The Last Dance

Michael Jordan - and his basketball cards - are sweeping the internet.

I can't log on to Twitter without seeing several people showing off some MJ's, whether it's a stroll down memory lane, or to try and take advantage of the hot card market and make some money.

I love it and am totally fine with it. It'll pass eventually, but it's cool to see. The majority of the reason for Jordan's resurrection right now is not only the fact that there is no NBA (the Playoffs would have started yesterday), but it's in anticipation of the 10-part documenarty series The Last Dance, airing on ESPN over the next 5-weeks.

The docuseries will follow the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls during the final season of their second three-peat. As a child of the '90s, the Bulls might have been the most popular team in a decade that saw the Cowboys and Yankees both have sustained success. It was a decade of dynasties, but none more popular than Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and the Bulls.

I collected basketball cards more than baseball from about 1994-1997. It was different though and you didn't have baseball year round. You come collect by season. It was basically buy baseball cards in the spring/summer, and buy basketball in fall/winter. Now we have year-round releases for all sports, and it's hard with so much overlap to collect multiple sports.

Sadly, the middle years of my collecting were while Jordan was away from the game, but I still managed to collect and hang on to a few Jordan cards. In honor of The Last Dance, here are 23 of my favorite Jordan cards that still reside in my collection from my childhood:

1. 1995-96 Ultra Gold Medallion #25

To me, this is the greatest parallel set of all time. Like baseball, they fell one per pack. My "big" present for Christmas in 1995 was a box of these, and luckily I pulled the Jordan.

2. 1993-94 Fleer Sharp Shooter #3

Growing up, this was one of my most valuable MJ's according Beckett. I pulled it during the spring of 1994, when he has already been out of the game. I love the look of it, from the graffiti in the background to the Sharp Shooter logo.

3. 1991 Upper Deck Baseball #SP1

Probably the most famous Jordan baseball card, before Jordan playing baseball was a thing. My cousin owned this card and I lusted after it for years. When he was a little older and was moving away, he finally gave me his old cards, including this one.

4. 1995-96 Collector's Choice You Crash The Game Gold Set #C30

I loved You Crash The Game. LOVED IT. In all sports. Jordan appears twice in the set, but the final card of the set is one of my favorites. He looks so badass in the Bulls black uniform and in his Air Jordan 11s.

5. 1995-96 Fleer Metal Nuts & Bolts #212

I'm still surprised this isn't an insert, as it's part of the base set. Fleer Metal was cool, and the Jordans in this set are now very sought after.

6. 1993-94 Upper Deck Skylights #466

This card is so freakin' great. The whole subset was.

7. 1993-94 Ultra Inside Outside #4

This card coms with memories. I pulled it from a gas station somewhere between Binghamton, NY and Mansfield, OH while traveling with my dad. The gas station had jumbo packs of Fleer Ultra, and this was in that pack.

8. 1995-96 Hoops Number Crunchers #1

For my 12th birthday, I got a box of Hoops. The main inserts were Number Crunchers and Block Party. It's a damn cool-looking card.

9. 1995-96 Ultra Double Trouble Gold Medallion #3

I had to "re-buy" this card a couple years ago. I originally pulled it in that same box as the Gold Medallion shown above. But I stupidly traded it as a kid for a big box of Tinos, most of which we all dupes from 1991. That was dumb. I should have stayed away from those AOL trading forums.

10. 1992 SkyBox USA Basketball #534

I always had trouble with the fact that MJ didn't wear #23 on the Olympic Team. But those Dream Team Uniforms were so cool. So was SkyBox.

11. 1994-95 Collector's Choice #204

I mentioned above that several of my core collecting years were Jordan-less, so it was always cool to pull a card of his during that time, even if it was him on the golf course in giant pants.

12. 1993-94 Fleer #28

I absolutely loved the design of this set. It's perfect. Solid MJ base card here.

13. 1995-96 Upper Deck #23

I love how often Jordan was #23 in a base card set. While very simple for both baseball and basketball in 1995, Upper Deck gave awesome photos plenty of space to shine. This is one of the best, with MJ going in for the dunk, once again donning the Jordan 11s. This would have been during the 1995 Playoffs.

14. 1993-94 Upper Deck #23

Once again, MJ appearing as number 23 in a UD set. I always like this design. Simple, clean, and reads basketball.

15. 1994 Collector's Choice Baseball #661

This card is too fun. MJ, in a baseball uniform, in his shooting stance. His performance wasn't great on the diamond, but he always looked good.

16. 1995-96 Collector's Choice Jordan Collection #JC4

There were a lot of Jordan cards and collections from Upper Deck the year after he came back from retirement #1. While this card is about 50% foil, I always thought the foil Jordan, pointing in his #45, was very cool.

17. 1994 Collector's Choice Baseball #23

I believe this is one of MJ's true baseball RCs. Solid shot of him reading a fly ball. The back has a picture of him golfing and his basketball stats.

18. 1996-97 Topps #139

Classic shot of MJ taking on Alonzo Mourning. He was never afraid to go after a 7-footer - Zo, Mutombo, Ewing. This is a solid design by Topps.

19. 1993-94 Ultra #30

I always liked the look of Jordan rising above everyone, including Barkley, in this photo. The bunting in the background makes me think this was from the '93 Finals. Classic card design, as well.

20. 1992-93 Upper Deck #204

These Upper Deck sets had a ton of MJs because they chronicled the post-season from the year before. Collectors now would be annoyed. Gotta love the famous shot of MJ holding up 3 fingers to signify the Bulls' 3-peat.

21. 1995 Upper Deck Baseball #200

Perhaps Jordan's second most famous baseball card behind the 1991 Upper Deck, MJ is seen here mid-interview with Harry Caray.

22. 1996-97 Collector's Choice #370

Great shot of Jordan and Scottie Pippen here. I'm curious to see how the relationship between these two comes across in The Last Dance. It's obviously been stated many times how instrumental Pippen was to the Bulls winning 6 titles.

23. 1995 Upper Deck Collector's Edition Oversized Card

I have no idea where I got this. I assume it came in some sort of boxed set with some other packs that I would have gotten for Christmas. The term "He's Back" is so iconic, and I love all the shots of Jordan in #45.

There you have it. I really don't have anything super high end. No Precious Metal Gems. No Beam Teams. No Rookies. But I can't tell you how glad I am I kept my Jordan cards after all these years.

Are you going to watch the The Last Dance? Do you have any favorite Jordan cards?