Rare Player Sample Jordan’s Expected To Get $250,000 At Auction

A rare pair of Jordan’s was placed up for auction two weeks ago, and the bids are already up to $95,420. The sneakers, up for bid with RR Auctions, are expected to reach as high as $250,000 by their closing bid on June 16.

What makes these Air Jordan 1’s extra rare is that they are a pair of sample sneakers, TMZ Sports reports. The shoes were made specifically for Michael Jordan to test out before Nike released them. However, they have been verified and are stamped with code “850204-TYPS.” The “TYPS” stands for “Tong Yang Player Sample,” meaning these sample kicks were manufactured at the Tong Yang factory. The numbers indicate the sneakers were created sometime between February and April in 1985.

The shoes come in sizes 13 and 13 and a half because Jordan wore a larger shoe on his right foot. Even though he never wore them, MJ signed them, and they come in their original Nike box.

The owner of the rare sneakers got them back in the ‘80s while working as a director for a gas and electric company. During a business meeting with a sports agent, he was asked what sports figure he admired, and one he listed was Jordan. A few weeks after the meeting, the sneakers arrived in the mail.