The design is clean and features gold trims. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. 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Many players regarded as the greatest of all time played in this era and still capture the imagination of sports collectors today. His 1996-97 E-X2000 rookie also sells for a boat load, as do high-grade versions of his Topps base rookiereally, you can't go wrong with any early Kobe cards. So that there are no confusions about the condition of a basketball card, cards are usually officially graded. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Its the main reason why the card makes the list! Getting your basketball card graded is simple as submitting your card to the company. 1999 Upper Deck Ovation Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan #MJS card $250,000, 6. 1993-94 Finest Anfernee Hardaway RC #189 Buy on eBay. If you want this one in grade 10 condition, be prepared to SPEND BIG. For the 1990s decade, the basketball cards thatll be worth money are rookie cards cards of players making their debut in that decade. Top 10 Baseball Cards of 1990 That Made History & Shaped a Generation Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC $500,000, 4. What is the most expensive card in the world? When Topps released its Finest set in 1993 for basketball and baseball, it was a real game changer in the hobby. The card produced by Topps is graded as a PSA 10, meaning it is in pristine condition, making it highly collectible. 19 pick Pat Garrity for No. I do want to be 100% clear that most of the cards in this set sadly have no value these days. How much is a Michael Jordan rookie basketball card worth? That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. 1997 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13, 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10, 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC, 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10, 1999 Upper Deck Ovation Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan #MJS card, 1997 Skybox Z-Force Michael Jordan Quick Strike card, 1990 Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 Non Perforated card, 1996 Fleer Metal Universe Kobe Bryant #181 Error Card, 1997 SPx Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #5 Signed PSA 10, 1998 Upper Deck SP Authentic Michael Jordan #M4 PSA 10 GEM MINT, 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s, 1. Adding the mystique of being a pre-rookie, it is one very valuable basketball card. For years during the 1980s, there were hardly any basketball cards to collect whatsoever Topps bowed out of the hobby after 1981, Star released a few sets later on and Fleer didn't join the market until 1986. Over the past few years, basketball cards have exploded in value when compared to other sports cards. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Hoops listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. Ive set aside the top insert sets of the 90s for another article. This is currently listed on eBay for $100,000. His 1998-99 SP Authentic rookie card is actually his most valuable, but with a limited print run of 3,500, it was not eligible to be included in these rankings. 1990 saw notable rookie cards from Shawn Kemp and Tim Hardaway, along with other historic players such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman, and Scottie Pippen. What baseball cards from 1990s are worth money? I'd like to think he's in the middle of going across the lane for one of his signature "baby sky hook" shots that were nearly impossible to defend. Selling your basketball card is actually very easy because you can sell them in yard sales, in pawn shops near you, and in a host of online places. Fleer started out the decade where it left off in the late 80s as the most valuable basketball card brand in the business, despite much of these years being described as junk wax. As the player finishes their rookie years and starts becoming famous, more cards are produced making them more common. Nowitzki averaged a modest 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes as a rookie, but he quickly upped his production in the coming years to emerge as one of the NBA's top scorers. Somewhat surprisingly, he was elected to only one All-Star game over his career but I guess it makes sense considering Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson routinely represented the Western Conference at center during that time. Still, notable rookies included Baron Davis, Richard Hamilton, Steve Francis, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry. Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. However, there are a few exceptions to this, as the 90s Michal Jordans cards show. The card was graded as a Beckett 9 and sold at a Goldin auction in March 2021 for $198,030. He debuted in that year and also went on to win rookie of the year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Michael Jordan's 1990 Fleer basketball card. The Sign of the Times inserts which were all die-cut autos, issued in Bronze, Silver, and Gold versions. 1989 Hoops #21 Michael Jordan All-Star Estimated PSA 10 Value: $90 MVP Karl Malone may have led the West to a 143-134 victory over the East during the 1989 All-Star Game in Houston, but, not surprisingly, Jordan's All-Star card is the most desirable in the set. You can use serial number or population report to determine cards that are rare. The guy could absolutely jump through the roof and his vertical leaping ability is on full display on his 1990 Fleer card. Generally, basketball cards released during a players rookie year are more valuable than those released afterwards. Read the full disclosure here. It features the Black Mamba bouncing the ball and most probably already eyeing the backboard. The pack version is the one that is considered his true rookie card, and it was also short-printed since it was a late addition to the set, making it the more valuable of the two and his most valuable rookie card overall. Parallels: Red PMG (/90), Green PMG (/10). The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. These include: 97 UD Michael Jordan auto patch #GJ13 BSA 10, 96 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10, 92 Classic DP Shaq ONeal auto RC PSA 10, and 97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 RC BGS 10. Thats none other than the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. Pippen's cards have also taken off since "The Last Dance" documentary went on air. 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card He averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game over his first six NBA seasons, tallying 29 triple-doubles and earning five All-Star selections. Dikembe Mutombo and Larry Johnson were the top rookies of the 1991 class, and Jordan cards caught fire after he won his first championship against Magic Johnson and the Lakers to end the previous season. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. Sports Card Investing: Maximize Portfolio Returns (Ultimate Guide), 10 Best Football Card Packs to Buy in 2023, In-Depth Sports Card Market Trends and Statistics (2023). The card features Jordan soaring into the air with an outstretched arm, a position that became a trademark of Jordans playing style. Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Basketball Rookie Cards of the 1990s Finest introduced refractors, which is a coating on a cards surface that creates a rainbow-like shine when reflected by the light. Theyll always make a list of valuable 90s memorabilia, for a number of reasons which soon become apparent. He won back-to-back MVP awards during the 2004-05 (15.5 PPG, 11.5 APG, 43.1 3PT%) and 2005-06 (18.8 PPG, 10.5 APG, 43.9 3PT%) seasons, and he currently ranks fourth all-time with 10,335 career assists. It is graded by Beckett, and proudly has 8 points. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. He was ultimately overtaken by Kobe Bryant for top rookie card honors in his class, but the market for his cards remains robust, and his Topps Chrome rookie is the cream of the crop. 1990 Hoops #39 Larry Bird Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100 . Speaking of Magic Johnson, Fleer did a fantastic job of capturing him in action on this card not so much because of what is going on but what you could imagine might be underway. The bold blue autograph is perfectly placed on the card. Required fields are marked *. However, they were creating solid value through their base designs and high-end value through scarcity with their refractor parallels. Thus, not all rookie cards of the 1990s are worth serious money. With famous players renowned for their playing skills still capturing the imagination of collectors, it stands to reason that the best players are worth more money. However, PSA (Pros Sports Authority) is generally regarded as the best. The lightning quick move allowed Hardaway to create just enough separation against opposing defenders to turn him into an elite scorer and passer. That is, a rookie card of a star player that is hard to get, autographed by the player, has a patch of his game-worn jersey, and graded as mint. Some of the things considered are: centering of the card, printing errors, and evidence of wear. It doesnt matter that the height of their careers was after the 1990s. Rookie cards are produced when a player is just starting out and therefore made in limited quantities. Best 1990s Basketball Cards - Sports Collectors Daily The pre-rookie card is 1 of only 1200 and is graded by the PSA as a 10, making it highly desirable and rare. Kobe was always going to make any list with the most expensive 1990's cards, and the 1996-97 Topps set has one of the strongest rookie classes of all time. The former MVP and 11-time All-Star was arguably one of the most deserving players who never did quite when an NBA title. A real piece of history, the 97 Upper Deck Game Jersey helped to kickstart the beginning of the Jersey Patch craze and set the precedent for future productions. The sport was on the road to recovery following a lack of interest worldwide, helped by Jordan, Weve put together a list with 10 of the most expensive 90s, Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most, modern-day big man, its no surprise to see one of, Classic Games were a pre-rookie/prospect card company that managed to get the temporary exclusive rights to produce Shaq cards during his time at, Many of the cards were hand-signed by the man himself, making it one of the very first pieces of, As with the majority of rare Jordan cards from the era, its tough to locate in high-grade and is also extremely popular among collectors and investors following the release of. 3 jersey letting out a celebratory shout, with his teammates around. His pro transition was as smooth as any in recent memory, as he averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while earning a spot in the All-Star Game as a rookie. 1. A big part of the card is devoted to MJs signed autograph. 1990 Hoops #205 Mark Jackson. An MJ hand-numbered /23 card shows that only 23 of its kind exists, and will be very valuable. The 90s were a classic era, and arguably the best time to be a fan of basketball aside from the modern-day. Out of 100 produced, only 10 were made with green foil with the other 90 in red. Even in lesser condition, 1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name on Front cards fetch thousands, making it the most valuable 1990 baseball card originally available to the general public. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. 1 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, ahead of UMass center Marcus Camby. Top 20 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Basketball Cards! (PSA graded) The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the list of expensive 1990s basketball cards. The front of the card features an authentic jersey patch from the 1992 All-star game, with Upper Deck starting the basketball Game Jersey cards around the same time this card was produced. His personality is as big as his basketball legacy, for which he is known as being one of the greatest power forwards to ever set foot on the hardwood. In number 3 is the 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographed card, currently the most valuable MJ card sold to date. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, which of course, was O'Neal.". The 20 Most Valuable Basketball Rookie Cards of the 1990s He and Bird share a rookie card that has rightfully earned its place as one of the hobby's most expensive basketball cards of all-time. The 1989 Hoops David Robinson rookie card was one of the hobby's most-coveted basketball cards during the early 90s. With the majority being torn away, it's rare to find mint copies on the market. After grading, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-free casing with the grade and certification number displayed. The company will closely check the card, and give it a grade (out of 10 points). So, this basketball card has some sort of historical significance. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. The limited edition card has the serial number 19/40 stamped through the material. The card is personally autographed and hand-numbered 12/23, making it a great addition to any collection. For example, the most expensive basketball cards ever are rookie cards. Rounding out the most valuable 1990s basketball cards is another Big Shaq card example. Hes set on a beautiful background that features a brown oval shape giving off bright colours. The list is in order of year of release. We strive to provide simple, straightforward advice that is objective, independent, and honest, helping you get the most for your money in the sports card investment world. Dirk Nowitzki made a name for himself at the 1998 Nike Hoop Summit, and he was drafted out of Germany by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. MJ is shown stretching to execute a one-handed dunk in front of a superimposed picture of his head where he is looking into the distance. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? The card is graded as a PSA 7 with the autograph graded as an 8. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. Today we'll take a look at the 20 highest selling PSA graded basketball cards from the 1990 Fleer Basketball Set.Background track credit: https://artist.land. 1990 Hoops Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro The rise in young basketball talent grew the fanbase in recent years. The card has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers printed at the bottom in gold. Classic Games were a pre-rookie/prospect card company that managed to get the temporary exclusive rights to produce Shaq cards during his time at LSU, and the player was already becoming a major celebrity because of his size and skills. On Fire: Best LaMelo Ball Rookie Cards To Buy Now. 20 Most Valuable 1991 Upper Deck Basketball Cards Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Skybox listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The documentary followed Jordans playing career, reminding people of the brilliance of MJ at a time when basketball was canceled and people needed ways to keep engaged with the sport. We wouldn't have really said this a couple years ago. You may find some other of this card, but finding one in pristine condition is very difficult. Like the 1990 Hoops and SkyBox sets, there were just so many of these cards printed. The same card was then included in Hi-Series packs, with "#1 NBA Draft Pick" replacing "Trade Card" printed on the front. This Row 1 card is graded by Beckett as a 9.5 and was sold at a Goldin auction for $136,530. 10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own. However, things really started to change in 1993, with the rise of Topps back into the industry and the beginning of refractor and chrome cards. Cards of star players are generally the most valuable. Michael Jordan, now retired, helped the Chicago Bulls win their 6th NBA championship with his final shot as a bull. (However, most signatures are aftermarket examples. Also Read:15 Most Valuable Michael Jordan Cards (1997 Psa 7 Was Sold For Over $1.4 Million In February 2021), (Sold December 2020 by Heritage Auctions). There are a lot of grading companies. Inserted 1:288 packs, the cards are rare. Of course, youll need to be careful because of the condition-sensitive nature, but its easy to see why its one of the most expensive cards from the era. The Flair showcase legacy collection is from the 1996-97 season. Row 2, the base set, is known as Style. The next batch of cards goes by Row 1 or Grace. Row 0, the rarest cards in the base set, is called Showcase., Youll be able to tell the difference by checking out the image on the front, as each Row has a different pair of pictures. 6 pick Robert "Tractor" Traylor in one of the most lopsided draft-night deals in league history. Michael Jordan 1997/98 Metal Universe "Precious Metal Gems" - other than the Jordan rookie card, these may be the holy grail of Jordan collectors, and of basketball cards in general. Scottie Pippen in the background also adds a nice touch. There was competition from Skybox and NBA Hoops, but Fleer had really cemented itself in 1986. 1 1992 Bowman Trevor Hoffman #11 Trevor Hoffman isn't as well-known as the other players on this list, but his #11 Bowman card is still worth a decent bit of money. His 2,973 threes rank second all-time, and he hit them at a 40.0 percent clip over the course of his 18-year career with the Bucks, SuperSonics, Celtics and Heat. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. This Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 1 Kobe Bryant is an excellent Rookie card. Known for his passing skills that weren't common at the center position, he turned in several solid seasons, most notably with the Lakers and Kings. Wat is more, it is autographed and hand-numbered by the big man himself. susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. Refractor parallels were released in a ratio of 1:12. First, look to see if the card is graded by Beckett Grading system (BGS) or Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). 15 (tie). With a few exceptions, the most expensive basketball cards of the 90s are rare RPA (rookie patch autographed) mint cards. Selling in auction sites some of these sites include eBid, Selling in online market places these include eBay and Craiglist. How do I know if my cards are genuine? This Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Byrant card is very aesthetically appealing, framed in gold edges. Top 15 Most Valuable 1990 Skybox Basketball Cards! (PSA Graded) ), Its slightly basic compared to modern player patches, but thats understandable given its one of the first to be released. This is because it is a 1/1 autographed card. I will be using total PSA graded card sales to determine values. It didn't take long for him to develop into the face of the Timberwolves franchise. The 90s are known for a number of popular Jordan cards, but few match up to the Ultra Scoring Kings when you hold them up side by side. There were Fleer All-Star sticker card inserts that can be worth more than the base cards on this list assuming the sticker is still in tact and is graded in top condition. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. Worse decade of basketball? Prices for 1990 Skybox Basketball Cards. That said, his Topps Chrome rookie still carries a high enough price tag to check in No. (Youll be able to tell, as the back notes where the swatch is from.). To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. This was also the year the Lakers began their dominant run in the sport, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal. Top 1980s Basketball Rookie Cards Ranked List, Most Valuable Guide It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. With only 31 of these cards presented to Beckett for grading, this makes it highly desirable. There are other Larry Bird cards worth more than this one but I've always loved the action shot on this card of him shooting a jumper over his career rival, Magic Johnson. 10 seed Santa Clara to an NCAA tournament win over Maryland as a senior, Steve Nash was selected 15th in the 1996 NBA draft. Following this, the coronavirus pandemic meant many fans were unable to attend in-person sporting events, leaving them with more money and a desire to interact with the sport. Few do. The card is graded as a PSA 10 and numbered 33/2500. Here are 10 of the most valuable. This 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC is regarded as one of the most valuable examples. They were the NBA's Batman and Robin and would win 6 NBA championships togetherand they very well could have won more had their winning streak not been sidetracked by Jordan's retirement. Card numbers 49 - 72 in the set feature each player who participated in the 1991 NBA All-Star Game on February 10, 1991, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dimensions: 1-1/2 x 2-5/8. With PSA 10 points grade, it is in the best condition possible. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand.