The card sold at auction in February 2021 for $1,440,000. In this article, well show you the most valuable basketball cards of the memorable 1990s decade. This is one that that makes this MJ SP Authentic #M4 card very valuable. Shaqs rookie card + autographed + PSA 10 = very valuable. Your email address will not be published. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. Being a rookie card of big Shaq make this card special. 4 on the list. However, there are a few exceptions to this, as the 90s Michal Jordans cards show. 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. 1981 Topps Basketball Magic Johnson #21 The next card also features Magic Johnson, in a great action shot that sees him evading multiple players on the court. Of the 10 cards, only 6 have been given to PSA for grading. Some of the most valuable cards produced are limited editions featuring historical players in their rookie 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. 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. Its the main reason why the card makes the list! However, with so many basketball cards printed every year, a whole decade will have an ocean of cards, with a wide range of value. Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner, and Robert Horry are other notable rookies from this year. The "Vinsanity" hype was very real during Vince Carter's peak with the Toronto Raptors, and he went on to play 22 seasons, progressing from high-flying dunk contest champion and leading scorer to veteran role player and fan favorite. So, many basketball cards of this decade capture these highlights and are very valuable. 5 pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and his rookie cards helped drive 1998-99 product releases. 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. The 1990s defined the game of basketball. The word Robert Park is erroneously written over Kobe Bryant on the card. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. It features MJ in pinpoint-sized, die cuts making a shadow illustration on half of the card. Parallels: Red PMG (/90), Green PMG (/10). 5 pick out of Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. 1 in the 1997 draft. Topps Finest remained the top basketball card brand of 1994, and its PSA graded card sales dwarf those of any other brand. The "Trade Card" sells for $40-50 in PSA 9 condition and $800-1,000 in PSA 10 condition. The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant who unfortunately recently passed away, made his debut. 1 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, ahead of UMass center Marcus Camby. 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. 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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. 15 (tie). Wat is more, it is autographed and hand-numbered by the big man himself. With PSA 10 points grade, it is in the best condition possible. 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. \What was your favorite decade of basketball? 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". It was released in 1997, which is a memorable year for AI and collectors of AIs cards. Also, it is one of the five that have managed to earn the prestigious PSA 10 points grade. Contact him at [emailprotected]. 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. One of the game's best point guards, Thomas was named one of the league's 50 top players. Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. (Youll be able to tell, as the back notes where the swatch is from.). Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Its a chance to own a piece of basketball history, and its something different compared to the average 90s card. 9 pick in that year's draft. 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. It is in the best condition possible. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000, 5. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Tuesday morning. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed the greatest basketball duo that we'll likely ever see. The bold signature covers the entire bottom part of the card. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. The card produced by Topps is graded as a PSA 10, meaning it is in pristine condition, making it highly collectible. 1990 Hoops #382 Michael Jordan's Playground Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125 . Also, it is PSA 10 graded card. 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. 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. Since refractors are just parallel designs of the base set, I dont consider them a completely separate insert set, but it should be noted that refractors add a huge amount of value overall to PSA graded sales history. As well as a signature on some versions, the card has a piece of game floor attached, with the location and game noted on the front of the card. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. 1990 Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 Non Perforated card $100,000, 8. According to Upper deck, the odds of pulling a Michael Jordan insert card is 1 in 144. This gorgeous basketball card is one of rare cards hand numbered by Michael Jordan to only 23. 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. 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. So, when gunning for rookie cards, they should be cards of players that went on to achieve great success in the game. 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. 1998-99 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend - [Base] #147. susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. The decade was highlighted by Jordans dominance, and the emergence of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan. Fleer remains at the top for overall PSA graded card sales for 1991 basketball card brands, but the competition began ramping up. Being a rookie card with a limited number produced makes it more valuable. The card is graded as a Beckett 9 and Autograph 10. The first is a Lebron James rookie card that sold for $5.2 million, and the second is a Luka Doncic rookie card that sold for $4.6 million. 1990 Upper . This chrome approach to card design is one that is continued to this day. 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. The industry, Read More 13 Most Valuable Rookie Cards (1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Was Sold For $12,600,000)Continue, Your email address will not be published. 9. With a few exceptions, the most expensive basketball cards of the 90s are rare RPA (rookie patch autographed) mint cards. 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. Given the deep background, any flaw is readily apparent, so high grades are costly to buy. 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. The 90s were a classic era, and arguably the best time to be a fan of basketball aside from the modern-day. If you immediately notice the sharp decline in sales from previous years, its mainly because the 1999 NBA draft class did not have many notable hall-of-fame or NBA champion players. This MJ autographed /23 card is also is very good condition. This is a very interesting and valuable basketball card. This special basketball card features Michael Jordan throwing what is definitely a 3-pointer. 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. With only 31 of these cards presented to Beckett for grading, this makes it highly desirable. 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. This UD Ovation Super Signature Jordan #MJS card is one of the most beautiful basketball cards youll find. 25 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Cards. Read our methodology . 1993-94 Finest Anfernee Hardaway RC #189 Buy on eBay. The card was sold following the release of the 10-part Netflix special The Last Dance. 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. 1997 SPx Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #5 Signed PSA 10 $59,999, 10. 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. You can use serial number or population report to determine cards that are rare. This is truly the most valuable basketball card brand of the 90s. When a company notices an error in a lot, the production is stopped, and those items are never released. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys In some basketball packs today a jersey card is guaranteed. 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. It also comes in great condition, graded 8.0 by Beckett (BGS). First, look to see if the card is graded by Beckett Grading system (BGS) or Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). A few important parameters for our list before we get started: After a terrific collegiate career at Duke, Grant Hill was the No. The signature of Michael Jordan on a basketball card is enough to make it special. 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. Weve put together a list with 10 of the most expensive 90s basketball cards (i.e. Some of the best players in the 1990s include: (This is by no means a complete list of the best players from the 90s). Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. When 1996-97 products were first released, Iverson was the rookie card to pull, and his immediate success only further boosted his appeal. The odds of puling a gold refactor from a pack is 1 in 288 packs. If you are hunting for these cards on eBay, be sure to check the image carefully. 1. Ive set aside the top insert sets of the 90s for another article. Founded in 1993, Flair produced high-end trading cards before changing direction in 2006. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. This is also a somewhat historic year for Jordan himself, as it was the year of his first NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP. The 1990s saw a rise in basketball card brand diversity. The background is supposed to resemble the popular laser halftime show during the 1992-93 season, and it definitely makes it stand out from the crowd. Here are 10 of the most valuable. It features a bold Kobe dribbling the ball in a Lakers jersey with the background featuring his face looking on. In fact, Michael Jordans 1993 Finest Refractor accounts for approximately $178,000 in PSA graded card sales according to PSAs auction price reports. This non-perforated card had only 1,200 print runs making it a very rare Shaqs card. To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. It didn't take long for him to develop into the face of the Timberwolves franchise. 4 pick Stephon Marbury on draft night. 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. 12. 1997 Shaquille O'Neal Metal Universe Platinum Portraits #4 Buy on eBay The 1997-98 Skybox Metal Universe Basketball set is best known for the rare Precious Metal Gems cards, which do make an appearance below. Anything Michael Jordan and/or Kobe Bryant. It features Kobe in a yellow Lakers Jersey dunking the ball from behind his back framed in gold trim. Big Shaq is another player of the game whose cards command huge fees. The 1990s saw a host of famous players make their debuts and play in their rookie years making the cards very valuable to collectors. The North Carolina product was the No. This basketball card has surged in value since that tragic passing of Kobe. The card was released in 1990, two years before his rookie cards. This Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 1 Kobe Bryant is an excellent Rookie card. It is in mint condition, graded PSA 10. The card is by Topps, considered to be one of the more exclusive card companies for collectors. What this set may lack in terms of overall value, it certainly makes up in nostalgia. The bottom of the card is personally autographed by Shaq in white pen, with the number #32 handwritten next to it.