Michael Jordan Signed ‘Player Sample’ 1985 Air Jordan 1 | Sizes 13 & 13.5

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s entrance to the NBA, Sotheby’s is proud to present the Michael Jordan Signed ‘Player Sample’ 1985 Air Jordan 1 | Sizes 13 & 13.5. 

In unworn condition, this 1985 Player Sample features Jordan’s signature on the tongue of the right shoe, the original size 13 labeled box, and an additional set of white laces. 

Sotheby’s obtained the below letter of provenance from the consignor of the lot. 

In the mid-1980s, I served as the Director of Communication Services for the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company (At the time it was a Fortune 500 company) where I headed advertising and community relations.

During this time, I received a phone call from an agent at ProServ, a renowned sports marketing agency. He mentioned that he represented Boomer Esiason (then the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals) and would appreciate it if I would meet with him and Esiason to discuss the possibility of CG&E retaining Esiason as a celebrity spokesperson to promote CG&E. I agreed to meet with the ProServ agent and Esiason.

Within a few weeks following the phone call, I met with them. During our meeting, the ProServ representative asked me what sports figures I admired/followed. I mentioned a few players, including Michael Jordan. The ProServ agent said that his firm represented Jordan and that he was the lead ProServ rep with Jordan.

A few weeks later, the ProServ agent sent me an autographed pair of Jordan's shoes. I have had these sneakers for nearly 35 years. They have never been publicly displayed, nor have they ever been worn. They have remained in the box that was mailed to me and the sneakers are in pristine condition.

The signature has also been authenticated by PSA and Beckett.

The Nike 'Air Jordan' is one of the most iconic designs in the history of both streetwear and basketball and is a key part of the origin of the Air Jordan brand for Nike. Designed by Peter Moore, Michael Jordan wore Air Jordan 1s in 1984 and 1985, as well as modified versions in 1986 (after a broken foot Michael endured). These specific shoes are the iconic ‘Chicago’ colorway, and perhaps the most recognizable for Michael, as well as the Nike brand.

In 1984, Nike gave Michael Jordan his own signature line of shoes and clothes, which was pivotal in Michael agreeing to sign with Nike. It was the first time the brand did anything like this, and it paved the way for many of the player collaborations we now see. The term “Air Jordan” was coined by Michael Jordan’s agent David Falk. David apparently came up with the name because Nike shoes had air in the soles and because, of course, Michael Jordan played basketball in the air.

In terms of the shoe itself, the original Air Jordan 1s were so popular and successful that Nike continued to make new signature Air Jordans each season. This tradition continued beyond Michael’s retirement, and Nike is currently on the Air Jordan 39. From the day it launched, Air Jordans have always represented the pinnacle of sneaker design. The shoes are unmatched when it comes to quality, craftsmanship, materials, innovation, performance, and of course style.

These sneakers were produced for Michael Jordan during his Rookie season, but were never worn and remain in perfect condition. The coding on the inside of the shoes states "850204 TYPS.” 850204 refers to the date of production. These shoes were made in 1985 between the months of February (02) and April (04). TYPS stands for “Tong Yang Player Sample'' and means that the shoes are ‘Player Samples,’ produced from the 'Tong Yang' factory. Nike only produced ‘Player Samples’ of the Air Jordan I for Michael Jordan.