Below are some of the most memorable or important single basketball cards, sets and insert sets of the 1990s. 12. What is the most expensive card in the world? Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. 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. Related: Most Valuable Basketball Cards 2020. It has the perfect 10 PSA grade. It features the Black Mamba bouncing the ball and most probably already eyeing the backboard. Also, I will NOT be using insert set values only the values of base sets. 4 on the list. 1990 Skybox card list & price guide. 3 pick in the 1994 NBA draft and an immediate star for the Detroit Pistons. This decade also saw one of the most iconic moments of the game: Michael Jordans final shot as a Bull. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. 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. That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. 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. 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. As the player finishes their rookie years and starts becoming famous, more cards are produced making them more common. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. It was released in 1990, two years before his rookies. The card is personally autographed by Jordan in a thin blue pen with the serial number 8/23 also handwritten. The card is finished with a gold trim around the edges. It features MJ reaching to dunk the ball on the left with a red Chicago Bulls game jersey patch on the right side. Not only was it the rookie year of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, Topps Chrome was released. 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. You can buy basketball cards wherever they are sold such as in garage sales, and in online selling places like eBay. It is graded by Beckett, and proudly has 8 points. The most expensive trading card in the world sold to date is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle Card (PSA 9) which sold for $5.2 Million and the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor Mike Trout Auto RC. Unlike Kemp, Larry Bird wasn't known for his ability to throw down monster dunks but he was every bit as exciting to watch. Cards of star players are generally the most valuable. Isiah Thomas was the leader of the Detroit Pistons squads that won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. The 90s were a classic era, and arguably the best time to be a fan of basketball aside from the modern-day. Also, if the card comes with a game-worn patch of the featured players jersey, itll be very valuable. This is truly the most valuable basketball card brand of the 90s. Although Allen Iverson was one of the smallest players in the league, he became well known for his explosive playing style. The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant who unfortunately recently passed away, made his debut. His Finest rookie card is his most valuable by a wide margin, and it stands as one of the iconic cards of the decade. Being a rookie card with a limited number produced makes it more valuable. The card has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers printed at the bottom in gold. A passing of the torch from the MJ years, Kobes RCs are clearly some of the most popular youll find at auction today. 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. Michael Jordan Cards), with lots of info about each one, including how and why they cost so much. The odds of pulling one of these cards are thought to be 1/5000 packs, making them extremely rare. Stats via Basketball Reference. 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. If your card is Ungraded, consider grading it if it looks to be in good condition and features a well-known athlete. The lightning quick move allowed Hardaway to create just enough separation against opposing defenders to turn him into an elite scorer and passer. With only 31 of these cards presented to Beckett for grading, this makes it highly desirable. This is another special and rare autographed Michael Jordan basketball card. 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. Your basketball cards can be worth anything from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars. The card is by Topps, considered to be one of the more exclusive card companies for collectors. That said, his Topps Chrome rookie still carries a high enough price tag to check in No. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. This means it is rarer than the unsigned cards. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? 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). susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Hoops Basketball Cards. That is why its worth reaches the six-figure mark. Topps Chrome would continue its status as top base set of the rest of the decade. It is in mint condition, graded PSA 10. 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. 1996-97 E-X2000 A Cut Above made the cards resemble the blade of a buzz saw. In this guide, Ill take you through the most valuable 1990s basketball cards, looking at their values and what makes them so rare. This 1992 Classic DP Shaquille ONeal card is one of the most valuable of them all. Its the main reason why the card makes the list! Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. This makes Big Shaq cards very valuable. Ive set aside the top insert sets of the 90s for another article. Big Shaq is another player of the game whose cards command huge fees. 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card Topps Finest remained the top basketball card brand of 1994, and its PSA graded card sales dwarf those of any other brand. 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. It features Kobe in a yellow Lakers Jersey dunking the ball from behind his back framed in gold trim. This MJ autographed /23 card is also is very good condition. 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. It is graded as a Beckett 8 with the autograph graded as a 10. 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 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. 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. The ascetically pleasing card design features two pictures of Jordan. Thats none other than the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. In this article, well show you the most valuable basketball cards of the memorable 1990s decade. 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. Like over $100,000 big. To put it simply, Payton was one of the most complete guards in the history of the game and his 1990 Hoops rookie card is must-have for basketball card collectors. 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. The card features Kobe, again in a yellow Lakers jersey, looking to shoot the ball whilst being guarded. 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. The "Trade Card" sells for $40-50 in PSA 9 condition and $800-1,000 in PSA 10 condition. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, which of course, was O'Neal.". This means it has sharp corners, full original gloss, and a perfectly centered card image. The card is graded as a Beckett 10, with only one other card known to exist in this quality. But this particular one is pristine with BGS 10 grade. 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). 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. The Sign of the Times inserts which were all die-cut autos, issued in Bronze, Silver, and Gold versions. The card is currently listed on eBay for $500,000, with a similar example selling at a Goldin auction for $206,400. The card was graded as a Beckett 9 and sold at a Goldin auction in March 2021 for $198,030. Whilst he didnt win any NBA championships, he was an 11-time NBA All-star and won multiple MVP awards. Rather, the very valuable ones are rookie cards that feature stars of the game like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, and Allen Iverson. The word Robert Park is erroneously written over Kobe Bryant on the card. The card is graded as a PSA 7 with the autograph graded as an 8. However, there are a few exceptions to this, as the 90s Michal Jordans cards show. With Rookie cards produced in limited quantities, this makes them much rarer and more valuable. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. One small flaw is the relative darkness on the upper half of the card. Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. 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. So, this rookie card is a jewel. 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. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Tuesday morning. You may find some other of this card, but finding one in pristine condition is very difficult. The picture is the Black Mamba himself executing some sort of over the back slam dunk, and it is framed by a gold edge. Kobe was always going to make any list with the most expensive 1990s cards, and the 1996-97 Topps set has one of the strongest rookie classes of all time. There are a lot of grading companies. Despite his status as one of the greatest players in NBA history, most of his rookie cards can be found for a fraction of what his Topps Chrome card costs, and it still feels tremendously undervalued sitting at the top end of his market. 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. His pro transition was as smooth as any in recent memory, as he averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while earning a spot in the All-Star Game as a rookie. And since the debut of "The Last Dance" documentary, all of his cards have soared in value. Who else but Kobe Bryant in the top spot? 9. Many of the cards were hand-signed by the man himself, making it one of the very first pieces of autographed Shaq memorabilia. It didn't take long for him to develop into the face of the Timberwolves franchise. First, look to see if the card is graded by Beckett Grading system (BGS) or Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Some of the things considered are: centering of the card, printing errors, and evidence of wear. The card is graded by Beckett as 8. 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. When 1996-97 products were first released, Iverson was the rookie card to pull, and his immediate success only further boosted his appeal. Rookie cards are produced when a player is just starting out and therefore made in limited quantities. (For example, the Row 0 version features a hilarious image of Kobe watching himself dribble.). Don't have that kind of cash in your bankroll? Estimated PSA 10 Value: $85. The card is graded as a PSA 10 and numbered 33/2500. The second Jordan player patch to make our list, the 1999 UD MJs Final Floor is another great option that celebrates the phenoms career. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. 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. The card was sold at a Goldin auction for $206,400. Michael Jordan, now retired, helped the Chicago Bulls win their 6th NBA championship with his final shot as a bull. However, PSA (Pros Sports Authority) is generally regarded as the best. Gary Payton was included in the release of 1990 Fleer Update. 1990 Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 Non Perforated card $100,000, 8. The card sold at auction in February 2021 for $480,000. 33 LSU jersey, in his center position, reading the game. Many basketball cards from the 90s decade are very valuable today, especially those featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. 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. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the years? 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. Inserted 1:288 packs, the cards are rare. 15 (tie). 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. The 1990s saw a host of great basketball stars make their debut as well as some iconic moments. 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. One of the game's best point guards, Thomas was named one of the league's 50 top players. 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. Kobe Bryant 1996/97 Topps Chrome Rookie. To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. A high school phenom playing in one of the sport's biggest markets, Bryant was compared to Michael Jordan from the start of his pro career. 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. Like many sports cards of this era, they were heavily produced in such large quantities that the market is still flooded with them. This Skybox Z-Force Strike Force Michael Jordan card is one. 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. So, many basketball cards of this decade capture these highlights and are very valuable. Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. This authenticates the cards and defines their condition (in a scale of 1 10). If you are hunting for these cards on eBay, be sure to check the image carefully. So, this basketball card has some sort of historical significance. 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. Coming in second place is the Kobe Bryant Chrome Refractor Rookie card. 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. Of anyone besides Jordan on this list, Magic Johnson was probably the most exciting as you never knew what his next move was going to be. 1996 Kobe Bryant Flair Showcase Legacy Row 0 #10 SHOP NOW Lets take a look at the most valuable basketball card brands of the 1990s. This is one of the most valuable basketball cards out there. 1997 - 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99 2. 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. 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. The pre-rookie card is 1 of only 1200 and is graded by the PSA as a 10, making it highly desirable and rare. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000, 5. It features MJ in pinpoint-sized, die cuts making a shadow illustration on half of the card. It also comes in great condition, graded 8.0 by Beckett (BGS). 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. 1980's Most Valuable Baseball Cards George Bush (1990 Topps #USA1) Yes, you read it right. A big part of the card is devoted to MJs signed autograph. \What was your favorite decade of basketball? The card features AI in his Sixers no. The same card was then included in Hi-Series packs, with "#1 NBA Draft Pick" replacing "Trade Card" printed on the front. This special basketball card features Michael Jordan throwing what is definitely a 3-pointer. 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. 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. Bryants card is one of 90 in the base set, while each has a further three tiers or Rows. Row 2 is the base set and more common while Row 1 and 0 are much rarer. This card perfectly captures Robinson throwing down one of his two-handed slams, almost making it look easy. 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. To prove it, Malone ended up at number 2 on the all-time scoring list and number 7 on the all-time rebounds list. 1. Price: $600,000 . 1 in the 1997 draft. Cards that are rare are generally valuable than those are easy to get. Getting your basketball card graded by a professional card grading company is important. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. Worse decade of basketball? If your card is graded highly by one of these companies, its likely to be worth a decent amount of money. Less than 250 of these cards exist.