Auction Item Details
Lot 277
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Lot Number: 277
Description: UPDATED DESCRIPTION: Exceedingly scarce and likely unique 1975 Michael Jordan autographed Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament Program: Possible earliest known athletic related autograph at age 12. At a very young age, Michael Jordan excelled as an athlete which in hindsight is certainly not surprising. However, the sport in which he first earned accolades was baseball. Jordan moved with his family to Wilmington, NC very early in life and grew to become an outstanding player within youth baseball. At the age of 12, Michael was named “Mr. Baseball” of the prominent Dixie Youth Baseball Association by his peers and earned a berth to the related State Tournament in 1975. Jordan lived up to the billing belting a three-run home run and nearly pitching a no hitter although both in losing causes. Although very early in his athletic career, it is believed that the disappointment of this tournament loss contributed to his eventual turn towards the sport of basketball. Frank and Nina Mitchem had agreed to host one of the children from the visiting Cape Fear team given the long distance travel to the tournament. On the day the kids arrived for the tournament, Nina Mitchem was to pick up Michael Jordan as his designated host. Michael was one of two African American players on the Cape Fear team and as such asked if his teammate Reggie Murrill could also stay with the Mitchems. Nina agreed and the two young men stayed together at the Mitchem home. It was during that time that Nina asked both boys to sign the program to make them feel special! Participating teams within the tournament are pictured within the program including Jordan’s Cape Fear tear near the middle portion of the book. Jordan and his teammate Reggie Murrill have both signed the program in ballpoint ink, in the period. Jordan’s signature remains very fine rating 8 out of 10. Later in the program is a two-page spread with the tournament bracket outline having been filled in by unknown individual. The right page of the two page spread features written name and addresses for both Jordan and teammate Reggie Murrill likely for point of contact which is consistent with the family account of both players staying with the Mitchem family for the tournament. The program itself shows general moderate handling wear including some toning to the covers and few edge dings. Given the fact that the offered piece relates to the most significant athletic event in Jordan’s youth up until that point and his young age of twelve years old it is without question one of, if not the, earliest Michael Jordan athletic related autographs documented to exist. The additional presence of primary source provenance elevates this particular item to a very small population of significant Jordan related items from his youth and collegiate era. Outstanding scarcity being offered to the public for the first time. Includesletter of provenance from a Mitchem family member documenting it was signed by Michael Jordan in the presence of their family members. UPDATE: Due to the extraordinary unique nature of the signature and its dating period JSA has currently updated its option to "Inconclusive". To be clear, JSA is NOT rejecting the autograph and will continue to research teh matter further. It was observed to resemble a high school yearbook autograph of Jordan but again due to its very early dating period they determined that more research is needed. No other third party authentication company has reviewed the autograph. Hunt Auctions will includes a letter of authenticity and will fully guarantee the signature and its original provenance: Program: VG, Signature: NM-MTEstimated Price Range: ($20,000-$40,000)
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