It sold at a Heritage Auction in November 2021 for $132,000. 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. What makes this card so expensive, given the range of premium MJ cards weve seen over the years? Who else but Kobe Bryant in the top spot? It features a bold Kobe dribbling the ball in a Lakers jersey with the background featuring his face looking on. 11 Most Valuable 1989 NBA Hoops Cards - Old Sports Cards A passing of the torch from the MJ years. It's a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. 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. 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. The second Jordan player patch to make our list, the 1999 UD MJs Final Floor is another great option that celebrates the phenoms career. 1996 Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant #269 PSA 10 $500,000, 3. Many basketball cards from the 90s decade are very valuable today, especially those featuring Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. (For example, the Row 0 version features a hilarious image of Kobe watching himself dribble.). Its currently listed on eBay for $250,000. 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. 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. But this particular one is pristine with BGS 10 grade. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 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. According to Upper deck, the odds of pulling a Michael Jordan insert card is 1 in 144. Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most expensive basketball cards from the 1990s. Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. As with the majority of rare Jordan cards from the era, its tough to locate in high-grade and is also extremely popular among collectors and investors following the release of The Last Dance. So, when gunning for rookie cards, they should be cards of players that went on to achieve great success in the game. Joe Jackson is one of the renowned names. 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. The card was sold following the release of the 10-part Netflix special The Last Dance. 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. Talking of special ONeal cards, youll be hard pressed to find one better than this Big Blue Shaquille ONeal #19 non-perforated card. This means it is rarer than the unsigned cards. Kobe Bryant [BGS 9.5 GEM MINT] $1,674.50. The image features Jordan with the ball in his hands, barking orders at his teammates while hes in his iconic Red Bulls jersey. Getting your basketball card graded is simple as submitting your card to the company. Unlike Kemp, Larry Bird wasn't known for his ability to throw down monster dunks but he was every bit as exciting to watch. 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. Here are 10 of the most valuable. The card features Kobe, again in a yellow Lakers jersey, looking to shoot the ball whilst being guarded. Wat is more, it is autographed and hand-numbered by the big man himself. These two are the most well-known and trusted grading companies. Estimated PSA 10 Value: $85. 1990 Hoops #382 Michael Jordan's Playground Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125 . Required fields are marked *. In a career packed full of iconic moments, one of Michael Jordan's most memorable occurred during Game 1 of the 1991-1992 NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. What is the most expensive basketball card? A big part of the card is devoted to MJs signed autograph. An MJ hand-numbered /23 card shows that only 23 of its kind exists, and will be very valuable. It includes a lot of minor players that you may not have heard the name of before. That said, his Topps Chrome rookie still carries a high enough price tag to check in No. This card example was sold at a Goldin Auction for $162,360. 1990 Hoops #5 Michael Jordan All-Star. The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. In fact, Michael Jordans 1993 Finest Refractor accounts for approximately $178,000 in PSA graded card sales according to PSAs auction price reports. Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Hoops Basketball Cards. Yet another Jordan card to make the list, his 1998 SP Authentic Sign of Times is a tiered release. It is graded 9.5 by Beckett (BAS). The sport was on the road to recovery following a lack of interest worldwide, helped by Jordan, Weve put together a list with 10 of the most expensive 90s, Weve combed through recent auction data to bring you a list of ten of the most, modern-day big man, its no surprise to see one of, 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, Many of the cards were hand-signed by the man himself, making it one of the very first pieces of, As with the majority of rare Jordan cards from the era, its tough to locate in high-grade and is also extremely popular among collectors and investors following the release of. The 1990 -1991 season was as remarkable as any for Jordan individually as he'd lead the league in scoring, be named an All-Star, be selected to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams as well as being named league MVP. 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson RC BGS 10 $250,000, 5. This is also a somewhat historic year for Jordan himself, as it was the year of his first NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP. 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. For my one year anniversary here on YouTube, I am updating and relaunching my most popular video. This is because it is the big mans first trading card. A Michael Jordan rookie basketball card can be worth a few thousand or a few hundred thousand depending on the set and grade. However, with so many basketball cards printed every year, a whole decade will have an ocean of cards, with a wide range of value. The odds of pulling it from a pack is 1 in 55,000 packs. This authentic stamp of the biggest name of the game raises the value of the card. 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. As the player finishes their rookie years and starts becoming famous, more cards are produced making them more common. It features the Black Mamba bouncing the ball and most probably already eyeing the backboard. One of the most important factors when determining what a card is worth is its grading. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. After averaging 20.4 points per game as a freshman at Georgetown, Allen Iverson racked up 25.0 points, 4.7 assists and 3.4 steals per contest as a sophomore to secure his spot as the No. Click on any card to see more graded card prices, historic prices, and past sales. Big Shaq is another player of the game whose cards command huge fees. 1992 Classic Draft Pick Shaquille O'Neal Auto RC $500,000 4. Less than 250 of these cards exist. To understand this, lets take a look at the factors that make basketball cards valuable. 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 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 odds of pulling one of these cards are thought to be 1/5000 packs, making them extremely rare. Counting down the 20 most valuable Basketball RCs of the 1990s. The colors and the edging make it susceptible to chips and wear, which is another reason why its valued highly. 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. Rather, the very valuable ones are rookie cards that feature stars of the game like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille ONeal, and Allen Iverson. 1990 Hoops #205 Mark Jackson. 10 Basketball Cards Every 90s Kid Should Own. It features Jordan dribbling the ball during a 1992 NBA All-star game, played in Orlando, Florida in front of 14,000 spectators. 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. The word Robert Park is erroneously written over Kobe Bryant on the card. If you want this one in grade 10 condition, be prepared to SPEND BIG. Refractor cards were randomly inserted into hobby boxes and retail packs, and carry enormous value in the marketplace. SGC vs. BGS vs. PSA Grading: Who Is Best in 2023? 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. Michael Jordan returned after his baseball journey, and notable rookies such as Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace entered the league. Top 10 Baseball Cards of 1990 That Made History & Shaped a Generation This non-perforated card had only 1,200 print runs making it a very rare Shaqs card. The card sold at auction in December 2020 for $915,000. 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. Founded in 1993, Flair produced high-end trading cards before changing direction in 2006. Only 100 of these cards were produced, with 90 of them having a red foil background. The bottom of the card is personally autographed by Shaq in white pen, with the number #32 handwritten next to it. The card produced by Topps is graded as a PSA 10, meaning it is in pristine condition, making it highly collectible. This card is 1 of only 2 graded as authentic, making it very rare and valuable. (Especially considering his untimely death following a helicopter crash in January 2020.). 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. Many of the cards were hand-signed by the man himself, making it one of the very first pieces of autographed Shaq memorabilia. On the opposite end of the spectrum from Kevin Garnett, who made the NBA jump straight from high school, Tim Duncan played out his four years of college eligibility at Wake Forest before going No. A few important parameters for our list before we get started: After a terrific collegiate career at Duke, Grant Hill was the No. Most Valuable Basketball Cards 1990s (Investment Guide) The design is clean and features gold trims. The deep-etched image sees Jordan leaping through the air, with purple lightning exploding across the background, lighting up the night sky. The card also has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers Guard printed in blue on the bottom. 5 pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and his rookie cards helped drive 1998-99 product releases. As well as MJ, they secured rookie cards for the likes of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Ray Allen. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. 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 this guide, Ill take you through the most valuable 1990s basketball cards, looking at their values and what makes them so rare. As if that is not enough, the card is hand-signed by Michael Jordan himself. ), Its slightly basic compared to modern player patches, but thats understandable given its one of the first to be released. This 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson card is a rare example of the player known as the Answer. 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. The card has Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers printed at the bottom in gold. 9 pick in that year's draft. Top 20 Most Valuable 1990 Fleer Basketball Cards! (20 Highest Selling 1990 Skybox Card Prices | PSA & Ungraded Values - SportsCardsPro This Skybox Z-Force Strike Force Michael Jordan card is one. MJ has signed the card in blue ink and handwritten the serial number 10/23. These are usually worth from a few hundred dollars to up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. 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. 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). This chrome approach to card design is one that is continued to this day. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only. 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. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. The card sold at auction in February 2021 for $1,440,000. 10 Most Expensive Basketball Cards From The 90s - Gold Card Auctions 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. He and the Bulls also dropped the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 to pick up his first NBA title after struggling for years to get past the Detroit Pistons and into the finals. This is another special and rare autographed Michael Jordan basketball card. It is in the best condition possible. 5 pick out of Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. The North Carolina product was the No. 15 Most Valuable 1991 Fleer Basketball Cards 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. We wouldn't have really said this a couple years ago. 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. The 1990s saw a host of famous players make their debuts and play in their rookie years making the cards very valuable to collectors. The odds of puling a gold refactor from a pack is 1 in 288 packs. 19 pick Pat Garrity for No. However, PSA (Pros Sports Authority) is generally regarded as the best. This Kobe rookie is a limited-edition example, numbered 442/449 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. This was also the year the Lakers began their dominant run in the sport, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille ONeal. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. The front of the card features an authentic jersey patch from the 1992 All-star game, with Upper Deck starting the basketball Game Jersey cards around the same time this card was produced. Price: $600,000 . The card is graded as a Beckett 9 and Autograph 10. Theyll always make a list of valuable 90s memorabilia, for a number of reasons which soon become apparent. Of the 10 cards, only 6 have been given to PSA for grading. The card was released during his 1997 season and is 1 of only 126 examples known to exist. 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. Dirk Nowitzki made a name for himself at the 1998 Nike Hoop Summit, and he was drafted out of Germany by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. What baseball cards from 1990s are worth money? Best 1990s Basketball Cards - Sports Collectors Daily So, this basketball card has some sort of historical significance. Hes in his Orlando Magic jersey, as he was their number one pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. 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. Barkley's 1990 Fleer issue was one of the few cards to picture him with any amount of hair whatsoever. This mint-condition autographed card is selling for $3,500, making it one of the most valuable baseball cards from the '90s. The card is considered very rare with only 23 being produced. Top 1990s Basketball Rookie Cards to Collect Bolded links go directly to detailed player or set profiles. 1996-97 E-X2000 A Cut Above Strange die-cuts were a common theme in 1990s inserts. 1998-99 Upper Deck Michael Jordan Living Legend - [Base] #147. 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. 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. All card images courtesy of TCDB, while pricing data is pulled from recent eBay sales as of Tuesday morning. What is the most expensive card in the world? Topps decided to keep their refractor technology in the Topps Chrome set, while also adding a chrome-like finish to all their base cards. Like Jordan, Pippen could score, rebound, pass and play lockdown defense. His incredible floor vision, court awareness and overall basketball wizardry allowed him to make some of the most thrilling plays. Card company Flair made its debut a few years before, but 1996 was their best release to date. The card is one of the first from the metal gems collection, issued alongside the sets base cards. This is because it is a 1/1 autographed card. For the 1990s decade, the basketball cards thatll be worth money are rookie cards cards of players making their debut in that decade. Adding the mystique of being a pre-rookie, it is one very valuable basketball card. It features Kobe in a yellow Lakers Jersey dunking the ball from behind his back framed in gold trim. When 1996-97 products were first released, Iverson was the rookie card to pull, and his immediate success only further boosted his appeal. That is, a rookie card of a star player that is hard to get, autographed by the player, has a patch of his game-worn jersey, and graded as mint. There are a lot of grading companies. For example, a 1/1 card shows that it is the only one that exists and will be very valuable. The bold blue autograph is perfectly placed on the card. 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. 1997 Skybox Z-Force Michael Jordan Quick Strike card $199,999, 7. 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. The 1990s started out with Fleer being the top brand in the basketball card world, and ended with Topps. 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. The 1990s is a storied decade in the game of basketball. Topps Chrome would continue its status as top base set of the rest of the decade. 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. Out of 100 produced, only 10 were made with green foil with the other 90 in red. The card comes from the Metal Universe set, with cards featuring other popular players also highly sought after. Below are some of the most memorable or important single basketball cards, sets and insert sets of the 1990s. 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. Just twenty-three examples of this particular card were autographed, making them far rarer than the unsigned editions. Like the 1990 Hoops and SkyBox sets, there were just so many of these cards printed. Read the full disclosure here. 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. The rarity of the Row 0 ensures that it makes the list of expensive 1990s basketball cards. 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. Okay, this is where it gets even more interesting. 25 Most Valuable 1990 NBA Hoops Cards. 1990 Hoops #223 Sam Vincent. However, an ankle injury sidelined him for most of the 2000-01 season and he was never quite the same after that. 1990 Hoops #391 Gary Payton Rookie Card. Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner, and Robert Horry are other notable rookies from this year. Michael Jordan Cards), with lots of info about each one, including how and why they cost so much. ), 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. If your card is graded highly by one of these companies, its likely to be worth a decent amount of money. 1997 was another strong year for rookies, with all-time great Tim Duncan joining the league, along with Chauncey Billips and Tracy McGrady. Still, his status as one of the most dynamic stars of the 1990s has helped him maintain some enduring hobby popularity, and the 1994-95 Finest is his most sought-after rookie card. The card features the big man in his LSU days hanging on the rim after a powerful dunk. Still, notable rookies included Baron Davis, Richard Hamilton, Steve Francis, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry. Thus, not all rookie cards of the 1990s are worth serious money. In number 3 is the 1997 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey Autographed card, currently the most valuable MJ card sold to date. The second Shaq RC to make our list, the 1992 Beam Team insert features an image of the giant dominating the defense as he reaches high above the rim of the net. His Finest rookie card is his most valuable by a wide margin, and it stands as one of the iconic cards of the decade. This Chrome Refractor Allen Iverson #171 cards is one of the rarest cards of this great basketball players nicknamed the Answer. Also, it is one of the five that have managed to earn the prestigious PSA 10 points grade. Kobe Bryant 1996/97 Topps Chrome Rookie. However, there are a few exceptions to this, as the 90s Michal Jordans cards show. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. To prove it, Malone ended up at number 2 on the all-time scoring list and number 7 on the all-time rebounds list. It is also very rare. It last sold in 2019 for $350,100. We've listed the cards in order, starting with a great option from the late 1990s. The Jordan name is one reason why the card makes the list, but he also wore the jersey in question during the 1992-93 NBA All-Star game. It is literally one of its kind. Talking of unreal basketball cards! Apart from being a piece of history, this is one very rare card. Prices for 1990 Hoops Basketball Cards. The 1990s saw a host of great basketball stars make their debut as well as some iconic moments. The 1990s saw a rise in basketball card brand diversity. This is a very interesting and valuable basketball card. 1. For example, the most expensive basketball cards ever are rookie cards. 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. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. Rookie cards are always regarded as more valuable, especially if they feature well-known athletes. The pre-rookie card is 1 of only 1200 and is graded by the PSA as a 10, making it highly desirable and rare. 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. Whilst he didnt win any NBA championships, he was an 11-time NBA All-star and won multiple MVP awards. 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. That's an ROI 6,505.37% over a 12-year period," says Chris McGill of the House of Jordans podcast. Upper Deck has emerged over time as the most valuable base rookie card (not including inserts) for ONeal, with PSA 10s reaching over $3,000 in mid-2020. With many new fans and demand outgrowing supply, the price of basketball cards increased. Perhaps in time, Upper Deck may even surpass Fleer in sales for brands in 1991. Refractor parallels were released in a ratio of 1:12. This UD Ovation Super Signature Jordan #MJS card is one of the most beautiful basketball cards youll find. Card number 48 served as a checklist for those cards, with Michael Jordan shown on the front going up for the score. Scottie Pippen in the background also adds a nice touch. 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, things really started to change in 1993, with the rise of Topps back into the industry and the beginning of refractor and chrome cards. If your card is Ungraded, consider grading it if it looks to be in good condition and features a well-known athlete. 3 pick in the 1994 NBA draft and an immediate star for the Detroit Pistons. Of course, youll need to be careful because of the condition-sensitive nature, but its easy to see why its one of the most expensive cards from the era.