However, with so many basketball cards printed every year, a whole decade will have an ocean of cards, with a wide range of value. Barkley's 1990 Fleer issue was one of the few cards to picture him with any amount of hair whatsoever. The card is graded by Beckett as 10 Pristine making it very rare and collectible. 4 pick Stephon Marbury on draft night. The card is a redemption card, only available by mail. The card sold at auction in February 2021 for $1,440,000. The Gold featured only the most desired names, including MJ and Allen Iverson. (Sold November 2021 by Heritage Auctions), Produced in 1999, the Upper Deck Michael Jordan Game Jersey Autograph card was issued after MJ finished with the Chicago Bulls. The card was sold following the release of the 10-part Netflix special The Last Dance. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Hoops listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The word Robert Park is erroneously written over Kobe Bryant on the card. The cards are wrapped in colored foil, which is highly susceptible to chips or wears and tear. Also, it is PSA 10 graded card. This makes Big Shaq cards very valuable. 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13 Most Valuable Rookie Cards (1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 Was Sold For $12,600,000)Continue, Your email address will not be published. It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. The total PSA graded sales of this set is staggering almost $2.7 million as of August 2020. The card features Michael Jordan bouncing the ball as he prepares for a scoring run. The 1990s saw a host of famous players make their debuts and play in their rookie years making the cards very valuable to collectors. Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner, and Robert Horry are other notable rookies from this year. 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 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1996 was truly a historic year in the hobby. 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. When a company notices an error in a lot, the production is stopped, and those items are never released. There are many online shops that specialize in buying and selling 1990s basketball cards. The card was released during his 1997 season and is 1 of only 126 examples known to exist. The card sold at auction in December 2020 for $915,000. 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. Some of the best players in the 1990s include: (This is by no means a complete list of the best players from the 90s). In this guide, Ill take you through the most valuable 1990s basketball cards, looking at their values and what makes them so rare. He was a model of consistency in the middle of the San Antonio Spurs roster for 19 seasons, finishing his career 18th all-time in points (26,496) and seventh all-time in rebounds (15,091). All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Tuesday morning. 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. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card Price: $600,000 . These two are the most well-known and trusted grading companies. Yet another Jordan card to make the list, his 1998 SP Authentic Sign of Times is a tiered release. 1990 Hoops #382 Michael Jordan's Playground Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125 . 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. Top 1990s Basketball Insert Sets, Most Valuable List, Best '90s NBA Cards 1990 Hoops #205 Mark Jackson. If you are looking to rip through an old hobby box, the most noticeable flaw will be off-center cuts. Read our methodology . Out of 100 produced, only 10 were made with green foil with the other 90 in red. 25 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Cards. 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 card is graded as a PSA 7 with the autograph graded as an 8. The rise in young basketball talent grew the fanbase in recent years. This authenticates the cards and defines their condition (in a scale of 1 10). What I wouldnt give to have one of these in my personal collection! It sold at a Heritage Auction in November 2021 for $132,000. 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. 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 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. Wat is more, it is autographed and hand-numbered by the big man himself. 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. Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s (Investment Guide) If there was one signature move that I remember kids trying to replicate on the basketball court in the early 1990s it was definitely Tim Hardaway's "killer crossover". Who else but Kobe Bryant in the top spot? 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. 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. 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. Few do. The former MVP and 11-time All-Star was arguably one of the most deserving players who never did quite when an NBA title. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Jordan name is one reason why the card makes the list, but he also wore the jersey in question during the 1992-93 NBA All-Star game. 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 1996-96 E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant Rookie card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey with the ball looking to turn quickly. Due to poor sales of the. 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. One small flaw is the relative darkness on the upper half of the card. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. 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 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. Selling directly to collectors an example is Deanscard.com. It also paved the way for future NBA stars like Allen Iverson to implement similar moves into their offensive arsenals although Iverson and Hardaway don't necessarily see eye to eye on who did it better. A Michael Jordan rookie basketball card can be worth a few thousand or a few hundred thousand depending on the set and grade. The card features MJ soaring into the air with his arm outstretched. It has the perfect 10 PSA grade. It features MJ in pinpoint-sized, die cuts making a shadow illustration on half of the card. 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. 1. In that year, 90 cards were put into the base sets and separated into Rows. 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. The gold-colored card also shows Michael in a red Chicago Bulls jersey performing a jump shot. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Skybox listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. The odds of pulling one of these cards are thought to be 1/5000 packs, making them extremely rare. 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. "The holy grail of all '90s basketball cardsthe Michael Jordan 1997-98 Metal Universe PMG Greensold in 2007 for $5,300.23. 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. There were Fleer All-Star sticker card inserts that can be worth more than the base cards on this list assuming the sticker is still in tact and is graded in top condition. 1990 Hoops #391 Gary Payton Rookie Card. A big part of the card is devoted to MJs signed autograph. Other things that make a card valuable are autographs and patches. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 2 spot in these rankings. So, many basketball cards of this decade capture these highlights and are very valuable. Like the 1990 Hoops and SkyBox sets, there were just so many of these cards printed. 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. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the years? A few important parameters for our list before we get started: After a terrific collegiate career at Duke, Grant Hill was the No. This card example was sold at a Goldin Auction for $162,360. This gorgeous basketball card is one of rare cards hand numbered by Michael Jordan to only 23. 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. Refractor parallels were released in a ratio of 1:12. To prove it, Malone ended up at number 2 on the all-time scoring list and number 7 on the all-time rebounds list. A passing of the torch from the MJ years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Michael Jordan's 1990 Fleer basketball card. For example, the most expensive basketball cards ever are rookie cards. This Skybox Z-Force Strike Force Michael Jordan card is one. Prices for 1990 Skybox Basketball Cards. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. 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. The odds of pulling this card in a pack are thought to be around 1/55,000. Dikembe Mutombo and Larry Johnson were the top rookies of the 1991 class, and Jordan cards caught fire after he won his first championship against Magic Johnson and the Lakers to end the previous season. 10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own. The card features Iverson in a red Sixers jersey passionately celebrating with his Sixers teammates. Many basketball cards from the 90s decade are very valuable today, especially those featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The guy could absolutely jump through the roof and his vertical leaping ability is on full display on his 1990 Fleer card. 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. SP serial numbered their base cards to 3,500 and released a few noteworthy subsets such as this one. The card is graded by Beckett as 8. For the 1990s decade, the basketball cards thatll be worth money are rookie cards cards of players making their debut in that decade. 25 Most Valuable 1990 Fleer Basketball Cards - Old Sports Cards Basketball Cards from the 1990's - COMC Noteworthy rookies of the 1994 season included Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. 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. 1 pick in the 1996 NBA draft, ahead of UMass center Marcus Camby. That is why its worth reaches the six-figure mark. 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. The limited edition card has the serial number 19/40 stamped through the material. Also Read:11 Most Valuable Shaquille ONeal Rookie Cards (Round-up list). I will be using total PSA graded card sales to determine values. This is also a somewhat historic year for Jordan himself, as it was the year of his first NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP. However, they were creating solid value through their base designs and high-end value through scarcity with their refractor parallels. Rather one side is shaped like a less-curvy S, while the other is shaped like an X. Your email address will not be published. He possessed incredible shoot ability for a power forward but was also known as a big-time rebounder who could take the ball coast to coast. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed the greatest basketball duo that we'll likely ever see. After grading, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-free casing with the grade and certification number displayed. The card was released in 1990, two years before his rookie cards. Being a rookie card with a limited number produced makes it more valuable. You can use serial number or population report to determine cards that are rare. 1996 Kobe Bryant Flair Showcase Legacy Row 0 #10 SHOP NOW 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. 15 (tie). 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. This 1997 Michael Jordan precious metal games card is another card from the highly sought-after Metal Universe collection. The 90s were a classic era, and arguably the best time to be a fan of basketball aside from the modern-day. 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. This 1997 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems card is another example from the Metal Universe brand. So that there are no confusions about the condition of a basketball card, cards are usually officially graded. It is graded as a Beckett 8 with the autograph graded as a 10. The colors and the edging make it susceptible to chips and wear, which is another reason why its valued highly. 15 Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s (Round-up list) 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. Michael Jordan being in his later years, removed from the Chicago Bulls was also a contributing factor. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. Total Rookie Cards: 15 5. 1990 Hoops #39 Larry Bird Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100 . How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. The Kentucky Big Blue Shaquille ONeal Non-Perforated card features Shaq in an LSU jersey, in the center position during a game. Also, if the card comes with a game-worn patch of the featured players jersey, itll be very valuable. On Fire: Best LaMelo Ball Rookie Cards To Buy Now. 1997 SPx Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #5 Signed PSA 10 $59,999, 10. 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. Being a gold refactor, this basketball card is visually appealing. Sports Card Investing: Maximize Portfolio Returns (Ultimate Guide), 10 Best Football Card Packs to Buy in 2023, In-Depth Sports Card Market Trends and Statistics (2023). Just like the health of a company affect its stock, how much a player goes on to achieve affects the value of his rookie cards. I've always loved the look and feel of this card as it captures Jordan up close doing what he did best: throwing down a slam dunk on a breakaway drive. Weve put together a list with 10 of the most expensive 90s basketball cards (i.e. Still, Jordan and Garnett cards, particularly their refractors, can fetch some top sales at auctions. 1990 Skybox card list & price guide. 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. 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. Whilst he didnt win any NBA championships, he was an 11-time NBA All-star and won multiple MVP awards. 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. Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. This is truly the most valuable basketball card brand of the 90s. Prices for 1990 Hoops Basketball Cards. 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 rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the list of expensive 1990s basketball cards. His Finest rookie card is his most valuable by a wide margin, and it stands as one of the iconic cards of the decade. The same card was then included in Hi-Series packs, with "#1 NBA Draft Pick" replacing "Trade Card" printed on the front. What is the most expensive basketball card? Worse decade of basketball? Generally, basketball cards released during a players rookie year are more valuable than those released afterwards. The picture has MJ executing a no-look pass, in a black background that blur everything else to highlight the phenom. This rookie Kobe Bryant card is another example of the Finest Gold Refractor card featured in the number 5 spot. 9 pick in that year's draft. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. 1990 Fleer #6 Dominique Wilkins Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40 1990 Fleer #30 Scottie Pippen Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35 Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed the greatest basketball duo that we'll likely ever see. 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. Only the first 10 cards in the set were done in green with the rest in red making this one in green foil very rare and valuable. 15 (tie). The card features the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant in a yellow Lakers jersey dunking the ball from behind his back. These include: 97 UD Michael Jordan auto patch #GJ13 BSA 10, 96 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10, 92 Classic DP Shaq ONeal auto RC PSA 10, and 97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 RC BGS 10. This Row 1 card is graded by Beckett as a 9.5 and was sold at a Goldin auction for $136,530. 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. 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. 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. For those that remember, it was the 1997 UD Game Jersey cards that sparked the jersey patch craze. 1990 Hoops #65 Michael Jordan. Contact him at [emailprotected]. While Fleer remained the top brand in 1991, Upper Decks solid design and likability, perhaps due in part to the recognition of the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie carze, makes it a close second. The card has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers printed at the bottom in gold. Importantly, it is also a PSA 10 GEM mint card. The card is currently listed on eBay for $500,000, with a similar example selling at a Goldin auction for $206,400. Required fields are marked *. 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. Coming in second place is the Kobe Bryant Chrome Refractor 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. 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. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. Of the 10 cards, only 6 have been given to PSA for grading. Most Valuable Baseball Cards 1990s - BaseballLoveClub.com 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. The 1990s is a storied decade in the game of basketball. 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. Isiah Thomas was the leader of the Detroit Pistons squads that won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990.