Michael Jordan was one of the most beloved and iconic basketball players in history. He transcended the game, becoming a household name that is still recognized today. His influence was so great that it even extended to the world of toys. Starting in 1988, toy company Hasbro released a line of action figures of Jordan and his teammates called "Starting Lineup." Let's take a look at how these iconic toys were born and what made them so popular.
How It All Began
The idea for the Starting Lineup series began when Hasbro executive Mike Levine approached Air Jordan himself with an idea for a new toy line featuring him and his NBA colleagues. After all, there had been successful lines of collectible sports figures before, such as Major League Baseball’s Kenner starting lineup series from the early 1980s. The only difference was that this time around, the focus would be on basketball instead of baseball. To Levine’s surprise, Jordan readily agreed and signed off on the project right away.
What Made Them So Popular?
It wasn’t just Michael Jordan’s star power that made Starting Lineups such a hit; they were also well-made toys. The figures featured realistic clothing, hairstyles (remember Larry Bird’s mohawk?), accurate body proportions, and even movable limbs—all features that brought realism to the playroom floor. What’s more, each figure came with its own set of miniature accessories—everything from jerseys to basketballs to sneakers—which allowed kids to customize their dolls according to their own personal taste.
In addition to providing hours of fun for children across America (and beyond!), Starting Lineup figures also became highly sought-after collector’s items due to their limited production runs and often skyrocketing prices on resale markets like eBay. In fact, some rare Starting Lineups have sold for upwards of $1,000! Collectors continue to obsess over these timeless pieces of sports memorabilia today—a testament to just how popular they were during their heyday in the late 80s and early 90s.
Whether you're a diehard collector or simply looking for an interesting piece of nostalgia from your childhood days, Michael Jordan's Starting Lineup toys are something special indeed. With their realistic designs and tiny accessories sets, these classic action figures are sure to bring back memories for anyone who grew up playing with them in the 80s or 90s—or simply appreciates an iconic piece of sports memorabilia from one of basketball's greatest players ever!