According to Upper deck, the odds of pulling a Michael Jordan insert card is 1 in 144. Total Rookie Cards: 15 5. Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most expensive basketball cards from the 1990s. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It features a bold Kobe dribbling the ball in a Lakers jersey with the background featuring his face looking on. Topps was certainly not trying to achieve anything flashy with their design, unlike its earlier Finest sets. Not only was it the rookie year of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, Topps Chrome was released. Below are some of the most memorable or important single basketball cards, sets and insert sets of the 1990s. The card is currently listed on eBay for $500,000, with a similar example selling at a Goldin auction for $206,400. Produced in 1999 and known as the Finest Kobe Bryant Refractor card, it features Kobe dunking the ball behind his head in his yellow Lakers jersey. And in this guide, we look at the 11 most valuable the set has to offer. 19 pick Pat Garrity for No. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. 1998-99 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend - [Base] #147. Refractor parallels were released in a ratio of 1:12. We've listed the cards in order, starting with a great option from the late 1990s. This was also the year the Lakers began their dominant run in the sport, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal. The list is in order of year of release. 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. However, an ankle injury sidelined him for most of the 2000-01 season and he was never quite the same after that. Its graded as a 9 by Beckett and was sold by Goldin Auctions for $170,400. One small flaw is the relative darkness on the upper half of the card. This 1998 Michael Jordan Skybox Molten Metal card truly is unique and special. Thus, cards that are worth money are those graded as mint by trusted grading companies like PSA and BSG. The card pictures Shaq donning his no. 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. It doesnt matter that the height of their careers was after the 1990s. This rookie Kobe Bryant card is another example of the Finest Gold Refractor card featured in the number 5 spot. The ascetically pleasing card design features two pictures of Jordan. The card is personally autographed by Jordan in a thin blue pen with the serial number 8/23 also handwritten. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. While his 1992 Bowman rookie is one of the iconic cards of the 1990s, it's actually his 1992 Fleer Update card that earns a spot on this most valuable list. In that year, 90 cards were put into the base sets and separated into Rows. 1990 Fleer is the most valuable basketball card brand to start the decade, 1996 Topps Chrome becomes the most valuable brand of the 90s, 1999 Topps Chrome is the final most valuable basketball brand of the decade. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? A passing of the torch from the MJ years. Cards that are rare are generally valuable than those are easy to get. It is the same thing with basketball cards. With all collectibles, condition is a big determinant of value. Being a rookie card of big Shaq make this card special. 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. 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. Barkley's 1990 Fleer issue was one of the few cards to picture him with any amount of hair whatsoever. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. 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. Here is a selection of the most popular sites: Basketball cards from the 1990s are some of the rarest and highly sought-after sports cards around today. 1990 Skybox card list & price guide. I'll never forget how he got the best of Shaquille O'Neal during the 1995 NBA Finals although you could argue O'Neal wasn't quite yet in his prime. The card sold in February 2022 for $2,000,000 in a private sale making it the most expensive Kobe card sold. Big Shaq is another player of the game whose cards command huge fees. 4 pick Stephon Marbury on draft night. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. Its the main reason why the card makes the list! 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card 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. 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. When a company notices an error in a lot, the production is stopped, and those items are never released. 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. So that there are no confusions about the condition of a basketball card, cards are usually officially graded. That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. Read our methodology . This Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Byrant card is very aesthetically appealing, framed in gold edges. 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. Other things that make a card valuable are autographs and patches. The decade was highlighted by Jordans dominance, and the emergence of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan. 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. Also, this piece is in near-perfect condition. The card features AI in his Sixers no. 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. Its currently listed on eBay for $500,000. 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. Being a gold refactor, this basketball card is visually appealing. Rather, the very valuable ones are rookie cards that feature stars of the game like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, and Allen Iverson. It features the Black Mamba bouncing the ball and most probably already eyeing the backboard. The card features Shaq as a rookie in an LSU jersey hanging from the rim with both legs in the air after a trademark dunk. Also, if the card comes with a game-worn patch of the featured players jersey, itll be very valuable. 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. The 1990s is a storied decade in the game of basketball. Several of the players ahead of him also have rookie cards in 1986-87 Fleer Basketball. 1997 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99, 2. The total PSA graded sales of this set is staggering almost $2.7 million as of August 2020. They also had a low print run in comparison to other sets from the time, with just 100 cards overall. 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). 1996-97 E-X2000 A Cut Above made the cards resemble the blade of a buzz saw. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. 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. Being a rookie of the years rookie card is not the only thing that makes this AIs card special. 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. 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. 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. Less than 250 of these cards exist. First, look to see if the card is graded by Beckett Grading system (BGS) or Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Isiah Thomas was the leader of the Detroit Pistons squads that won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. If you want this one in grade 10 condition, be prepared to SPEND BIG. 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 The Last Dance. 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. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? It features a diagonal image of Jordan with a basketball clutched in one hand, with a gold background and a multicolored border. 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. With Rookie cards produced in limited quantities, this makes them much rarer and more valuable. The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the list of expensive 1990s basketball cards. Getting your basketball card graded is simple as submitting your card to the company. 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. 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. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Tuesday morning. Thus, not all rookie cards of the 1990s are worth serious money. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000, 5. Just twenty-three examples of this particular card were autographed, making them far rarer than the unsigned editions. For my one year anniversary here on YouTube, I am updating and relaunching my most popular video. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fleer remains at the top for overall PSA graded card sales for 1991 basketball card brands, but the competition began ramping up. 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). The card produced by Topps is graded as a PSA 10, meaning it is in pristine condition, making it highly collectible. 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. Michael Jordan Cards), with lots of info about each one, including how and why they cost so much. The card also has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers Guard printed in blue on the bottom. Shaqs rookie card + autographed + PSA 10 = very valuable. The card has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers printed at the bottom in gold. We wouldn't have really said this a couple years ago. 1992 was all about Shaquille ONeal. Michael Jordan being in his later years, removed from the Chicago Bulls was also a contributing factor. The SPx Die-Cut Gold MJ #5 card is not like the regular rectangular cards. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. Importantly, it is also a PSA 10 GEM mint card. 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. Click the title of each to see them for sale and auction on eBay. Cards of star players are generally the most valuable. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only. These are usually worth from a few hundred dollars to up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the sports card hobby, rookies are king which is the biggest contributing factor to the lower value of this year. Somewhat ironically, Classic doesnt live up to its name as a brand, but its worth making an exception for Shaq. Today we'll be looking at the 20 highest selling PSA graded. 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. Selling in auction sites some of these sites include eBid, Selling in online market places these include eBay and Craiglist. The card was sold at a Goldin auction for $206,400. 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. susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. This 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson card is a rare example of the player known as the Answer. This Michael Jordan insert is from Upper Decks 98/99 SP Authentic release. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys In some basketball packs today a jersey card is guaranteed. This makes Big Shaq cards very valuable. Sometimes, what makes a collectible very rare and valuable is an error. The card is graded as a Beckett 9 and Autograph 10. 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. Noteworthy rookies of the 1994 season included Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. The bottom of the card is personally autographed by Shaq in white pen, with the number #32 handwritten next to it. 1990 Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 Non Perforated card $100,000, 8. 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. 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. His Topps Chrome rookie is the most valuable of his first-year cards, and while the PSA 9 population is high, a mere 8.4 percent of the 5,299 PSA submissions have come back with a Gem Mint 10 grade. This authentic stamp of the biggest name of the game raises the value of the card. Hes set on a beautiful background that features a brown oval shape giving off bright colours. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. One of the most important factors when determining what a card is worth is its grading. It is in the best condition possible. It is graded as a Beckett 8 with the autograph graded as a 10. Rookie cards are always regarded as more valuable, especially if they feature well-known athletes. The card was sold following the release of the 10-part Netflix special The Last Dance. 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. The 90s were a classic era, and arguably the best time to be a fan of basketball aside from the modern-day. Overall, the checklist contained 198 cards in total that, if nothing else, captured some of the greatest players of all-time with exciting imagery. 1. The former president was presented with one hundred copies of his very own baseball card from his days as captain at Yale in 1990 by Topps. Given his height, almost every Shaq RC features him soaring towards the backboard, and this card is no different. 1 1990 - Fleer is the most valuable basketball card brand to start the decade 2 1991 - Fleer 3 1992 - Upper Deck 4 1993 - Topps Finest 5 1994 - Topps Finest 6 1995 - Topps Finest 7 1996 - Topps Chrome becomes the most valuable brand of the 90s 8 1997 - Topps Chrome 9 1998 - Topps Chrome The Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan card is another example from the Upper Deck collection. We've already touched on this card in our "10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own" article a few months ago: "Due to an exclusive sports card agreement with Classic Games, Shaquille O'Neal was not initially eligible to be included in 1992-93 products. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000 Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. Generally, basketball cards released during a players rookie year are more valuable than those released afterwards. 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 set is nothing flashy but there is lots of solid value throughout. It is in mint condition, graded PSA 10. It didn't take long for him to develop into the face of the Timberwolves franchise. Topps decided to keep their refractor technology in the Topps Chrome set, while also adding a chrome-like finish to all their base cards. 1990 Upper . Rounding out the most valuable 1990s basketball cards is another Big Shaq card example. If you are hunting for these cards on eBay, be sure to check the image carefully. With basketball cards capturing the best highlights of the game and its players, the cards of 1990s are some of the most memorable, which makes them some of the most valuable. 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. How do I know if my cards are genuine?