And in this guide, we look at the 11 most valuable the set has to offer. The Kobe version also features a basketball and a look of concentration on the face of the Lakers star. The sport was on the road to recovery following a lack of interest worldwide, helped by Jordan, Space Jam, and a host of emerging talent like Kobe and Shaq. 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. 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. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000 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. The picture is the Black Mamba himself executing some sort of over the back slam dunk, and it is framed by a gold edge. It is graded 9.5 by Beckett (BAS). Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Skybox Basketball Cards. Inserted 1:288 packs, the cards are rare. Kemp was a dominant power forward in the 1990s and his ability to score and rebound routinely wreaked havoc on opposing teams night in and night out. This rookie Kobe Bryant card is another example of the Finest Gold Refractor card featured in the number 5 spot. 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. However, they were creating solid value through their base designs and high-end value through scarcity with their refractor parallels. This special basketball card features Michael Jordan throwing what is definitely a 3-pointer. Rookie cards are produced when a player is just starting out and therefore made in limited quantities. 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. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. 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). Also, I will NOT be using insert set values only the values of base sets. 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. This Kobe Rookie card produced in 1996-1997 is considered extremely rare. Your basketball cards can be worth anything from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars. 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. There are a lot of grading companies. Somewhat ironically, Classic doesnt live up to its name as a brand, but its worth making an exception for Shaq. Given the deep background, any flaw is readily apparent, so high grades are costly to buy. This card perfectly captures Robinson throwing down one of his two-handed slams, almost making it look easy. The Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan card is another example from the Upper Deck collection. 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. It being the only card in its set to be so autographed takes it from special to super special. 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. This gorgeous basketball card is one of rare cards hand numbered by Michael Jordan to only 23. After grading, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-free casing with the grade and certification number displayed. These are usually worth from a few hundred dollars to up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Like many sports cards of this era, they were heavily produced in such large quantities that the market is still flooded with them. 1990 Hoops #358 Michael Jordan. What this set may lack in terms of overall value, it certainly makes up in nostalgia. 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. As well as MJ, they secured rookie cards for the likes of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Ray Allen. 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. 1997 - 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99 2. 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. Gary Payton was included in the release of 1990 Fleer Update. Being a gold refactor, this basketball card is visually appealing. With only 31 of these cards presented to Beckett for grading, this makes it highly desirable. Kobe tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020 leading to the value of his memorabilia skyrocketing. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. 2 spot in these rankings. 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. As well as MJ, they secured rookie cards for the likes of Kobe Bryant, , the base set, is known as Style. The next batch of cards goes by, , the rarest cards in the base set, is called Showcase., The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the, What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium, 2020 Zion Williamson Panini Blockchain Zion Williamson Rui RC (sold for $19,978), 2020 LeBron James Dowtown One and One ($6,100 not graded), expensive basketball cards from the 1990s, list of expensive 1990s basketball cards, Mike Trout Rookie Card Best 10 Cards, Values, Investment Outlook, 9 Most Expensive Pokemon Cards of All-Time (2021), 3 Best 2015 Topps Update Rookie Cards To Consider, 10 Best 2023 Topps Series 1 Variations Baseball Cards To Buy, 10 Best 1989 Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Plus Error List, 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist, These 10 GOATS Rookie Cards Will Outperform Stocks Over Next 10 Years, Gold Card Auctions | Sports Card Investing. 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. 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s 1. Unlike Kemp, Larry Bird wasn't known for his ability to throw down monster dunks but he was every bit as exciting to watch. Topps was certainly not trying to achieve anything flashy with their design, unlike its earlier Finest sets. Lets take a look at the most valuable basketball card brands of the 1990s. 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. It features the Black Mamba bouncing the ball and most probably already eyeing the backboard. Decades later, the error products that make it out can become very valuable. This MJ autographed /23 card is also is very good condition. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed the greatest basketball duo that we'll likely ever see. 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. Impressively, it is in mint condition. 1993-94 Finest Chris Webber RC #212 Buy on eBay. 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. 9. 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". Post contains affiliate links. 1996 Fleer Metal Universe Kobe Bryant #181 Error Card $48,000, 9. The limited edition card has the serial number 19/40 stamped through the material. If you are hunting for these cards on eBay, be sure to check the image carefully. His 2,973 threes rank second all-time, and he hit them at a 40.0 percent clip over the course of his 18-year career with the Bucks, SuperSonics, Celtics and Heat. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. The cards are wrapped in colored foil, which is highly susceptible to chips or wears and tear. 1997-98 Topps Chrome #115 Tim Duncan 6 of. 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 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. 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. But this particular one is pristine with BGS 10 grade. The card was sold at a Goldin auction for $206,400. In the early to mid 1990s, there were few players as exciting to watch as Shawn Kemp. 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. 1986-87 Fleer Clyde Drexler RC #26 Buy on eBay. Also, it is one of the five that have managed to earn the prestigious PSA 10 points grade. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Hoops Basketball Cards. 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 1980's Most Valuable Baseball Cards George Bush (1990 Topps #USA1) Yes, you read it right. These are 16 of the most valuable cards currently valued or recently sold at auction. 15 (tie). 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. 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. Many players regarded as the greatest of all time played in this era and still capture the imagination of sports collectors today. With the majority being torn away, it's rare to find mint copies on the market. That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. 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. Still, Jordan and Garnett cards, particularly their refractors, can fetch some top sales at auctions. The Gold featured only the most desired names, including MJ and Allen Iverson. Few do. The card sold at auction in December 2020 for $915,000. 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. It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. With PSA 10 points grade, it is in the best condition possible. There are many online shops that specialize in buying and selling 1990s basketball cards. When selling online, you have the options of selling: The only effort itll take from you is highlighting the specifics of your card (like the player featured, the year of issue, etc) and taking photographs of it thatll help in preliminary evaluations. Dimensions: 1-1/2 x 2-5/8. The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the list of expensive 1990s basketball cards. Other things that make a card valuable are autographs and patches. Michael Jordan, now retired, helped the Chicago Bulls win their 6th NBA championship with his final shot as a bull. 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. Theyll always make a list of valuable 90s memorabilia, for a number of reasons which soon become apparent. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the years? It is in the best condition possible. 12. Noteworthy rookies of the 1994 season included Jason Kidd and Grant Hill. (For example, the Row 0 version features a hilarious image of Kobe watching himself dribble.). Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. 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. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. The card features AI in his Sixers no. 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. 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. 1992 was all about Shaquille ONeal. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. Less than 250 of these cards exist.