding 3 cards. Every card features a beautiful holographic design. The base set consists of 90 cards, with cards #61-90 featuring rookies, which were inserted at odds of 1 in every 2 packs. Various colorful inserts can be found throughout the product such as: NBA 24/7 (1:3 packs), HoloFame (1:17 packs), Maximum Jordan (1:34 packs). Inserts can also be found in the stunning AuSome gold variations. Multiple autograph subsets exist within the set as well including: NBA 24/7 Autographs (1:106 packs), HoloFame Autographs (1:210 packs), and of course the elusive UD Authentics Autographs (1:431 packs). The UD Authentics Autograph subset checklist features 21 signers, including up-and-coming names at the time like Antawn Jamison, Baron Davis, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, Shawn Marion and, of course, The greatest to ever play the game in the eyes of many, Michael Jordan.

This is a rare opportunity to own a card featuring perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, highlighted by a bold blue-ink autograph on a piece that almost never surfaces. Chances like this don’t come around often.

This card has been authenticated and deemed to be in Near Mint condition, receiving a grade of 7 from Beckett Grading Services (BGS). 

The BGS certificate number for this card is: 0015403029.

Going Deeper - Retirement Round Two

On January 13, 1999, for the second time in his career, Michael Jordan announced to the world that he would be stepping away from the game of professional basketball. Before officially announcing his retirement, Jordan acknowledged the passing of a fallen local police officer by saying, “Puts a lot of things into perspective, in terms of what life is really about. My responsibilities has been to play the game of basketball and relieve some of the pressures of everyday life for people who have work from 9-5 and I have tried to do that with the best of my abilities.” 

Jordan specifically thanked NBA Commissioner David Stern and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf for giving him the opportunity to play professional basketball. He also expressed gratitude to the fans in Chicago for their support over the years, his teammates, and the entire Bulls organization for helping change the perception of the city of Chicago. Lastly, he acknowledged and gave thanks to previous African American trailblazers in the sport, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, and Elgin Baylor.

Reinsdorf made an emotional opening statement at the press conference: “This is a day that I think I hoped would never come. This has to be the toughest day in the history of the Chicago Bulls. It's a tough day for Chicago, it's a tough day for the NBA, it's a tough day for basketball fans all over the world and for Michael Jordan fans all over the world.” The impact Jordan had on the sport and the city of Chicago was unparalleled. No athlete has come close to matching it.

Stern followed up Reinsdorf’s emotional statement with a different perspective, saying: “I disagree with Jerry. This is not a sad day, this is a great day. Because the greatest basketball player in the history of the game is getting the opportunity to retire with the grace that described his play.”