Jordan, Obama and Kaepernick sports jerseys set records at sports auction

A basketball jersey worn by Obama in 1979 at Punahou School in Hawaii sold for US$192,000

Colin Kaepernick’s jersey sold for U$128,000, making it the most expensive NFL jersey sold at auction

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From left, jerseys worn by Michael Jordan, Colin Kaepernick, former US President Barack Obama, and LeBron James are auctioned at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on Friday. Photo: EPA-EF

Published: 7:25am, 5 Dec 2020Updated: 8:43am, 5 Dec 2020

Historic jerseys from the careers of Michael Jordan, Colin Kaepernick and former US President Barack Obama set sales records at an auction of sports memorabilia this week, Julien’s Auctions said on Friday.

The official National Basketball Association jersey given to Jordan on the day he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 1984 sold for US$320,000, the highest price ever paid for a Jordan jersey.

Jordan held up the red-and-white jersey, which featured his name and the number 23, at his first news conference as a member of the Bulls. He went on to become the heart of the Bulls dynasty that won six NBA championships in the 1990s.

Also at the auction, a basketball jersey worn by Obama in 1979 during his senior year at Punahou School in Hawaii sold for US$192,000, a record for a high-school jersey sold at auction, Julien’s said. The white mesh jersey also features the number 23.

And a white number 7 jersey worn by former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2011, during his debut game with the San Francisco 49ers, sold for US$128,000, making it the most expensive NFL jersey sold at auction.