Michael Jordan's 1981 UNC application, acceptance letter up for auction

Bidding starts at $250k for documents that started Jordan's college career

Cover Image for Michael Jordan's 1981 UNC application, acceptance letter up for auction
Michael Jordan had already committed to the University of North Carolina when he formally applied to the school in early 1981. (Credit: Goldin Auctions)

Two documents that helped change the world of sports and culture forever have surfaced at auction: Michael Jordan’s University of North Carolina application form and acceptance letter.

Both will be auctioned off at Goldin Auctions this month. Bidding opens Monday, with a starting bid of $250,000.

At the age of 17, Jordan had committed to North Carolina in November 1980, so the documents were merely a formality. Jordan submitted his application to UNC in January 1981. He listed his intended major as “Undecided” and included his courses from his senior year, such as “focus on food,” “science fiction,” and advanced chemistry.

Under extracurriculars, Jordan wrote he was a member of the basketball, baseball, football and track teams, in addition to listing public service as “Special Olympics.” He signed and dated the application Jan. 15, 1981.

The application letter also displays his social security number, which is blurred out for confidentiality, according to Goldin’s lot description.

As for the acceptance letter, which Jordan received around March 1981, the document represents the moment Jordan entered onto the national stage, with his acceptance to the “General College” at UNC for the following term. Interestingly, the letter shoes a waived enrollment deposit date of May 1 of that year.

Eagle-eyes observers will notice UNC misspelled Jordan’s middle name, writing “Jeffery” rather than the correct “Jeffrey.”

Goldin previously handled two recruiting letters sent to Jordan, by assistant coach Bill Guthridge and Dean Smith respectively, as well as Jordan’s UNC diploma, in 2014

The two recruiting letters were originally given by Jordan to a Chapel Hill restaurant which he dedicated and renamed as "Michael Jordan's 23" in 1999. Then, after the restaurant closed in November 2003, some of the eatery’s property — including the letters — were sent to a storage locker.

After the bill on the locker went unpaid, the letters became property of a fortunate man, presumably the owner of the unit.

The Guthridge letter, which was penned just a day after the assistant first witnessed Jordan play in person in February 1980, included the following testament to the young Jordan’s potential: "I had the opportunity to see you play and reports that I had received were certainly verified." Bidding notched $4,732.90.

Smith’s letter came in August 1980 after his own visit and reads, "We do think you are a tremendous young man and are impressed not only with your obvious basketball talent, but the way you have been a leader at school and done well academically." It sold for $26,435.05.

Jordan’s diploma, which he received in December 1986 in the middle of his rookie season in the NBA, sold for $20,343.50.

Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.