Your email address will not be published. Topps Finest continued to be the most sought after set of the mid-90s, this time with a more basic design. Only 10 of these cards exist, with this being the only one graded 8.5 by PSA. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's take a look at the list: It should come as no surprise that Michael Jordan's 1990 Fleer basketball card comes in at the top spot ashis cardsare always in high demand with collectors. Read our methodology . 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. When a company notices an error in a lot, the production is stopped, and those items are never released. Ive set aside the top insert sets of the 90s for another article. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. Cards that are rare are generally valuable than those are easy to get. 1990 Hoops #39 Larry Bird Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100 . (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. Some of the most valuable cards produced are limited editions featuring historical players in their rookie years. The company will closely check the card, and give it a grade (out of 10 points). In number 3 is the 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographed card, currently the most valuable MJ card sold to date. 1990 Hoops #279 Shawn Kemp Rookie Card. It features Jordan dribbling the ball during a 1992 NBA All-star game, played in Orlando, Florida in front of 14,000 spectators. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. 10 seed Santa Clara to an NCAA tournament win over Maryland as a senior, Steve Nash was selected 15th in the 1996 NBA draft. 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s 1. Hes set on a beautiful background that features a brown oval shape giving off bright colours. 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. The card comes from the Metal Universe set, with cards featuring other popular players also highly sought after. 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. 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. 1998 introduced Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce as rookies in the NBA. 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. Coming in second place is the Kobe Bryant Chrome Refractor Rookie card. As a high-gloss, chrome card, its very susceptible to surface scratching and wearing, which is another reason why gem mint copies are valued so high compared to the norm. 5 pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and his rookie cards helped drive 1998-99 product releases. This 1998 Michael Jordan Skybox Molten Metal card truly is unique and special. Topps was certainly not trying to achieve anything flashy with their design, unlike its earlier Finest sets. \What was your favorite decade of basketball? Regardless, Hardaway goes down in history as a lighting quick player who constantly attacked the bucket, something Fleer captured nicely on his rookie card. It is literally one of its kind. Several of the players ahead of him also have rookie cards in 1986-87 Fleer Basketball. He averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists to win co-Rookie of the Year honors alongside Jason Kidd, and Hill quickly developed into a perennial All-Star from there. This 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson card is a rare example of the player known as the Answer. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Hoops listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. 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. 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. 9 pick in that year's draft. 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. These are usually worth from a few hundred dollars to up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. His rookie cards dramatically increased the value of all card brands. Perhaps in time, Upper Deck may even surpass Fleer in sales for brands in 1991. He averaged 25.7 points per game during his second season in the NBA, peaked at 27.6 points per contest the following year and he earned eight straight All-Star Game selections during his time with the Raptors and Nets. Its the main reason why the card makes the list! Like over $100,000 big. Everyone likes to talk about the physicality of the game, as well as the dominance of a certain Chicago Bulls team led by. Rookie cards are always regarded as more valuable, especially if they feature well-known athletes. Here are 10 of the most valuable. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. While 1990 Fleer basketball cards have not held up as well over time as some of the other Fleer sets, they do remain some of the most recognizable basketball cards of the "junk era". Like many sports cards of this era, they were heavily produced in such large quantities that the market is still flooded with them. If a popular card produced in limited quantities is in high demand with collectors, it makes the card more valuable. When it comes to the world of sports cards, basketball cards are some of the most sought-after and valuable. This authenticates the cards and defines their condition (in a scale of 1 10). However, they were creating solid value through their base designs and high-end value through scarcity with their refractor parallels. So, this basketball card has some sort of historical significance. With a third of the card dedicated to his signature, its one of the best pieces of signed Jordan merchandise youll be able to buy from the 1990s. This Kobe Rookie card produced in 1996-1997 is considered extremely rare. 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). Scottie Pippen in the background also adds a nice touch. So, this rookie card is a jewel. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed the greatest basketball duo that we'll likely ever see. Many players regarded as the greatest of all time played in this era and still capture the imagination of sports collectors today. 1980's Most Valuable Baseball Cards George Bush (1990 Topps #USA1) Yes, you read it right. 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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. 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 the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant in a yellow Lakers jersey dunking the ball from behind his back. Decades later, the error products that make it out can become very valuable. Like the 1990 Hoops and SkyBox sets, there were just so many of these cards printed. The card sold in February 2022 for $2,000,000 in a private sale making it the most expensive Kobe card sold. These are 16 of the most valuable cards currently valued or recently sold at auction. Bryants card is one of 90 in the base set, while each has a further three tiers or Rows. Although other brands of the mid-90s havent sold as many PSA graded cards as Topps Chrome, each set has inserts and rare cards that can sell for top dollar. 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. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys In some basketball packs today a jersey card is guaranteed. Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most expensive basketball cards from the 1990s. SHOP OUR MOST EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL CARDS FROM THE 1990s, 10 Most Expensive Basketball Cards from the 90s. 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. Over the past few years, basketball cards have exploded in value when compared to other sports cards. It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. This basketball card has surged in value since that tragic passing of Kobe. This 1997 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems card is another example from the Metal Universe brand. Topps Chrome would continue its status as top base set of the rest of the decade. So, when gunning for rookie cards, they should be cards of players that went on to achieve great success in the game. 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). Top 1990s Basketball Insert Sets Click on the linked sets below to shop for available cards on eBay. And in this guide, we look at the 11 most valuable the set has to offer. Click the title of each to see them for sale and auction on eBay. Thus, cards that are worth money are those graded as mint by trusted grading companies like PSA and BSG. According to Upper deck, the odds of pulling a Michael Jordan insert card is 1 in 144. Big Shaq is another player of the game whose cards command huge fees. With many new fans and demand outgrowing supply, the price of basketball cards increased. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. 1990 Upper . This card perfectly captures Robinson throwing down one of his two-handed slams, almost making it look easy. 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. 1986-87 Fleer Clyde Drexler RC #26 Buy on eBay. 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. BGS and SGC are also two companies that are well-regarded. 1997-98 Topps Chrome #115 Tim Duncan 6 of. Still, notable rookies included Baron Davis, Richard Hamilton, Steve Francis, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry. The 1990s saw a rise in basketball card brand diversity. The card has a bold blue signature of MJ over it. Michael Jordan Cards), with lots of info about each one, including how and why they cost so much. Weve put together a list with 10 of the most expensive 90s basketball cards (i.e. 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. It's a perforated card, with untouched versions of the trio being the most valuable overall. For the 1990s decade, the basketball cards thatll be worth money are rookie cards cards of players making their debut in that decade. Required fields are marked *. There are many online shops that specialize in buying and selling 1990s basketball cards. 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. Talking of special ONeal cards, youll be hard pressed to find one better than this Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 non-perforated card. You can use serial number or population report to determine cards that are rare. With only 31 of these cards presented to Beckett for grading, this makes it highly desirable. The 1990s saw a host of great basketball stars make their debut as well as some iconic moments. For those that remember, it was the 1997 UD Game Jersey cards that sparked the jersey patch craze. 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The rise in young basketball talent grew the fanbase in recent years. 1998-99 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend - [Base] #147. 12. That's what happens when Michael Jordan is playing in the league during your prime years. This card is 1 of only 2 graded as authentic, making it very rare and valuable. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. With PSA 10 points grade, it is in the best condition possible. 1996 was truly a historic year in the hobby. His tenacity and hustle were nearly unmatched. 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 basketball cards that are worth the most are rare rookie patch autos (RPA) of star players in mint condition. This is because it is a 1/1 autographed card. 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. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. One small flaw is the relative darkness on the upper half of the card. 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. (However, most signatures are aftermarket examples. 1989 Hoops #21 Michael Jordan All-Star Estimated PSA 10 Value: $90 MVP Karl Malone may have led the West to a 143-134 victory over the East during the 1989 All-Star Game in Houston, but, not surprisingly, Jordan's All-Star card is the most desirable in the set. Also, it is PSA 10 graded card. Michael Jordan, now retired, helped the Chicago Bulls win their 6th NBA championship with his final shot as a bull. 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card It is graded by Beckett, and proudly has 8 points. These two are the most well-known and trusted grading companies. Overall, the checklist contained 198 cards in total that, if nothing else, captured some of the greatest players of all-time with exciting imagery. This is another special and rare autographed Michael Jordan basketball card. With a few exceptions, the most expensive basketball cards of the 90s are rare RPA (rookie patch autographed) mint cards. The card was graded as a Beckett 9 and sold at a Goldin auction in March 2021 for $198,030. We wouldn't have really said this a couple years ago. Cards of star players are generally the most valuable. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. This is because it is the big mans first trading card. The card was released in 1990, two years before his rookie cards. To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. Due to poor sales of the. 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. 4 on the list. Getting your basketball card graded by a professional card grading company is important. Topps Chrome continued into 1998 with another highly collectible set of cards. 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. 1992 was all about Shaquille ONeal. 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. 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. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. The card comes from a 1997 set containing 123 cards. This card is special, being the first Shaquille ONeal trading card produced. 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. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. 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. 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. 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. After draining his sixth three-pointer in just the first half, Jordan headed back on defense and shrugged at the crowd in disbelief himself at the shooting clinic he was unleashing. The word Robert Park is erroneously written over Kobe Bryant on the card. 1993-94 Finest Chris Webber RC #212 Buy on eBay. This set is nothing flashy but there is lots of solid value throughout. ), Its slightly basic compared to modern player patches, but thats understandable given its one of the first to be released. 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. Its a chance to own a piece of basketball history, and its something different compared to the average 90s card. Not only was it the rookie year of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, Topps Chrome was released. The card features Jordan soaring into the air with an outstretched arm, a position that became a trademark of Jordans playing style. It features a diagonal image of Jordan with a basketball clutched in one hand, with a gold background and a multicolored border. This decade also saw one of the most iconic moments of the game: Michael Jordans final shot as a Bull. It is the same thing with basketball cards. Like Barkley, Malone was a guy who was clearly good enough to be an NBA champion but sadly never won one. The signature of Michael Jordan on a basketball card is enough to make it special. Being a rookie of the years rookie card is not the only thing that makes this AIs card special. A Michael Jordan rookie basketball card can be worth a few thousand or a few hundred thousand depending on the set and grade.