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. 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. 1997 Skybox Z-Force Michael Jordan Quick Strike card $199,999, 7. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. For example, a 1/1 card shows that it is the only one that exists and will be very valuable. Less than 250 of these cards exist. The card was released in 1990, two years before his rookie cards. However, with so many basketball cards printed every year, a whole decade will have an ocean of cards, with a wide range of value. There are a lot of grading companies. 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. Yet another Jordan card to make the list, his 1998 SP Authentic Sign of Times is a tiered release. Finest introduced refractors, which is a coating on a cards surface that creates a rainbow-like shine when reflected by the light. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. With 5.2 seconds left on the clock, MJ released that 17-footer that helped the Bulls win their 6th NBA championship in the 90s. Everyone likes to talk about the physicality of the game, as well as the dominance of a certain Chicago Bulls team led by. Today we'll be looking at the 20 highest selling PSA graded. Like the 1990 Hoops and SkyBox sets, there were just so many of these cards printed. 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. He averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists to win co-Rookie of the Year honors alongside Jason Kidd, and Hill quickly developed into a perennial All-Star from there. 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. Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most expensive basketball cards from the 1990s. Stats via Basketball Reference. 12. 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. Although both Upper Deck and Fleer continued to be staple card brands throughout the 90s, a new top dog was about to emerge for the remainder of the decade. This basketball card has surged in value since that tragic passing of Kobe. Rookie cards are produced when a player is just starting out and therefore made in limited quantities. It is in mint condition, graded PSA 10. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. His tenacity and hustle were nearly unmatched. 1990 Upper . You can still find hobby boxes from all these brands and years on eBay. This later release paved the way for Series 1 and Series 2 releases in the hobby, as Series 2 could feature rookies after they began the season. 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. This is truly the most valuable basketball card brand of the 90s. 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. So, this rookie card is a jewel. 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. The colors and the edging make it susceptible to chips and wear, which is another reason why its valued highly. Card number 48 served as a checklist for those cards, with Michael Jordan shown on the front going up for the score. 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. Read our methodology . How do I know if my cards are genuine? Few do. The card sold in February 2022 for $2,000,000 in a private sale making it the most expensive Kobe card sold. It is also very rare. 19 pick Pat Garrity for No. It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. This makes Big Shaq cards very valuable. 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. The card is graded as a PSA 10 and numbered 33/2500. 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. The 1990s defined the game of basketball. The credentials set was made by the company Panini, known as the biggest competition for the Topps trading card brand. The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant who unfortunately recently passed away, made his debut. The company will closely check the card, and give it a grade (out of 10 points). The lanky 6'11" forward played sparingly as a rookie, tallying 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per game, but his potential was impossible to ignore. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! In number 3 is the 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographed card, currently the most valuable MJ card sold to date. The card pictures Shaq donning his no. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Only 100 of these cards were produced, with 90 of them having a red foil background. It features Jordan dribbling the ball during a 1992 NBA All-star game, played in Orlando, Florida in front of 14,000 spectators. Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. This Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 cards is one of the rarest cards of this great basketball players nicknamed the Answer. Decades later, the error products that make it out can become very valuable. Only 10 of these cards exist, with this being the only one graded 8.5 by PSA. Regardless, Hardaway goes down in history as a lighting quick player who constantly attacked the bucket, something Fleer captured nicely on his rookie card. 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. 1990 Hoops #5 Michael Jordan All-Star. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Tuesday morning. 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. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. 12 Most Valuable LeBron James Rookie Cards (2003-04 Exquisite Collection Rookie Parallel #78 Sold for $5,200,000), 10 Most Valuable Lefton China Pieces (Rarest Sold For $1,295), Antique Cast Iron Stoves Value (Rarest & Most Valuable is Selling for $24,500), 1920 Singer Sewing Machine Value (Rarest Sold For $3,000), Most Valuable 1934 20 Dollar Bill (Rarest Sold For $40,800), 4 Most Valuable Antique Typewriter (Rarest Sold For $110,059), Antique Ruby Rings Value (Rarest & Most Valuable Sold For $2.6 Million), Antique Cast Iron Toy Value (Rarest & Most Valuable Sold For $13,500), Top 10 Antique Stores in Connecticut [Update 2023], THE 10 BEST Pennsylvania Antique Stores (with Photos), 10 Best Antiques Near Me in Fort Worth, TX, The 13 Most Valuable Disney Pins (Rarest Sold For $10,000), Most Valuable Rare Hummel Figurines (Rarest Sold For $5000+), 1941 Penny Value Chart (Worth Million Dollars? The bold signature covers the entire bottom part of the card. Read our methodology . Whether youre, Read More 15 Most Valuable Michael Jordan Cards (1997 Psa 7 Was Sold For Over $1.4 Million In February 2021)Continue, Collecting sports cards continues to be an enjoyable hobby among enthusiastic collectors. Contact him at [emailprotected]. The 1997-98 Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Card #81 was sold recently in a private sale for $2,000,000, making it the most valuable 1990s basketball card to date. With all collectibles, condition is a big determinant of value. This is because it is the big mans first trading card. 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card In this article, well show you the most valuable basketball cards of the memorable 1990s decade. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. Overall, the checklist contained 198 cards in total that, if nothing else, captured some of the greatest players of all-time with exciting imagery. Also, the front of the Michael Jordan #GJ13 basketball card features an authentic piece from a jersey worn by the legend himself in the 1992 All Star Game. The card comes from a 1997 set containing 123 cards. When selling online, you have the options of selling: The only effort itll take from you is highlighting the specifics of your card (like the player featured, the year of issue, etc) and taking photographs of it thatll help in preliminary evaluations. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: It should come as no surprise that Michael Jordan's 1990 Fleer basketball card comes in at the top spot ashis cardsare always in high demand with collectors. (However, most signatures are aftermarket examples. The lightning quick move allowed Hardaway to create just enough separation against opposing defenders to turn him into an elite scorer and passer. 5 pick out of Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. The gold-colored card also shows Michael in a red Chicago Bulls jersey performing a jump shot. The odds of pulling it from a pack is 1 in 55,000 packs. Sometimes, what makes a collectible very rare and valuable is an error. Adding the mystique of being a pre-rookie, it is one very valuable basketball card. Over the past few years, basketball cards have exploded in value when compared to other sports cards. 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. Shaqs rookie card + autographed + PSA 10 = very valuable. Other things that make a card valuable are autographs and patches. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. 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. 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. 1999 Upper Deck Ovation Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan #MJS card $250,000, 6. Kobe Bryant 1996/97 Topps Chrome Rookie. Vinyl Records Value: Your Old Value Records Worth a Fortune, Vintage Stiffel Lamps: Value and Price Guide, Vintage Smith Corona Typewriter: History, Models, and Value, Vintage Schwinn Bikes: [Types, Identification, and Values], Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar Identification and Value Guide. Kobe Bryant [BGS 9.5 GEM MINT] $1,674.50. 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. That is why its worth reaches the six-figure mark. This is because it is a 1/1 autographed card. For the 1990s decade, the basketball cards thatll be worth money are rookie cards cards of players making their debut in that decade. Getting your basketball card graded is simple as submitting your card to the company. The Sign of the Times inserts which were all die-cut autos, issued in Bronze, Silver, and Gold versions. Top 1990s Basketball Rookie Cards to Collect Bolded links go directly to detailed player or set profiles. Many of the cards were hand-signed by the man himself, making it one of the very first pieces of autographed Shaq memorabilia. As if that is not enough, the card is hand-signed by Michael Jordan himself. 1997-98 Topps Chrome #115 Tim Duncan 6 of. It doesnt matter that the height of their careers was after the 1990s. This gorgeous basketball card is one of rare cards hand numbered by Michael Jordan to only 23. That's what happens when Michael Jordan is playing in the league during your prime years. The card is graded as a PSA 7 with the autograph graded as an 8. Like Barkley, Malone was a guy who was clearly good enough to be an NBA champion but sadly never won one. That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. Hall of Famer Vlade Divac left a legacy as one of the first European players to have a major impact in the NBA, paving the way for many more fantastic European players to come. With only 31 of these cards presented to Beckett for grading, this makes it highly desirable. Importantly, it is also a PSA 10 GEM mint card. The card was graded as a Beckett 9 and sold at a Goldin auction in March 2021 for $198,030. 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. This 1998 Michael Jordan Skybox Molten Metal card truly is unique and special. For my one year anniversary here on YouTube, I am updating and relaunching my most popular video. Rookie cards are always regarded as more valuable, especially if they feature well-known athletes. 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. With a third of the card dedicated to his signature, its one of the best pieces of signed Jordan merchandise youll be able to buy from the 1990s. While Marbury was the bigger star out of the gates, Allen went on to have the better NBA career by a wide margin, developing into one of the greatest three-point shooters in the history of the sport. These two are the most well-known and trusted grading companies. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. The guy could absolutely jump through the roof and his vertical leaping ability is on full display on his 1990 Fleer card. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000 Looking at the 1990 cards above, the 97/ 98 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 is worth a whopping $599,999.99, while the 1998 UD SP Authentic Michael Jordan #M4 is worth $22,575. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. 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. Upper Deck introduced its inaugural basketball set, and Skybox came out with another great design in 1991. 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC $500,000, 4. Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. What makes it so valuable is that it is a rare error card. 1 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, ahead of UMass center Marcus Camby. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Fleer remains at the top for overall PSA graded card sales for 1991 basketball card brands, but the competition began ramping up. 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. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the years? Fans and card collectors, Read More 11 Most Valuable Shaquille ONeal Rookie Cards (Round-up list)Continue, In recent years, the NBA fan base has seen a huge growth in the number of fans, Read More 11 Most Valuable Luka Doncic Rookie Cards (Worth Up to $4,600,000)Continue, Whilst most hobbies seem to come and go, sports card collecting is here to stay. 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. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. 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. Also, if the card comes with a game-worn patch of the featured players jersey, itll be very valuable. The decade was highlighted by Jordans dominance, and the emergence of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan. I will be using total PSA graded card sales to determine values. An MJ hand-numbered /23 card shows that only 23 of its kind exists, and will be very valuable. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, which of course, was O'Neal.". Most companies simply waited to include him in their sets until they released Series 2 of their checklist, but Upper Deck took a different approach. Perhaps due to a lack of abundant standout rookies and it being the third year of Finest, overall PSA graded sales of this set are lower than the two previous years. 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. T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson. If your card is graded highly by one of these companies, its likely to be worth a decent amount of money. Teenager Kevin Garnett became the first player since 1975 to jump directly from high school to the NBA when the Minnesota Timberwolves took him with the No. The card is finished with a gold trim around the edges. This s because grading officially authenticates the card and establishes its quality/ condition. The Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan card is another example from the Upper Deck collection. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. This 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC is regarded as one of the most valuable examples. 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. 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. 1998 Upper Deck SP Authentic Michael Jordan #M4 PSA 10 GEM MINT $22,575, 30+ Vintage Christmas Cards Worth Looking At In 2022, The Top 10 Most Valuable Glass Insulators Today, Top 10 Most Valuable Case Knives: Complete Value Guide, Top 10 Most Valuable Beach Stones: Complete Value Guide, 10 Rarest and Most Valuable Lladro Figurines: Value Guide, 10 Rarest and Most Valuable Starbucks Mugs: Value Guide, 12 Most Valuable Tom Clark Gnomes: Value and Price Guide, Vintage Linens (Identification and Value Guide), Vintage Luggage: Brands, Identification, and Buying Guide, Vintage Playing Cards (Identification and Value Guide), Vintage Japanese Music Box Rare Collectibles, Sports Memorabilia Price and Identification Guide, White Sewing Machine 101: Everything you need to know. If you were to make the argument that Hakeem Olajuwon were the greatest center to ever play in the NBA, you probably wouldn't get too much pushback. In fact, Michael Jordans 1993 Finest Refractor accounts for approximately $178,000 in PSA graded card sales according to PSAs auction price reports. Being a pristine example of this card, it sold at auction in March 2021 for $1,752,000. Given the deep background, any flaw is readily apparent, so high grades are costly to buy. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. Read the full disclosure here. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1997 was another strong year for rookies, with all-time great Tim Duncan joining the league, along with Chauncey Billips and Tracy McGrady. The image features Jordan with the ball in his hands, barking orders at his teammates while hes in his iconic Red Bulls jersey. This Row 1 card is graded by Beckett as a 9.5 and was sold at a Goldin auction for $136,530. The most expensive basketball card sold to date is the 2013-14 National Treasures Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Logoman Patch Auto rookie card which sold for a mind-blowing $1.85 million.