A Rye native and RHS Class of 1980 graduate has made sports memorabilia history for the second time in less than a month. Ron Firman purchased a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1998 NBA Finals Game Two worn road jersey for $14 Million on Monday, October 12, a world record sale price for any piece of basketball memorabilia.
“Michael Jordan was an incredibly talented player who is admired around the world,” Firman said after the purchase. “I’m very excited about the purchase. I want to thank David Hunt of Hunt Auctions, whose company is a leader in exceptional private sale items of this type.”
Firman, who grew up in Rye and is now a Miami-based investor, purchased the jersey in a private treaty sale with Hunt Auctions. He is a noted collector of rare vintage sports memorabilia who recently made history by purchasing the most expensive sports photograph of all time, an iconic image of Yankees superstar Mickey Mantle from 1951.
The iconic red jersey is from Game Two of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, a series in which Jordan won both an NBA championship and Finals MVP award for a sixth and final time. This series is the last time Jordan ever played for the Bulls, making this particular jersey extremely coveted.
“This remarkable garment bore witness to one of Jordan’s most hallowed NBA Finals appearances as part of his ‘Last Dance’ season to complete his illustrious career,” President of Hunt Auctions David Hunt said. “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 has now spent a combined $17 Million on his two record-setting sports memorabilia purchases in the last month.
