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. Top 1990s Basketball Rookie Cards to Collect Bolded links go directly to detailed player or set profiles. In this article, well show you the most valuable basketball cards of the memorable 1990s decade. 19 pick Pat Garrity for No. The "Trade Card" sells for $40-50 in PSA 9 condition and $800-1,000 in PSA 10 condition. Being a pristine example of this card, it sold at auction in March 2021 for $1,752,000. A Michael Jordan rookie basketball card can be worth a few thousand or a few hundred thousand depending on the set and grade. These are 16 of the most valuable cards currently valued or recently sold at auction. Let's say you did some basketball card collecting during the 1990s, and now you're revisiting your old collection and wondering if anything you have is valuable. Your basketball cards can be worth anything from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars. The deep-etched image sees Jordan leaping through the air, with purple lightning exploding across the background, lighting up the night sky. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Skybox listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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 image features Jordan with the ball in his hands, barking orders at his teammates while hes in his iconic Red Bulls jersey. The card comes from a 1997 set containing 123 cards. Unlike Kemp, Larry Bird wasn't known for his ability to throw down monster dunks but he was every bit as exciting to watch. The Kobe version also features a basketball and a look of concentration on the face of the Lakers star. The card is graded by Beckett as 10 Pristine making it very rare and collectible. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. 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. Also, it is PSA 10 graded card. Top 1990s Basketball Insert Sets Click on the linked sets below to shop for available cards on eBay. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. The credentials set was made by the company Panini, known as the biggest competition for the Topps trading card brand. Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most expensive basketball cards from the 1990s. First, look to see if the card is graded by Beckett Grading system (BGS) or Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). 15 (tie). Its graded as a 9 by Beckett and was sold by Goldin Auctions for $170,400. For those that remember, it was the 1997 UD Game Jersey cards that sparked the jersey patch craze. The card also has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers Guard printed in blue on the bottom. But this particular one is pristine with BGS 10 grade. And Bo continues to stir the imagination of fans and collectors nearly three decades after his careers in the NFL and Major League Baseball ended. The game is regarded as iconic as it was the last game played by both Hall of Famer James Worthy and fellow Laker Magic Johnson. This Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 cards is one of the rarest cards of this great basketball players nicknamed the Answer. The card features Jordan soaring into the air with an outstretched arm, a position that became a trademark of Jordans playing style. 1997 was another strong year for rookies, with all-time great Tim Duncan joining the league, along with Chauncey Billips and Tracy McGrady. Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. Michael Jordan returned after his baseball journey, and notable rookies such as Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace entered the league. Impressively, it is in mint condition. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. Somewhat ironically, Classic doesnt live up to its name as a brand, but its worth making an exception for Shaq. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many basketball cards from the 90s decade are very valuable today, especially those featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Everyone likes to talk about the physicality of the game, as well as the dominance of a certain Chicago Bulls team led by. The 20 Most Valuable Basketball Rookie Cards of the 1990s Getting your basketball card graded is simple as submitting your card to the company. As you might expect, the list is dominated by a few major players from the era, (cough, Michael Jordan) but there are a couple of cards that may have gone under your radar. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. 1990 Hoops #382 Michael Jordan's Playground Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125 . Bryants card is one of 90 in the base set, while each has a further three tiers or Rows. Who else but Kobe Bryant in the top spot? Of anyone besides Jordan on this list, Magic Johnson was probably the most exciting as you never knew what his next move was going to be. ), Its slightly basic compared to modern player patches, but thats understandable given its one of the first to be released. 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. 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. The odds of pulling it from a pack is 1 in 55,000 packs. Top 15 Most Valuable 1990 Skybox Basketball Cards! (PSA Graded) 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. 1997 Skybox Z-Force Michael Jordan Quick Strike card $199,999, 7. This card is special, being the first Shaquille ONeal trading card produced. 1990 Hoops #358 Michael Jordan. 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. It also comes in great condition, graded 8.0 by Beckett (BGS). We've listed the cards in order, starting with a great option from the late 1990s. 25 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Cards - Old Sports Cards Fleer remains at the top for overall PSA graded card sales for 1991 basketball card brands, but the competition began ramping up. 3 jersey letting out a celebratory shout, with his teammates around. As well as MJ, they secured rookie cards for the likes of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Ray Allen. Yet another Jordan card to make the list, his 1998 SP Authentic Sign of Times is a tiered release. Topps was certainly not trying to achieve anything flashy with their design, unlike its earlier Finest sets. Anything Michael Jordan and/or Kobe Bryant. Sports Cards: 10 Most Valuable Baseball Rookie Cards of the 1990s This means it is rarer than the unsigned cards. However, there are a few exceptions to this, as the 90s Michal Jordans cards show. Wat is more, it is autographed and hand-numbered by the big man himself. Many people will list a card as a refractor when it is in fact not, because the base 1993 Finest design looks a lot like a refractor to the naked eye. 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. Only 100 of these cards were produced, with 90 of them having a red foil background. Best 1990s Basketball Cards - Sports Collectors Daily The card features Michael Jordan bouncing the ball as he prepares for a scoring run. In the same vein, those released in the players second year will be more valuable than those released in the third year, and so on. Importantly, it is also a PSA 10 GEM mint card. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. Malone was an incredible power forward who was extremely effective on both offense and defense as he used his strong frame to his advantage night in and night out. He and the Bulls also dropped the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 to pick up his first NBA title after struggling for years to get past the Detroit Pistons and into the finals. Selling directly to collectors an example is Deanscard.com. This mint-condition autographed card is selling for $3,500, making it one of the most valuable baseball cards from the '90s. The card is currently listed on eBay for $500,000, with a similar example selling at a Goldin auction for $206,400. I've been looking forward to covering this set as today we'll look at the 15 highest selling psa graded basketball cards from the inaugural 1990 Skybox setFe. His rookie cards dramatically increased the value of all card brands. In number 3 is the 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographed card, currently the most valuable MJ card sold to date. His incredible floor vision, court awareness and overall basketball wizardry allowed him to make some of the most thrilling plays. It didn't take long for him to develop into the face of the Timberwolves franchise. I will be using total PSA graded card sales to determine values. It's a perforated card, with untouched versions of the trio being the most valuable overall. With many new fans and demand outgrowing supply, the price of basketball cards increased. 1990 Hoops Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro The card is graded as a PSA 7 with the autograph graded as an 8. Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. So, this card is a one-of-a-kind card that should have ever been released. The background has a wooden effect, fitting in with the Final Floor theme. The card sold at auction in February 2021 for $1,440,000. However, lots of brands contributed lots of brand diversitry to the hobby during the decade, including Upper Deck, SP, Hoops, Bowmans Best, and Collectors Choice. That is the story of this Metal Basketball Kobe Bryant #181 card. 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. This MJ autographed /23 card is also is very good condition. What I wouldnt give to have one of these in my personal collection! It also comes with a Members Only parallel, which can be distinguished by a faint watermark. The card was sold at a Goldin auction for $206,400. Contact him at [emailprotected]. 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. Founded in 1993, Flair produced high-end trading cards before changing direction in 2006. As well as a player-worn patch from the biggest name in the sport, the added bonus of a signature from Jordan is enough to make it one of the most expensive jersey patches of all-time, never mind the decade. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000 Price: $600,000 . 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. This is because it is a 1/1 autographed card. This is currently listed on eBay for $100,000. Also, I will NOT be using insert set values only the values of base sets. 6 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, UConn standout Ray Allen was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with a future first-round pick in exchange for No. 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. His rookie cards are head and shoulders above everyone else on this list in terms of value, with PSA 9 versions of his Topps Chrome rookie selling for more than a PSA 10 version of Allen Iverson's in the No. (Especially considering his untimely death following a helicopter crash in January 2020.). The lightning is made of foil which helps to make Jordan appear to jump out of the card, but it means that the card is in danger of chipping, both on the front and the back. So, this rookie card is a jewel. I do want to be 100% clear that most of the cards in this set sadly have no value these days. 5 pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and his rookie cards helped drive 1998-99 product releases. 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. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. It was all a recipe for superstardom, and his development from tantalizing teen star to franchise player and all-time great helped solidify his place as one of the hobby's biggest names. This card is 1 of only 2 graded as authentic, making it very rare and valuable. 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. The Ultimate Guide to '90s Basketball Cards - ONE37pm 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. He averaged more than 30 points per game five different times, won four scoring titles, was an 11-time All-Star, and played with a swagger that made him one of the most popular players in the sport. It is graded 9.5 by Beckett (BAS). Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Overall, the checklist contained 198 cards in total that, if nothing else, captured some of the greatest players of all-time with exciting imagery. The 1990s started out with Fleer being the top brand in the basketball card world, and ended with Topps. 15 Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s (Round-up list) It features MJ reaching to dunk the ball on the left with a red Chicago Bulls game jersey patch on the right side. 1998 introduced Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce as rookies in the NBA. 1996 was truly a historic year in the hobby. The card features MJ soaring into the air with his arm outstretched. (Sold February 2021 by Heritage Auctions). Gary Payton was included in the release of 1990 Fleer Update. 1990 Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 Non Perforated card $100,000, 8. The card has a bold blue signature of MJ over it. Whilst some fans enjoy watching, Read More 11 Most Valuable Tom Brady Rookie Cards (Costs Upto $3M+)Continue, If youre a fan of basketball then you know who Shaquille ONeal is. The Honus Wagner T206 baseball card is considered the rarest card and would most likely break the record for the most expensive card if sold today. 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. Most Valuable Basketball Card Brands of the 90s 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. The card is currently listed on eBay for $250,000. Less than 250 of these cards exist. Everyone likes to talk about the physicality of the game, as well as the dominance of a certain Chicago Bulls team led by Michael Jordan, but its not just nostalgia talking. Weve put together a list with 10 of the most expensive 90s basketball cards (i.e. 1990 Skybox card list & price guide. Decades later, the error products that make it out can become very valuable. 6 pick Robert "Tractor" Traylor in one of the most lopsided draft-night deals in league history. The company will closely check the card, and give it a grade (out of 10 points). BGS and SGC are also two companies that are well-regarded. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. 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. Card number 48 served as a checklist for those cards, with Michael Jordan shown on the front going up for the score. 1. Kemp was a dominant power forward in the 1990s and his ability to score and rebound routinely wreaked havoc on opposing teams night in and night out. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the years? 12 Most Valuable Shaquille O'Neal Basketball Cards - Gold Card Auctions 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. Also, this piece is in near-perfect condition. The limited edition card has the serial number 19/40 stamped through the material. After grading, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-free casing with the grade and certification number displayed. 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. For example, a 1/1 card shows that it is the only one that exists and will be very valuable. Top 1990s Basketball Insert Sets, Most Valuable List, Best '90s NBA Cards 4 on the list. It features Kobe in a yellow Lakers Jersey dunking the ball from behind his back framed in gold trim. While 1990 Fleer basketball cards have not held up as well over time as some of the other Fleer sets, they do remain some of the most recognizable basketball cards of the "junk era". However, its a bit of a misnomer, as it was easier to get a Members Only Beam Teams than a standard pack-pulled Beam Teams. Given his height, almost every Shaq RC features him soaring towards the backboard, and this card is no different. While it's impossible to say for sure (as those arguments go), there is no question that Olajuwon was an unstoppable force on both sides of the ball. 1990 Hoops #39 Larry Bird Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100 . To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. The Kentucky Big Blue Shaquille ONeal Non-Perforated card features Shaq in an LSU jersey, in the center position during a game. Cards that are rare are generally valuable than those are easy to get.