Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Coming in second place is the Kobe Bryant Chrome Refractor Rookie card. 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. Over the past few years, basketball cards have exploded in value when compared to other sports cards. 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. Upper Deck introduced its inaugural basketball set, and Skybox came out with another great design in 1991. 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. Total Rookie Cards: 15 5. Kobe Bryant 1996/97 Topps Chrome Rookie. 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. It is the same thing with basketball cards. The card features the big man in his LSU days hanging on the rim after a powerful dunk. 10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own. The card is finished with a gold trim around the edges. 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. If your card is graded highly by one of these companies, its likely to be worth a decent amount of money. 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. 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. 1996-97 E-X2000 A Cut Above made the cards resemble the blade of a buzz saw. 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. The decade was highlighted by Jordans dominance, and the emergence of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan. When 1996-97 products were first released, Iverson was the rookie card to pull, and his immediate success only further boosted his appeal. 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. Theyll always make a list of valuable 90s memorabilia, for a number of reasons which soon become apparent. This card example was sold at a Goldin Auction for $162,360. The card is graded as a Beckett 10, with only one other card known to exist in this quality. Rounding out the most valuable 1990s basketball cards is another Big Shaq card example. This authentic stamp of the biggest name of the game raises the value of the card. The signature of Michael Jordan on a basketball card is enough to make it special. 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. And in this guide, we look at the 11 most valuable the set has to offer. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. It features the Black Mamba bouncing the ball and most probably already eyeing the backboard. The card features Michael Jordan bouncing the ball as he prepares for a scoring run. Despite the lack of an autograph, its a solid piece of Jordan merch which is sure to retain value in the next decade or so. Being a rookie card of big Shaq make this card special. Many players regarded as the greatest of all time played in this era and still capture the imagination of sports collectors today. 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. Getting your basketball card graded is simple as submitting your card to the company. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the 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. What makes it so valuable is that it is a rare error card. 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. MJ has signed the card in blue ink and handwritten the serial number 10/23. 1990 Hoops #205 Mark Jackson. Below are some of the most memorable or important single basketball cards, sets and insert sets of the 1990s. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. Finest did begin adding a protective coating to peel and remove to their cards in order to prevent sticking and chipping off of the highly glossy, chrome-like surface. The odds of pulling this card in a pack are thought to be around 1/55,000. 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. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. Its currently listed on eBay for $500,000. 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. How much is a Michael Jordan rookie basketball card worth? 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. This rookie Kobe Bryant card is another example of the Finest Gold Refractor card featured in the number 5 spot. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Michael Jordan's 1990 Fleer basketball card. This means it is rarer than the unsigned cards. 15 (tie). One of the game's best point guards, Thomas was named one of the league's 50 top players. 10 seed Santa Clara to an NCAA tournament win over Maryland as a senior, Steve Nash was selected 15th in the 1996 NBA draft. 1997 Skybox Z-Force Michael Jordan Quick Strike card $199,999, 7. It features Jordan dribbling the ball during a 1992 NBA All-star game, played in Orlando, Florida in front of 14,000 spectators. Required fields are marked *. This is truly the most valuable basketball card brand of the 90s. 19 pick Pat Garrity for No. He doesn't quite command the same attention as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson from his same rookie class, but there is no question Nash was one of the elite players of his generation, and the value of his Topps Chrome rookie card reflects his status. Fleer remains at the top for overall PSA graded card sales for 1991 basketball card brands, but the competition began ramping up. It sold at a Heritage Auction in November 2021 for $132,000. \What was your favorite decade of basketball? The 1990s saw a rise in basketball card brand diversity. 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. For example, the most expensive basketball cards ever are rookie cards. (Sold February 2021 by Heritage Auctions). This makes Big Shaq cards very valuable. Isiah Thomas was the leader of the Detroit Pistons squads that won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. Only 10 of these cards exist, with this being the only one graded 8.5 by PSA. Some of the best players in the 1990s include: (This is by no means a complete list of the best players from the 90s). The card was sold at a Goldin auction for $206,400. 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. Like Barkley, Malone was a guy who was clearly good enough to be an NBA champion but sadly never won one. 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. A passing of the torch from the MJ years. 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. Lets take a look at the most valuable basketball card brands of the 1990s. The card is personally autographed and hand-numbered 12/23, making it a great addition to any collection. 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. 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. Card number 48 served as a checklist for those cards, with Michael Jordan shown on the front going up for the score. 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. The design is clean and features gold trims. This Skybox Z-Force Strike Force Michael Jordan card is one. The card has a bold blue signature of MJ over it. Generally, a card with a higher grade (is in a better condition), and will be valuable than an identical card with a lower grade. 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. The Flair showcase legacy collection is from the 1996-97 season. Some of the things considered are: centering of the card, printing errors, and evidence of wear. 1990 Hoops #65 Michael Jordan. We wouldn't have really said this a couple years ago. Its graded as a 9 by Beckett and was sold by Goldin Auctions for $170,400. 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. Inserted 1:288 packs, the cards are rare. 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. 1997 - 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99 2. Post contains affiliate links. 1990 Hoops #391 Gary Payton Rookie Card. This authenticates the cards and defines their condition (in a scale of 1 10). Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. The card is graded as a Beckett 9 and Autograph 10. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? The pre-rookie card is 1 of only 1200 and is graded by the PSA as a 10, making it highly desirable and rare. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000 The card is currently listed on eBay for $500,000, with a similar example selling at a Goldin auction for $206,400. Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox! 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. Talking of special ONeal cards, youll be hard pressed to find one better than this Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 non-perforated card. This Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 cards is one of the rarest cards of this great basketball players nicknamed the Answer. The card comes from a 1997 set containing 123 cards. Big Shaq is another player of the game whose cards command huge fees. When it comes to buying 1990s basketball cards or searching the attic to see if you have any hidden treasures, there are some things you need to look for when trying to determine what 90s basketball cards are worth money. But this particular one is pristine with BGS 10 grade. His rookie cards dramatically increased the value of all card brands. 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. (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. 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 card sold at auction in February 2021 for $480,000. 12. susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. A passing of the torch from the MJ years, Kobes RCs are clearly some of the most popular youll find at auction today. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. 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. 4 pick Stephon Marbury on draft night. These are usually worth from a few hundred dollars to up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet another Jordan card to make the list, his 1998 SP Authentic Sign of Times is a tiered release. This 1997 Michael Jordan precious metal games card is another card from the highly sought-after Metal Universe collection. 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. 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. 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. It is literally one of its kind. Topps Finest continued to be the most sought after set of the mid-90s, this time with a more basic design. It doesnt matter that the height of their careers was after the 1990s. The card is currently listed on eBay for $250,000. Getting your basketball card graded by a professional card grading company is important. The card features Jordan soaring into the air with an outstretched arm, a position that became a trademark of Jordans playing style. You can still find hobby boxes from all these brands and years on eBay. Gary Payton was included in the release of 1990 Fleer Update. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The card sold at auction in December 2020 for $915,000. 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10 $500,000, 3. Scottie Pippen in the background also adds a nice touch. Notable rookies from 1993 include Anfernee Hardaway, Chris Webber and Toni Kukoc, each of whom have a Topps Finest Refractor rookie card. If a card is signed by the featured player, itll be more valuable than an unsigned version. That said, his Topps Chrome rookie still carries a high enough price tag to check in No. As if that is not enough, the card is hand-signed by Michael Jordan himself. The card is in mint condition, graded as a 10 by the PSA. 33 LSU jersey, in his center position, reading the game. 1990 Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 Non Perforated card $100,000, 8. Topps Chrome would continue its status as top base set of the rest of the decade. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. And to have any value at all, the cards on this list will need to be graded in PSA 10 gem mint conditionmeaning they're nearly flawless. Ive set aside the top insert sets of the 90s for another article. The card features AI in his Sixers no. 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. How do I know if my cards are genuine? The First MJ card to make the list is his Finest Refractor from 1993. Although Allen Iverson was one of the smallest players in the league, he became well known for his explosive playing style. The same card was then included in Hi-Series packs, with "#1 NBA Draft Pick" replacing "Trade Card" printed on the front. 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. This is one of the most valuable basketball cards out there. 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 are 10 of the most valuable. This is also a somewhat historic year for Jordan himself, as it was the year of his first NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP. 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). Thus, not all rookie cards of the 1990s are worth serious money. This chrome approach to card design is one that is continued to this day. The card features the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant in a yellow Lakers jersey dunking the ball from behind his back. The 1997 PMG cards are one of the most exciting base sets of the decade and come with a couple of expensive parallels to pick from. What this set may lack in terms of overall value, it certainly makes up in nostalgia. 1. Some of the most valuable cards produced are limited editions featuring historical players in their rookie years. This MJ autographed /23 card is also is very good condition. They also had a low print run in comparison to other sets from the time, with just 100 cards overall. The company will closely check the card, and give it a grade (out of 10 points). The Bulls logo, red-colored key nameplate at the bottom and Pippen's bright red jersey really make this card pop to give it strong eye appeal. The North Carolina product was the No. 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. For the 1990s decade, the basketball cards thatll be worth money are rookie cards cards of players making their debut in that decade. This 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC is regarded as one of the most valuable examples. This special basketball card features Michael Jordan throwing what is definitely a 3-pointer. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Hoops Basketball Cards. 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. In number 3 is the 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographed card, currently the most valuable MJ card sold to date. This 1998 Michael Jordan Skybox Molten Metal card truly is unique and special. 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. It being the only card in its set to be so autographed takes it from special to super special. It also comes with a Members Only parallel, which can be distinguished by a faint watermark. Parallels: Red PMG (/90), Green PMG (/10). With basketball cards featuring historical players still capturing the imagination of basketball fans worldwide, it stands to reason that basketball cards of the 1990s are some of the rarest and most valuable additions to any collection. 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. This means it has sharp corners, full original gloss, and a perfectly centered card image. Top 1990s Basketball Rookie Cards to Collect Bolded links go directly to detailed player or set profiles. However, with so many basketball cards printed every year, a whole decade will have an ocean of cards, with a wide range of value. 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 1982 Penny Value Chart (Most Valuable Penny Sold for $18,800), Most Valuable Antique and Vintage Vases: Identifying, Valuing and Buying (2023 Updated), A Detailed Outlook on the 2000 Sacagawea Dollar Value, Antique Floor Lamp: Identification, Valuation, And Buying Guide (2023 Updated), Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #81, 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey (Autograph) #GJ13S, Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC, Upper Deck Ovation Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan #MJS, Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant Rookie #269, 1998 Michael Jordan Skybox Moltern Metal #41, E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant Rookie #30, Finest Kobe Bryant Refractor W/Coating #269, Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 1 Kobe Bryant Rookie #31, Upper Deck Michael Jordan (Game Jersey Autographs) #GJ10A, Auction (Popular high-end auction sites such as.