latimes
A Chicago Bulls jersey worn by Michael Jordan during Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals has been sold in a private transaction for $14 million, Hunt Auctions announced on Monday. The buyer is Ron Firman, a Miami-based real estate investor, according to the Philadelphia auction house.
The sale price is considered the highest ever for a piece of basketball memorabilia. Jordan wore the red road jersey on June 5, 1998, when he scored 37 points to lead the Bulls to a victory over the Utah Jazz. Chicago went on to win the series in six games, securing Jordan's sixth and final NBA championship.
This marks the third Jordan jersey from the 1998 Finals to sell for more than $10 million. His white home jersey from Game 3 fetched $12.26 million at auction in September, while his red road jersey from Game 1 sold for $10.09 million in 2022.
David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, commented on the sale: "While Michael Jordan's importance within the sports memorabilia marketplace has long been established, it has now escalated to an elite asset class more typically reserved for iconic works of art."
Firman's X profile describes him as a "Commercial Real Estate Co. Principal. Partner in private co. whos trading is comparable to a hedge funds. Rare Vintage Sports Memorabilia Collector." His most recent post, from Nov. 29, 2022, features a signed photo of Joe DiMaggio hitting a single in the seventh inning of the 42nd consecutive game of his 1941 hitting streak, which set an American League record. DiMaggio eventually extended the streak to 56 games, a Major League record that still stands.
Firman also recently set a record by paying $3 million for a 1951 Mickey Mantle first-generation photo that served as the basis for Mantle's iconic 1952 Topps rookie card. Now, Firman owns another piece of legendary memorabilia.
The Bulls' 1997-98 season was chronicled in the 2020 documentary series "The Last Dance."
"Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world," Firman said in a statement released by Hunt Auctions. "I'm very excited about the purchase."
The only game-worn jersey to publicly sell for more than $14 million was worn by Babe Ruth when he allegedly called his shot before hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. That jersey sold for $24.12 million in 2024 at Heritage Auctions, setting a world record for the most expensive sports memorabilia. It had previously sold for $940,000 in 2005, appreciating more than 25 times.
"In our opinion, and 36 years of market experience, Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan stand above all others in the history of American sports," Hunt said. "The record-setting price achieved for the related Michael Jordan jersey is yet another corroborative result as to the significance of Jordan within the industry and popular culture."
Originally reported by latimes.