As a high-gloss, chrome card, its very susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. Post contains affiliate links. The card features Jordan soaring into the air with an outstretched arm, a position that became a trademark of Jordans playing style. Decades later, the error products that make it out can become very valuable. This makes Big Shaq cards very valuable. His incredible floor vision, court awareness and overall basketball wizardry allowed him to make some of the most thrilling plays. 1992 was all about Shaquille ONeal. Kobe was always going to make any list with the most expensive 1990s cards, and the 1996-97 Topps set has one of the strongest rookie classes of all time. Anything Michael Jordan and/or Kobe Bryant. The crazy electric style background is one of the main reasons why its so hard to find a decent copy of this card, as it tends to show any chipping or damage straight away. 1986-87 Fleer Clyde Drexler RC #26 Buy on eBay. These are 16 of the most valuable cards currently valued or recently sold at auction. His 1996 Topps Chrome is his most coveted rookie card by a fair margin, as the phenom was already viewed as an extreme talent by anyone who had seen him on the court for any amount of time. Read our methodology . 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. This is because it is the big mans first trading card. We've listed the cards in order, starting with a great option from the late 1990s. Founded in 1993, Flair produced high-end trading cards before changing direction in 2006. The second Shaq RC to make our list, the 1992 Beam Team insert features an image of the giant dominating the defense as he reaches high above the rim of the net. With basketball cards featuring historical players still capturing the imagination of basketball fans worldwide, it stands to reason that basketball cards of the 1990s are some of the rarest and most valuable additions to any collection. With the majority being torn away, it's rare to find mint copies on the market. 25 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Cards. 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. Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner, and Robert Horry are other notable rookies from this year. Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. Read the full disclosure here. 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. You may find some other of this card, but finding one in pristine condition is very difficult. It didn't take long for him to develop into the face of the Timberwolves franchise. 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. The card features Michael Jordan bouncing the ball as he prepares for a scoring run. Importantly, it is also a PSA 10 GEM mint card. For example, a 1/1 card shows that it is the only one that exists and will be very valuable. The Ultimate Guide to '90s Basketball Cards - ONE37pm However, by 1990, the basketball card hobby was clearly back on the map as kids everywhere were ripping through packs in hopes of pulling a Michael Jordan. Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time, Shaquille ONeal received 4 NBA Championship titles and multiple MVP awards. Also, if the card comes with a game-worn patch of the featured players jersey, itll be very valuable. Being a pristine example of this card, it sold at auction in March 2021 for $1,752,000. Top 10 Baseball Cards of 1990 That Made History & Shaped a Generation Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Skybox Basketball Cards. 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. Just twenty-three examples of this particular card were autographed, making them far rarer than the unsigned editions. 1997 - 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99 2. As one of the fiercest competitors to ever play the game, Bird used his above-average shooting, passing and rebounding skills to help lead the Celtics to three NBA titles over his career. 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. Like many sports cards of this era, they were heavily produced in such large quantities that the market is still flooded with them. 12. This Skybox Z-Force Strike Force Michael Jordan card is one. A high school phenom playing in one of the sport's biggest markets, Bryant was compared to Michael Jordan from the start of his pro career. Hes set on a beautiful background that features a brown oval shape giving off bright colours. 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. Allen was part of a loaded rookie class that was headlined by Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, and while he wasn't the chase card in the 1996-97 Topps Chrome set, his rookie card is a solid consolation prize to anyone who missed out on pulling one of those cards. Michael Jordan returned after his baseball journey, and notable rookies such as Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace entered the league. It features MJ in pinpoint-sized, die cuts making a shadow illustration on half of the card. \What was your favorite decade of basketball? Basketball Cards from the 1990's - COMC With all collectibles, condition is a big determinant of value. The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the list of expensive 1990s basketball cards. This Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 cards is one of the rarest cards of this great basketball players nicknamed the Answer. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s: Kobe Bryant 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor Check Prices eBay A card that has skyrocketed since that tragic day in early 2020. This was also the year the Lakers began their dominant run in the sport, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal. 1990 Hoops #279 Shawn Kemp Rookie Card. I remember being amazed as a kid when I heard stories of him being able to grab a quarter off the top of the backboard. This 1997 Michael Jordan precious metal games card is another card from the highly sought-after Metal Universe collection. He wrapped up his 21-year career in the top 25 all-time in points (26,071, 21st), rebounds (14,662, 10th), steals (1,859, 19th) and blocks (2,037, 20th), and he was one of the most popular players in the sport throughout his run in the league. When a company notices an error in a lot, the production is stopped, and those items are never released. Card number 48 served as a checklist for those cards, with Michael Jordan shown on the front going up for the score. As well as MJ, they secured rookie cards for the likes of Kobe Bryant, , the base set, is known as Style. The next batch of cards goes by, , the rarest cards in the base set, is called Showcase., The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the, What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium, 2020 Zion Williamson Panini Blockchain Zion Williamson Rui RC (sold for $19,978), 2020 LeBron James Dowtown One and One ($6,100 not graded), expensive basketball cards from the 1990s, list of expensive 1990s basketball cards, Mike Trout Rookie Card Best 10 Cards, Values, Investment Outlook, 9 Most Expensive Pokemon Cards of All-Time (2021), 3 Best 2015 Topps Update Rookie Cards To Consider, 10 Best 2023 Topps Series 1 Variations Baseball Cards To Buy, 10 Best 1989 Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Plus Error List, 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist, These 10 GOATS Rookie Cards Will Outperform Stocks Over Next 10 Years, Gold Card Auctions | Sports Card Investing. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. After averaging 20.4 points per game as a freshman at Georgetown, Allen Iverson racked up 25.0 points, 4.7 assists and 3.4 steals per contest as a sophomore to secure his spot as the No. The card is graded by Beckett as 10 Pristine making it very rare and collectible. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? 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. Michael Jordan Cards), with lots of info about each one, including how and why they cost so much. The card is one of the first from the metal gems collection, issued alongside the sets base cards. Also, it is PSA 10 graded card. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. A two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year who helped lead No. 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s 1. The card has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers printed at the bottom in gold. The card is complete with its original protective coating, not usually seen on most cards. The bottom of the card is personally autographed by Shaq in white pen, with the number #32 handwritten next to it. This is currently listed on eBay for $100,000. They included a "Trade Upper Deck" card that could be sent to Upper Deck along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope in exchange for a special card of the No. The company will closely check the card, and give it a grade (out of 10 points). Another card that makes it into our list is this SP Authentic Michael Jordan insert card. The Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan card is another example from the Upper Deck collection. He debuted in that year and also went on to win rookie of the year. And since the debut of "The Last Dance" documentary, all of his cards have soared in value. The 1990s started out with Fleer being the top brand in the basketball card world, and ended with Topps. Total Rookie Cards: 15 5. 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. That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. The card features MJ soaring into the air with his arm outstretched. 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. This 1998 Michael Jordan Skybox Molten Metal card truly is unique and special. Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. Few do. This card example was sold at a Goldin Auction for $162,360. 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. Dimensions: 1-1/2 x 2-5/8. The 1990 -1991 season was as remarkable as any for Jordan individually as he'd lead the league in scoring, be named an All-Star, be selected to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams as well as being named league MVP. In that year, 90 cards were put into the base sets and separated into Rows. After draining his sixth three-pointer in just the first half, Jordan headed back on defense and shrugged at the crowd in disbelief himself at the shooting clinic he was unleashing. It being the only card in its set to be so autographed takes it from special to super special. The bold signature covers the entire bottom part of the card. The renewed attention led to increased numbers of collectors and investors taking an interest in cards from the era, and now theyre some of the most valuable options that money can buy. Talking of special ONeal cards, youll be hard pressed to find one better than this Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 non-perforated card. The 7-footer spent his entire 21-year career in a Dallas Mavericks uniform, finishing as a 14-time All-Star who currently sits sixth on the all-time scoring list with 31,560 points. The card is graded as a Beckett 10, with only one other card known to exist in this quality. This 1997 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems card is another example from the Metal Universe brand. In fact, Michael Jordans 1993 Finest Refractor accounts for approximately $178,000 in PSA graded card sales according to PSAs auction price reports. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Like Barkley, Malone was a guy who was clearly good enough to be an NBA champion but sadly never won one. On Fire: Best LaMelo Ball Rookie Cards To Buy Now. Noteworthy rookies of the 1994 season included Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. 10 Most Valuable Basketball Cards of the 1990s - Antique Mall Also Read: 12 Most Valuable LeBron James Rookie Cards (2003-04 Exquisite Collection Rookie Parallel #78 Sold for $5,200,000), If youre going through your old sports trading cards at home, you might be sitting on a, Read More 15 Most Valuable Bo Jackson Cards (1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #50T Bo Jackson Was Sold For $12,300)Continue, Whilst Michael Jordans playing days are finished, his collectable cards are continuing to break records. 12 Most Valuable Shaquille O'Neal Basketball Cards - Gold Card Auctions 1990 Score Bo Jackson (#697) This just may be the most famous "baseball" card of the 1990s, and it remains one of the most popular. Exceedingly rare, the odds of pulling a Jordan were 1 in 55,000 packs, which goes some way to explaining why its so expensive. The card is graded by Beckett as 8. Top 20 Most Valuable 1990 Fleer Basketball Cards! (20 Highest Selling However, an ankle injury sidelined him for most of the 2000-01 season and he was never quite the same after that. After two seasons as a backup with the Phoenix Suns, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks where he teamed with Dirk Nowitzki for six seasons before returning to the Suns. 1990 Skybox Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro Many basketball cards from the 90s decade are very valuable today, especially those featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The card is currently listed on eBay for $500,000, with a similar example selling at a Goldin auction for $206,400. Isiah Thomas was the leader of the Detroit Pistons squads that won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. You can use serial number or population report to determine cards that are rare. Best 1990s Basketball Cards - Sports Collectors Daily And he definitely didn't disappointthe 10-time All-Star, 2-time NBA champ and 1-time MVP easily goes down in history as one of the game's greatest centers. Like over $100,000 big. 1990 Hoops #65 Michael Jordan. It is in the best condition possible. Whilst he didnt win any NBA championships, he was an 11-time NBA All-star and won multiple MVP awards. Out of 100 produced, only 10 were made with green foil with the other 90 in red. 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. Yet another Jordan card to make the list, his 1998 SP Authentic Sign of Times is a tiered release. After grading, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-free casing with the grade and certification number displayed. Perhaps in time, Upper Deck may even surpass Fleer in sales for brands in 1991. Top 1990s Basketball Rookie Cards to Collect - The Cardboard Connection The credentials set was made by the company Panini, known as the biggest competition for the Topps trading card brand. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. Kobes card is the one to make our list, although there are lots of interesting options like Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady RCs, as well as an MJ version to look out for. It also comes in great condition, graded 8.0 by Beckett (BGS). This is also a somewhat historic year for Jordan himself, as it was the year of his first NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1990 Upper . 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card 5 pick out of Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. 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. The card was sold at a Goldin auction for $206,400. 4 pick Stephon Marbury on draft night. It was released in 1997, which is a memorable year for AI and collectors of AIs cards. Selling in auction sites some of these sites include eBid, Selling in online market places these include eBay and Craiglist. Your basketball cards can be worth anything from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars. Adding the mystique of being a pre-rookie, it is one very valuable basketball card. The card features AI in his Sixers no. Given the deep background, any flaw is readily apparent, so high grades are costly to buy. The card has a bold blue signature of MJ over it. This card perfectly captures Robinson throwing down one of his two-handed slams, almost making it look easy. The most expensive trading card in the world sold to date is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Card (PSA 9) which sold for $5.2 Million and the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor Mike Trout Auto RC. Barkley's 1990 Fleer issue was one of the few cards to picture him with any amount of hair whatsoever. 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. In this guide, Ill take you through the most valuable 1990s basketball cards, looking at their values and what makes them so rare. The worth of your card can swing wildly depending on factors like the type of card, who is featured in it, how rare it in, and its condition. BGS and SGC are also two companies that are well-regarded. The card features the big man in his LSU days hanging on the rim after a powerful dunk. This Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 1 Kobe Bryant is an excellent Rookie card. This set is nothing flashy but there is lots of solid value throughout. 1990 Hoops #39 Larry Bird Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100 . 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. 1990 Hoops #205 Mark Jackson. Selling directly to collectors an example is Deanscard.com. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. Of the 10 cards, only 6 have been given to PSA for grading. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. 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. This is one that that makes this MJ SP Authentic #M4 card very valuable. 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. It has the perfect 10 PSA grade. 1990 Hoops #382 Michael Jordan's Playground Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125 . What is the most expensive card in the world? That said, his Topps Chrome rookie still carries a high enough price tag to check in No. The odds of pulling this card in a pack are thought to be around 1/55,000. Thus, cards that are worth money are those graded as mint by trusted grading companies like PSA and BSG. One of the things that always sticks out in my memory was how Divac was able to play at such a high level while being a heavy cigarette smoker. The lightning quick move allowed Hardaway to create just enough separation against opposing defenders to turn him into an elite scorer and passer. 2023 VIP Art Fair Collectibles - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, 15 Most Valuable Bo Jackson Cards (1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #50T Bo Jackson Was Sold For $12,300), 15 Most Valuable Michael Jordan Cards (1997 Psa 7 Was Sold For Over $1.4 Million In February 2021), 11 Most Valuable Tom Brady Rookie Cards (Costs Upto $3M+), 11 Most Valuable Shaquille ONeal Rookie Cards (Round-up list), 11 Most Valuable Luka Doncic Rookie Cards (Worth Up to $4,600,000), 13 Most Valuable Rookie Cards (1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Was Sold For $12,600,000). Also Read:11 Most Valuable Shaquille ONeal Rookie Cards (Round-up list). It is graded 9.5 by Beckett (BAS). 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. Here are 10 of the most valuable. Cards of star players are generally the most valuable. If a popular card produced in limited quantities is in high demand with collectors, it makes the card more valuable. 10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own. This card is produced with a red foil background, making it not as rare as the green Metal gems card in the number 4 spot.