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Lot # 4: 1985 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls Game Worn Air Jordan I Rookie Era Sneakers from Judge Cafe Collection (MEARS)

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $25,000.00

Bids: 30 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Classic 2022",
which ran from 5/20/2022 7:00 PM to
6/11/2022 10:00 PM



There is no "I" in team," said Michael Jordan. "But there is in win."  Displayed is a pair of game worn Nike Air Jordan shoes worn by one of the greatest winners of all time and the consensus pro basketball Greatest Player of All Time (GOAT), Michael Jordan himself. As viewers of the television documentary The Last Dance witnessed, Hall of Famer Michael Jordan was obsessed with winning, and the 5-time NBA MVP eventually would be the driving on-court force behind the incredible double Chicago Bulls Three-Peat of NBA championships. The shoes could have been worn during the second half of his 1984-85 rookie season, or the beginning of 1985-86 season, or both. Included with the game worn shoes is a Letter of Opinion from MEARS Authentication which gives the shoes a grade of Authentic. The color scheme is Red, white, with a black Nike swoosh with black laces. According to the MEARS Letter of Opinion, the shoes date to the 1985 time frame based on the ""850102 - TYPS" production code stamped in white lettering inside both ankles. The "85" stands for 1985, and the "0102" means the shoes were produced around January or February. The shoes are Left - size 13 and Right - size 13.5. According to MEARS, "documented examples of Michael Jordan shoes have entered the hobby and support size 13 (left shoe) and size 13 1/2 (right shoe). The larger 1/2 size was to accommodate an ankle injury." The Mears LOA goes on to point out the following: The shoes exhibit moderate game wear. There is a slight black paint scuff on the outside of the left shoe, and a scuff to the back heel of the left shoe. MEARS also states that the shoes show additional signs of game use, including court dust, a compressed left toe, heel compression in both shoes, and drooping laces. The shoes source from an individual who's grandmother, Carol Couch, was the owner of the Judge Cafe (a popular spot for the Utah Jazz team) and a season ticket holder of the Jazz. At that time, Jerry Sloan was a customer of the Judge Cafe and knew that Carol Couch collected game worn NBA sneakers, and so Sloan, who as a former Chicago Bulls player, had connections to Michael Jordan, obtained the sneakers and gifted them to Ms. Couch. The Mears LOA also indicates that these shoes are photo style matched. In Jordan's first year, he averaged 28.2 PPG, and was the NBA Rookie of the Year. In Michael's second season, he broke a small bone in his foot in the season's third game, and he only played in 18 games, averaging 22.7 PPG. As for adding these shoes to one's treasured basketball trove: Michael Jordan is the pro basketball GOAT, and these are a fine-looking pair of his game worn shoes.

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