Dodgers Legend Jackie Robinson “Outsells” Michael Jordan With $480k Cashgrab

Michael Jordan & Jackie Robinson. Basketball & Baseball. NBA & MLB. Two generation-defining, inspirations to the world, and two personalities who changed the course of two sports. Two athletes with undisputed legendary status. The true contenders of the GOAT – Greatest Of All Time status. 

Michael Jordan’s legend started in the 1980s. He made his debut for the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and the world saw his prime in the 90s. He absolutely dominated the NBA for a whole decade. Although he was sensational throughout his career, in the 90s, he was ridiculously unstoppable. Chicago Bulls won the championship 6 times, achieving the three-peat (winning the championship three times in a row) twice. MJ was the main protagonist for the ultimate success. He was by far the best athlete at the time in terms of his ability, athleticism, game quality, mentality, personality, and aura. There can never be enough words to describe his influence. 

READ MORE: A tribute for Jackie Robinson on his birthday.

But there is a strong argument as to why Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the greatest black athlete of all time, not Michael Jordan; maybe even the absolute greatest.

Michael Jordan and Jackie Robinson debut tickets break records

Jackie Robinson made his debut in the Dodgers uniform, wearing number 42 on April 11, 1947, in a preseason exhibition game against the New York Yankees. His actual debut in Major League Baseball was on April 15th. Robinson broke the color barriers when people were racially discriminated against. On the other hand, Jordan made his debut for Chicago Bulls on October 26th, 1984. These two tickets of their debuts broke the records for the most expensive sports ticket collectibles ever sold at an auction. A stub from the MLB debut in 1947 and a full ticket from the NBA debut in 1984, each sold for almost half a million dollars in two different listings at Heritage Auctions on Sunday.

The Jordan ticket was sold for $468,000, setting a record for the most expensive ticket ever sold. A little while later, the Robinson stub was sold for $480,000, setting a new one.

Before Sunday, the ticket of the same Michael Jordan debut game held the record for the most expensive ticket at $264,000 set in December. Sunday’s auction item was an unused ticket for the Chicago Bulls game, which is even rarer and hence the price at which it was sold was almost double of what it was in December. Michael Cole, who auctioned his ticket of the Michael Jordan debut, shared his views after the records were set. 

“We were a record holder for a brief period, but I couldn’t be happier because to me Jackie Robinson was not only an incredibly accomplished athlete, as was Michael Jordan but also an incredible pioneer,” Cole said. “I think it’s fitting that Jackie Robinson, whose contribution goes way beyond sports, has the highest valued ticket.”

Cole saw MJ for a mere $8.5 ticket. However, he could not find any friend to go watch the match with and he kept the extra ticket as a keepsake, which today has made him a fortune.

The Legend of Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson made his debut when people were racially discriminated against. The racial tension was also among the Dodgers camp, from Robinson’s teammates. The manager at the time moved the public opinion because he was in full support of Robinson.

Manager Leo Durocher sternly informed the team, “I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a f**kin’ zebra. I’m the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What’s more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded.”

WATCH: Top 5 fierce rivals of Jordan.

Robinson well and truly broke the color barrier for generations to come. His contribution was not just limited to sports but was also a message to the whole world that his community, or any community for that matter, deserved equal recognition, irrespective of their color, race, or ethnicity.

One can say that Jackie Robinson walked so that Michael Jordan and many others could fly.