Click the title of each to see them for sale and auction on eBay. Notable rookies from 1993 include Anfernee Hardaway, Chris Webber and Toni Kukoc, each of whom have a Topps Finest Refractor rookie card. 1990 Hoops #113 Tim Hardaway Rookie Card 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. SGC vs. BGS vs. PSA Grading: Who Is Best in 2023? 1998-99 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend - [Base] #147. 1980's Most Valuable Baseball Cards George Bush (1990 Topps #USA1) Yes, you read it right. Being a rookie of the years rookie card is not the only thing that makes this AIs card special. The lightning quick move allowed Hardaway to create just enough separation against opposing defenders to turn him into an elite scorer and passer. Being a rookie card of big Shaq make this card special. Regardless, Hardaway goes down in history as a lighting quick player who constantly attacked the bucket, something Fleer captured nicely on his rookie card. 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. This chrome approach to card design is one that is continued to this day. The First MJ card to make the list is his Finest Refractor from 1993. Everyone likes to talk about the physicality of the game, as well as the dominance of a certain Chicago Bulls team led by Michael Jordan, but its not just nostalgia talking. Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. Talking of unreal basketball cards! 6 pick Robert "Tractor" Traylor in one of the most lopsided draft-night deals in league history. This is because it is a 1/1 autographed card. This 1992 Classic DP Shaquille ONeal card is one of the most valuable of them all. 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. This Michael Jordan insert is from Upper Decks 98/99 SP Authentic release. 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. Below are some of the most memorable or important single basketball cards, sets and insert sets of the 1990s. The odds of pulling this card in a pack are thought to be around 1/55,000. Card number 48 served as a checklist for those cards, with Michael Jordan shown on the front going up for the score. It features MJ in pinpoint-sized, die cuts making a shadow illustration on half of the card. As you can see, even the most valuable cards in this set don't pack a great deal of value these days. 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. 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). This card perfectly captures Robinson throwing down one of his two-handed slams, almost making it look easy. 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. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. After grading, the card is encapsulated in a tamper-free casing with the grade and certification number displayed. Topps Finest continued to be the most sought after set of the mid-90s, this time with a more basic design. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan formed the greatest basketball duo that we'll likely ever see. The card is one of the first from the metal gems collection, issued alongside the sets base cards. This 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille ONeal Auto RC is regarded as one of the most valuable examples. Related: Most Valuable Basketball Cards 2020. 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 literally one of its kind. 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. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jerseys In some basketball packs today a jersey card is guaranteed. The card is graded as a PSA 7 with the autograph graded as an 8. You can buy basketball cards wherever they are sold such as in garage sales, and in online selling places like eBay. 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. 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. The card was released in a defining year for Iverson when he made his debut and won rookie of the year. Some of the best players in the 1990s include: (This is by no means a complete list of the best players from the 90s). It features Kobe in a yellow Lakers Jersey dunking the ball from behind his back framed in gold trim. The card is complete with its original protective coating, not usually seen on most cards. This was a decade that saw one of the most revered players of the game make his debut. Total Rookie Cards: 15 5. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000, 5. Somewhat ironically, Classic doesnt live up to its name as a brand, but its worth making an exception for Shaq. 1997 SPx Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #5 Signed PSA 10 $59,999, 10. 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. A big part of the card is devoted to MJs signed autograph. 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 90s were a classic era, and arguably the best time to be a fan of basketball aside from the modern-day. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. That is the story of this Metal Basketball Kobe Bryant #181 card. The card is a redemption card, only available by mail. You wont find any like it anywhere. Top 1990s Basketball Insert Sets Click on the linked sets below to shop for available cards on eBay. 1990 Hoops #223 Sam Vincent. This 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson card is a rare example of the player known as the Answer. 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. 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. 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. MJ has signed the card in blue ink and handwritten the serial number 10/23. This mint-condition autographed card is selling for $3,500, making it one of the most valuable baseball cards from the '90s. The deep-etched image sees Jordan leaping through the air, with purple lightning exploding across the background, lighting up the night sky. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Hoops Basketball Cards. Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. He was then traded along with No. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 by Old Sports Cards, LLC, Michael Jordan's 1990 Fleer basketball card. The card is personally autographed and hand-numbered 12/23, making it a great addition to any collection. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. 1993-94 Finest Anfernee Hardaway RC #189 Buy on eBay. Like Barkley, Malone was a guy who was clearly good enough to be an NBA champion but sadly never won one. For my one year anniversary here on YouTube, I am updating and relaunching my most popular video. Over the past few years, basketball cards have exploded in value when compared to other sports cards. Here is a selection of the most popular sites: Basketball cards from the 1990s are some of the rarest and highly sought-after sports cards around today. 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10 $500,000 3. The Super Signatures Gold Michael Jordan card is another example from the Upper Deck collection. This s because grading officially authenticates the card and establishes its quality/ condition. Thus, cards that are worth money are those graded as mint by trusted grading companies like PSA and BSG. There was competition from Skybox and NBA Hoops, but Fleer had really cemented itself in 1986. 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. 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. Iverson averaged 23.5 points and 7.5 assists per game for a 22-win Philadelphia 76ers team as a rookie, and two years later he had them in the postseason. Also Read:11 Most Valuable Shaquille ONeal Rookie Cards (Round-up list). 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. It last sold in 2019 for $350,100. However, there are a few exceptions to this, as the 90s Michal Jordans cards show. 1998 introduced Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce as rookies in the NBA. 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. 1990 Hoops #65 Michael Jordan. Finest introduced refractors, which is a coating on a cards surface that creates a rainbow-like shine when reflected by the light. Thats none other than the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. 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. 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. 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. 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. However, lots of brands contributed lots of brand diversitry to the hobby during the decade, including Upper Deck, SP, Hoops, Bowmans Best, and Collectors Choice. So, many basketball cards of this decade capture these highlights and are very valuable. If you want this one in grade 10 condition, be prepared to SPEND BIG. Like the 1990 Hoops and SkyBox sets, there were just so many of these cards printed. Topps decided to keep their refractor technology in the Topps Chrome set, while also adding a chrome-like finish to all their base cards. 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. 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. The bold signature covers the entire bottom part of the card. 10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. In the sports card hobby, rookies are king which is the biggest contributing factor to the lower value of this year. Founded in 1993, Flair produced high-end trading cards before changing direction in 2006. It is also very rare. If your card is Ungraded, consider grading it if it looks to be in good condition and features a well-known athlete. 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. Your email address will not be published. If he wasn't reigning jumpers over you with his lanky frame and offensive quickness, he was pulling down rebound after rebound or blocking the ball on defense. Nowitzki averaged a modest 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 20.4 minutes as a rookie, but he quickly upped his production in the coming years to emerge as one of the NBA's top scorers. His incredible floor vision, court awareness and overall basketball wizardry allowed him to make some of the most thrilling plays. In other words, if you like shiny things, theres nothing better than this Topps refractor! The Flair showcase legacy collection is from the 1996-97 season. Cards of star players are generally the most valuable. The card comes from the Metal Universe set, with cards featuring other popular players also highly sought after. 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. The 1990s is a storied decade in the game of basketball. Importantly, it is also a PSA 10 GEM mint card. His tenacity and hustle were nearly unmatched. 1994 was not a particularly exciting year, as Jordan had left to play baseball following his 3rd championship in the 1992-1993 season. Perhaps in time, Upper Deck may even surpass Fleer in sales for brands in 1991. This Row 1 card is graded by Beckett as a 9.5 and was sold at a Goldin auction for $136,530. 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.