In September, we’ve seen iconic basketball cards from the junk wax era, featuring the likes of Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, making waves in the auction world.
There’s no doubt prices are soaring in the sports card collectible market, with even less-expected cards like the 1994 Skybox Emotion Michael Jordan hitting a cool $340. But the true showstopper? A 1991 Caesars Palace Michael Jordan card, in pristine PSA 10 condition, which fetched a jaw-dropping five-figure sum.
Swipe down as we count down the top 25 highest-selling basketball cards from this golden era, detailing their sale prices, grades, bids, and more.
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25. 1994 Skybox Emotion Michael Jordan, $340
- Sale Price: $340
- Grade: CSG 10
- Bids: 33
- Pack Price: $595+
24. 1994 Skybox Emotion N-Tense Michael Jordan, $356
- Sale Price: $356
- Grade: BGS 10
- Bids: 33
- Pack Price: $595+
23. 1989 Hoops David Robinson, $358
- Sale Price: $358
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 24
- Card Population At PSA 10: 824
- Pack Price: $20+
22. 1992 Fleer Michael Jordan, $388
- Sale Price: $338
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 31
- Card Population At PSA 9: 192
- Card Population At PSA 10: 29
- Pack Price: $12+
21. 1995 Upper Deck Collectors Choice Michael Jordan, $463
- Sale Price: $463
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 49
- Card Population At PSA 9: 68
- Card Population At PSA 10: 10
- Pack Price: $109+
20. 1990 Kenner Starting Lineup Michael Jordan, $482
- Sale Price: $482
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 63
- Card Population At PSA 9: 149
- Card Population At PSA 10: 31
- Pack Price: NA
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19. 1990 Fleer All-Stars Michael Jordan, $510
- Sale Price: $510
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 18
- Card Population At PSA 10: 655
- Pack Price: $17+
18. 1992 Stadium Club Shaquille O’Neal, $511
- Sale Price: $511
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 41
- Card Population At PSA 10: 154
- Pack Price: $100+
17. 1993 Upper Deck First Team All-NBA Michael Jordan, $560
- Sale Price: $560
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 19
- Card Population At PSA 9: 89
- Card Population At PSA 10: 28
- Pack Price: $45+
16. 1995 Upper Deck Michael Jordan, $560
- Sale Price: $560
- Grade: BGS 9
- Bids: 32
- Pack Price: $109+
15. 1992 Upper Deck Shaquille O’Neal, $642
- Sale Price: $642
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 27
- Card Population At PSA 10: 447
- Pack Price: $15+
14. 1995 Skybox Premium Michael Jordan, $720
- Sale Price: $720
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 38
- Card Population At PSA 10: 113
- Pack Price: $525+
13. 1995 SkyBox E-XL Michael Jordan, $970
- Sale Price: $970
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 38
- Card Population At PSA 9: 183
- Card Population At PSA 10: 52
- Pack Price: $525+
12. 1992 Stadium Club Michael Jordan, $1,148
- Sale Price: $
- Grade: BGS 9.5
- Bids: 46
- Pack Price: $100+
11. 1990 Kenner Starting Lineup Michael Jordan, $1,299
- Sale Price: $1299
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 22
- Card Population At PSA 10: 45
- Pack Price: NA
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10.1992 Topps Shaquille O’Neal, $1,400
- Sale Price: $1400
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 9
- Card Population At PSA 10: 757
- Pack Price: $46+
9. 1992 UD Award Winner Michael Jordan, $1,525
- Sale Price: $1525
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 30
- Card Population At PSA 10: 94
- Pack Price: NA
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8. 1995 Skybox Premium Meltdown Michael Jordan, $1,848
- Sale Price: $1848
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 18
- Card Population At PSA 9: 58
- Card Population At PSA 10: 16
- Pack Price: $525+
7. 1993 Topps Michael Jordan, $2,000
- Sale Price: $2000
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 21
- Card Population At PSA 9: 437
- Card Population At PSA 10: 41
- Pack Price: $17+
6. 1993-1994 Stadium Club Michael Jordan, $2,550
- Sale Price: $2550
- Grade: BGS 9.5
- Bids: 36
- Pack Price: $95+
5. 1993-94 Fleer Ultra Scoring Kings Michael Jordan, $2,700
- Sale Price: $2700
- Grade: PSA 9
- Bids: 44
- Card Population At PSA 9: 300
- Card Population At PSA 10: 97
- Pack Price: $60+
4. 1995 Topps Michael Jordan, $4,650
- Sale Price: $4650
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 62
- Card Population At PSA 10: 50
- Pack Price: $200+
3. 1995 Fleer Michael Jordan, $5,665
- Sale Price: $5665
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 44
- Card Population At PSA 10: 25
- Pack Price: $150+
2. 1993-1994 Fleer Ultra Michael Jordan, $9,225
- Sale Price: $9225
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 60
- Card Population At PSA 10: 45
- Pack Price: $60+
1. 1991 Caesars Palace Michael Jordan, PSA 10, 49, $11,301
- Sale Price: $11301
- Grade: PSA 10
- Bids: 49
- Card Population At PSA 10: 6
- Pack Price: NA
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Conclusion
September 2023’s eBay basketball card sales showcase several noteworthy trends, including:
- Jordan’s Unwavering Presence: Michael Jordan’s position in the basketball collectible card market remains unparalleled. Among the top 25 listings, an impressive 17 feature Michael Jordan. These cards hail from an assortment of manufacturers, and their prices can sometimes be linked more to rarity than grading.
- The Importance of Grading and Rarity: As anticipated, high grades like PSA 10 frequently warrant better prices. However, limited quantities of certain cards, even with slightly lower grades, can still achieve substantial prices due to their rarity. For example, the 1991 Caesars Palace Michael Jordan card, one of only six graded PSA 10, fetched a staggering $11,301, cementing the notion that rarity often outweighs grade.
- Shaq’s Ascending Value: Outside of Jordan’s cards, the market has seen a surge in demand for other icons like Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq cards make several appearances in the top 25, with cards like the 1992 Topps version drawing an impressive $1,400.
- Population and Demand Interplay: The overall population of cards, especially at higher grades, significantly influences the market value. Lower populations, such as the 1995 Topps Michael Jordan with only 50 PSA 10 graded cards, often result in a higher sale price, exemplified by its $4,650 selling point.
- Diverse Manufacturers and Varied Pack Prices: The collectible card landscape is dotted with multiple manufacturers, including Skybox, Hoops, Fleer, and more. Moreover, the price spectrum for packs varies widely, ranging from a modest $12 to a premium $595, allowing collectors with varying budgets to partake in the hobby.
See the top basketball cards sold on eBay in August 2023 or check out more junk wax card values below:
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