Basketball Sports Cards

Michael Jordan 1993-94 Ultra Scoring Kings

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 14:06:00 +0000

Included in my April 6 mail day is the card widely considered by collectors as one of the best Jordan cards ever.

It's the 1993-94 Ultra Scoring Kings #5 Michael Jordan.

Along with the 1992-93 Fleer Team Leaders and 1992-93 Fleer Total D insert cards, they are the most desirable Jordan cards from the early 90s.

A Michael Jordan collection is incomplete without any of them. It's better if you have all three. I still need the Total D.

The 1993-94 Ultra Scoring Kings were randomly inserted into packs at a rate of one in 36. With 10 cards in the set, REAL odds of pulling this specific card is 1:360. This is a simple foil card that is so prone from chippings and surface imperfections compounded with its 20-year age that a BGS 9.5 / PSA 10 GEM MINT copy of this card regularly fetches $400 - $600 on eBay!

A raw copy is selling for $60 - $130 on eBay. I'm not a grading expert but I think mine is a NEAR MINT-MINT+.

See how the lightning "flashes" when a light source is nearby. Beautiful eh?

Mail Day April 6: Michael Jordan 90's Inserts

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:42:00 +0000

This is one of my best Michael Jordan mails ever as I got two 90s insert cards that I really like.

I was able to pry these away from a collector at SCF, berlincards.

Got these last April 6 after a month of waiting.

Here they are one by one.

1997-98 E-X2001 Gravity Denied #9 Michael Jordan - Randomly inserted into packs at a rate of one in 24. With 20 cards in the set, REAL odds of pulling this specific card is 1:480. This is selling for $25 - $60 on eBay.

1998-99 Topps Legacies #L15 Michael Jordan - Randomly inserted in series two hobby packs only at one in 36. With 15 cards in the set, real odds of pulling this specific card is a staggering 1:540! This is selling for $15 - $30 on eBay.

1997-98 Topps Chrome Season's Best Refractors #SB6 Michael Jordan - Randomly inserted into packs at a rate of one in 24. With 29 cards in the set, real odds of pulling this specific card is a staggering 1:696! This is selling for $25 - $50 on eBay.

And the two best cards with similar themes...

1998-99 Fleer Electrifying #6 Michael Jordan - Randomly inserted in packs at a rate of one in 72. With 10 cards in the set, real odds of pulling this specific card is a staggering 1:720! No wonder this is selling for $60 - $100 on eBay.

The card fronts feature a gold patterned full-foil background with embossed "electricity". Of course, it's more beautiful to look at in-person.

1993-94 Ultra Scoring Kings #5 Michael Jordan - This card is widely considered by collectors as one of the best Jordan cards ever.

Read my separate post about it here: 1993-94 Ultra Scoring Kings #5 Michael Jordan

All together now!

Kobe Bryant 96-97 Flair RC Rainbow Set

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:47:00 +0000

Two months after finally completing all rookie cards of Kobe Bryant, I achieved another milestone for my side PC.

My mini 96-97 Flair rainbow set is complete - minus the Legacy parallels of course.

Included are cards tagged as Row 0, Row 1, Row 2 with the Row 0 being the most scarce. Hey, don't ask me how Fleer came up with this kind of card numbering. But then again, they already went bankrupt, didn't they?

Anyway, check out the pictures below. Just click them to view the larger versions.

1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 2 #31 RC - this is considered as the rookie card. Has a current BV of $20

1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 1 #31 RC - has a current BV of $30

1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 0 #31 RC - has a current BV of $120

The Kobe Bryant 96-97 Flair RC rainbow mini-set:

I'm still hoping to get the Legacy parallels someday.

Mail Month February: Shaq 90s Inserts, Game-Used, Oddball and College Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:32:00 +0000

My mails for January were pretty much varied (check out HERE and HERE).

For February, most of which I accumulated were cards of my favorite player, Shaquille O'Neal.

Most of these are hard-to-find. As most of the player collectors who came to love the hobby in its heydays in the early to mid-90's as high school or college students, I have long wanted these cards. But since my financial capability is next to zero at those times, I never got the chance to add them to my PC. Until now.

Check them out.

GAME-USED

1999-00 Fleer Mystique Feel the Game 1:120 - one of his earliest jersey cards

2000-01 Fleer Triple Crown Scoring Kings #d 043/100 - one of his earliest cards with a piece of ball

2000-01 Upper Deck Ovation A Piece of History 1:120 - one of his earliest cards with a piece of shoe

2003-04 SkyBox Autographics Jerseygraphics GOLD #d 08/50

2003-04 SkyBox Autographics Jerseygraphics #d 225/350

2003-04 Ultimate Collection Jerseys Dual #d 072/100

2004-05 E-XL Court Authentics Patches/Jerseys #d 34/35 - is this jersey-numbered since the game-used pieces are from his Lakers jersey where he wore the number 34 even though he is pictured as a Miami Heat?

2008-09 SP Rookie Threads SP Threads Dual Patch - this is my second copy

The two copies together:

2009-10 Classics Classic Confrontations Jerseys #d 142/199

I can now pair the card above with its patch (prime) version #d 14/25.

90s PARALLEL / INSERT

1997-98 Metal Universe Platinum Portraits 1:288 - the cards feature a matrix-etching the form a picture of the player's face. This is similar in design to my 1998-99 SkyBox Molten Metal Fusion Titanium /250

1996-97 Topps Finest Reprints Refractors 1:144

1996-97 Metal Molten Metal 1:180

1997-98 SkyBox Premium Premium Players 1:192

1998-99 Stadium Club Royal Court 1:24

1998-99 Hoops Rejectors #d 2440/2500 - serial numbering is so high but it is somewhat HARD TO FIND

1998-99 Stadium Club Triumvirate #T2B 1:24

1998-99 Stadium Club Triumvirate #T9A

1999-00 Fleer Focus Masterpiece Mania #d 149/300

1999-00 Metal Heavy Metal 1:20

1999-00 SkyBox APEX Jam Session

2000-01 Stadium Club Striking Distance

2000-01 Stadium Club Beam Team #d 382/500 - serial numbering is high but it is HARD TO FIND. One of the most beautiful early 00s insert cards without a piece of game-used or autograph in my opinion.

2001-02 Topps Chrome Mad Game Refractors 1:65

2003-04 E-X Essential Credentials Future #d 28/55

The lot:

ODDBALL

From Shaq's movie, Blue Chips and video game, Shaq-Fu.

Shaq of All Trades and the 12 Discipline of Shaqdom set - issued by Icon Sports in 1993, 'only' 50,000 sets were produced.

FRONT

BACK

COLLEGE (LSU)

I pretty much collect anything Shaq that I don't have yet. So, please let me know what you have.

Thanks for looking.

Kobe Bryant 96-97 Stadium Club Members Only 55 Graded BGS 9.5 UNPEELED

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:59:00 +0000

Another card has been added to my Kobe Bryant BGS 9.5 RC collection, the 96-97 Stadium Club Members Only 55 #52 FIN card.

Just like the 96-97 Finest RC I got, this one is also UNPEELED.

Yes, this one's tougher to grade than the usual and carries a premium than the more common peeled BGS 9.5 that are being sold.

A Finest peel is usually considered as part of the card's surface and is usually prone to peeling, scratches and bubbles, so this one is special.

This is also one of Kobe's RAREST rookie-year cards as you can't get it in packs and was only available as part of an exclusive 55-card boxed set only given to members of the Topps Club. The five Topps Rookie player cards (51-55) represent the top players from the 1996-97 NBA season and are all given a special Finest style foil coating.

Michael Jordan 1997-98 UD3 MJ3 Tribute Set

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:35:00 +0000

From my January 23 - 27 mail week is this three-card set from 1997-98 UD3.

In my opinion, this is an underrated set.

Die-cut, shiny, Michael Jordan - what's not to love?

The odds of pulling them from packs are tough too.

1:45 for the MJ31

1:119 for the MJ32

1:167 for the MJ33

When put together, the three cards form one big card. You can actually seldom find them being offered as a set. Glad I got them as a set.

Shaquille O'Neal 1998-99 SkyBox Molten Metal Fusion Titanium /250

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:36:00 +0000

While the design is not exactly original, the 1998-99 SkyBox Molten Metal Fusion is one of the nicest 90s inserts around.

The cards feature die cut technology where small holes are 'etched' into the card to form the portrait of the player featured. If I'm not mistaken, this was first used for the 95-96 Stadium Club Beam Team as seen in this mail month.

Then again, it was used for the 1997-98 Metal Universe Platinum Portraits set.

Anyway, included in my January 23 - 27 mail week is a Shaquille O'Neal 1998-99 SkyBox Molten Metal Fusion Titanium #45.

I bought it from mottaka7 of nbacardsph.

FRONT

BACK

It is at the card back where you will see the etched portait of Shaq.

Very cool eh? This card has a serial number of 143/250.

I would like to have the 1997-98 Metal Universe Platinum Portraits to pair with this beauty.

UPDATE: Yeah! Got that one as well. It's included in my Shaq mail month for February.

The card is currently listed at the Beckett Price Guide with a value if $80.

On eBay, here are the last two cards sold:

The card also has an ultra rare parallel version which is serial numbered to 40 only.

It has a GOLD front surface and a cut-out serial number on the front.

UPDATE: More eBay sales below:

Mail Week January 23 - 27: Derrick Rose Graded RCs, Howard Patches, Shaq Parallels, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:43:00 +0000

The week of January 23 - 27 is great for me as I got a huge number of cards I need for my Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard main PCs as well as for my Michael Jordan side PC.

Check out my mail week as I listed them per player.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

Best card of the lot would be the 1998-99 SkyBox Molten Metal Fusion Titanium #45 which is numbered to only 250. I bought it from mottaka7 of nbacardsph.

The other cards are not shabby either.

Traded with BigAl_83 of SCF
* Garnett / Shaq 09-10 Classic Confrontations patch #d /25
* Shaq / Lebron 09-10 Classic Combos jersey #d /99

Trade with BenDenham of SCF
* 04-05 Black Diamond jersey
* 96-97 Skybox Premium DT Rubies parallel
* 96-97 Metal Precious Metal
* 92-93 Hoops RC

Also from BigAl_83 of SCF are these two cards below:

* Duncan / Nowitzki 09-10 Classic Confrontations patch #d /25 - this is the only dual patch of two of the greatest forwards in NBA history

* Dwyane Wade Bowman Chrome X-fractor #d /150 - hard to find 2nd-year card of the Miami Heat guard

The 2009-10 Classics Classic Confrontations Jerseys Prime #6 Dirk Nowitzki / Tim Duncan

DWIGHT HOWARD

Bought from lockie of ozcard
* 2007-08 Bowman Elevation Relics Patches Dual #DH #d 9/9 - last numbered!
* 2009-10 Timeless Treasures Rookie Year Materials Prime #1 #d 25/25 - last numbered!
* 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures Biography Materials Prime #8 #d 04/25
* 2005-06 SP Authentic Limited Warm Ups Autographs #61 #d 098/100
* 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures NBA Gear Dual Prime #12 #d 02/10

MICHAEL JORDAN

Traded with mcards11 of SCF
* complete set of 1997-98 UD3 MJ3
* 1998-99 SPx Finite #181 TF #d /3390
* 1996-97 Upper Deck Fast Break Connections #FB23

bought from eBay

* Derrick Rose graded cards - I am slowly acquiring his RCs but haven't decided if I will keep them or will sell in the future. It depends on his and the Chicago Bulls performance I think. However, I can also let them go for cards I need for my Shaq and Dwight Howard main PCs and Kobe and Jordan side PCs. And yes, I'm a sucker for graded cards especially the BGS 9.5 ones (see my Kobe Bryant graded cards project)

* 1996-97 Collector's Choice Los Angeles Lakers #LA2 Kobe Bryant BGS 9.5

My huge January 23 - 27 mail week!

Shaquille O'Neal 1992-93 Stadium Club Beam Team #21

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:38:00 +0000

I was able to snag the Member's Only version of Shaquille O'Neal's iconic Beam Team card from 1992-93 Stadium Club.

This is not inserted into packs as this was only available exclusively through the Topps Members Only Club or sold in complete factory set form for $199 with a total of 10,000 factory sets printed.

However, I'm disappointed as the only difference between the two cards is a stamp that says "Member's Only". It's barely noticeable and only found it through closer inspection.

Take a look and see if you can find the stamped logo.

Had a hard time eh? It's actually located just below the net

Side by side with the regular Beam Team card, there's not much difference at all. Can't complain much though as the cards are simply beautiful. Heck, in those days, these cards were gold!

In 1992, Shaq was a rookie taking the NBA by storm. When the Beam Team set was issued, everybody wanted it as it includes Michael Jordan and Shaq. The "Beam Team" cards commemorate Topps' 1993 sponsorship of a six-minute NBA laser animation show called Beams Above the Rim which premiered at the 1993 NBA All-Star Game.

The color action player photos on the fronts are bordered on two sides by an angled silver light beam border design with a light refracting pattern - which was well-ahead of its time.

Couple that with huge odds of 1:36 (in those days) and these cards were a hit.

Heck, the Shaq Beam Team card was selling for upwards of $100! It's safe to say that the set ushered in the era of insert cards and the Shaq Beam Tam is the grandaddy of them all.

COMPLETED! Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:47:00 +0000

Finally, 1 year and 6 months since my quest to acquire all Kobe Byant rookie cards last July 2010, I have now all 16 of his true base cards. I also have his SPx XRC (extended RC) as well as the two cards from Stadium Club which are not really RCs since they are inserts - but the product don't feature one.

Thanks to ty of the nbacardsph forum as his E-X2000 RC included in my January 17 mail day was the final piece to the puzzle. It was a long process but I was not in a hurry as I wanted to relish every card I acquired.

Here's the checklist of Kobe Bryant's rookie cards with picture and value based on the Beckett Price Guide as of the date of this writing:

1996-97 Bowman's Best #R23 RC $30.00

1996-97 Collector's Choice #267 RC $5.00

1996-97 E-X2000 #30 RC $60.00

1996-97 Finest #74 B RC $40.00

1996-97 Flair Showcase Row 2 #31 RC $20.00

1996-97 Fleer #203 RC RC $8.00

1996-97 Hoops #281 RC $10.00

1996-97 Metal #137 FF RC $12.00

1996-97 SP #134 RC $25.00

1996-97 SkyBox Premium #55 RC $20.00

1996-97 Topps #138 RC $15.00

1996-97 Topps Chrome #138 $300.00 - This one is graded because this is the only way for me to assure that mine is authentic. Rumor has it that there are fake copies that abound for this card. That might be possible since this is Kobe's most valuable RC. I plan to acquire this BCCG 10 copy to a BGS 9.5 when funds will already allow me to.

1996-97 UD3 #19 RC $12.00

1996-97 Ultra #52 RC $15.00

1996-97 Upper Deck #58 RC $15.00

1996-97 Z-Force #142 RC $10.00

1996-97 Stadium Club Rookies 1 #R12 $10.00 (not a true rookie card)

1996-97 Stadium Club Rookies 2 #R9 $10.00 (not a true rookie card)

1997 SPx #22 $25 (extended rookie card)

All together now.

My next quest would now be to acquire all of Kobe's RCs - in BGS 9.5 graded form.

I have started it with the 96-97 Topps #138 RC I acquired last April.

I am almost halfway to it as I have now 7 BGS 9.5 RCs. I also want to upgrade my BCCG 10 Topps Chrome #138 RC to a BGS 9.5 when funds will already allow me to.

Mail Day January 17: Kobe Bryant E-X2000 RC, Derrick Rose RCs, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:45:00 +0000

This is my first significant mail day for 2012 and one of the largest trades I have done in a while.

There are many trading forums but they should be renamed selling forums as most members are actually selling rather than trading.

Anyway, I'm glad I was able to pull off this trade with ty of nbacardsph. Because of him, I have already acquired all of Kobe Bryant's true rookie cards.

Just click on the image for a larger view.

This is the card that I really like in this lot and the only one needed to complete my Kobe RC quest - 1996-97 E-X2000 #30 Kobe Bryant RC. This is a condition-sensitive set due to the card's design. I'm glad, mine has no chippings and not off-centered which are the most common flaws.

Also included is the GOLD parallel version of his 1997 SPx XRC and a Shaq jersey card featuring him in his Lakers uniform.

Here's another Shaq from the lot, the COPPER parallel version of his 2001-02 Upper Deck Flight Team card. Serial-numbered cards of Shaq are getting harder to acquire by the day since his retirement.

Finally, these Derrick Rose rookie cards. I am slowly acquiring his RCs but haven't decided if I will keep them or will sell in the future. It depends on his and the Chicago Bulls performance I think. However, I can also let them go for cards I need for my Shaq and Dwight Howard main PCs and Kobe and Jordan side PCs.

My Top Five Best Sports Cards Acquired for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Another year passed by.

I can say that year 2011 has been a good year for me hobby-wise.

I was able to control the itch and decided not to buy boxes to bust for the year. The boxes I busted for 2010 were not so good at all so I decided to just buy single cards that I need for my PC this time.

I think it was a good decision as instead of wasting my money for the cheap thrill of pulling some crap from a box, I was able to acquire cards I need for my Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard PCs. I also decided to have side collections of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

As my first post for the year 2012, I decided to showcase the top five best cards I acquired for the previous year. One each for Shaq, Dwight Howard, Kobe, Jordan and for a non-basketball player, but one of my favorite athletes - Manny Pacquiao.

Mind you, this one is tough as each one has many beautiful cards to choose from.

Check it out:

In no particular order, they are:

1. Kobe Bryant 96-97 Topps Chrome RC graded BCCG 10 (MINT) - the Topps Chrome is Kobe's best rookie card. A BGS 9.5 or a PSA 10 would be cool but I can't afford them as most are selling in the $400+ price.Being a perfectionist, I bought the nearest copy close to perfection, a BCCG 10 one.

2. Manny Pacquiao 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter Relics graded BGS 9.5 - the framed autographed mini-card from 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter is Pacquiao's first ever certified trading card autograph. It's hot as it has been selling for $600 - $1,000. Not having enough money for his auto, I settled for a piece of his game-worn shorts. It also helped that this one is graded BGS 9.5 with a nice patch to boot.

3. Shaquille O'Neal 96-97 Flair Row 2 Legacy Parallel - the Legacy is the first basketball parallel set that featured serial numbering. Randomly inserted into packs at a rate of one in 30, each parallel single is machine-numbered to only 150. It is even rarer than the one that came next, the 96-97 EX-2000 Credentials which are numbered out of 499. This is my first ever and only one so far Legacy card.

4. Dwight Howard 07-08 Topps Triple Threads Auto Jersey Printing Plate 1/1 - my white whale (the back of the card even features the phrase.) It's not just a simple 1/1 base card. It's a 1/1 with pieces of Dwight Howard's game-used jersey and his autograph. It might be on an ugly sticker but I'll still take it anytime.

5. Michael Jordan 92-93 Fleer Team Leaders - this card was my last significant acquisition for the year 2011. This card is probably the most desirable card of Michael Jordan produced during the 1992-93 NBA season. And arguably, the toughest to pull.

So, there they are. My top five best cards for 2011.

I hope to acquire more great cards for 2012.

Michael Jordan 1992-93 Fleer Team Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:39:00 +0000

This card is probably the most desirable card of Michael Jordan produced during the 1992-93 NBA season. And arguably, the toughest to pull.

I'm talking about the 1992-93 Michael Jordan Fleer Team Leaders insert card.

The 1992-93 Fleer Team Leaders were inserted into five of every six first series 42-card rack packs. A Larry Johnson Signature Series insert card replaced a Team Leader in every sixth rack pack. A low production run of rack packs has contributed largely to the popularity of this set.

Add to this the fact that they are condition sensitive due to centering issues and the blue borders on the front and back make any chippings very noticeable. As with any cards this age the surface can also be somewhat worn.

That's why highly graded copies of this card are very much sought after. In fact, a copy of a Jordan graded BGS 9.5 was bought for $3,500 on eBay!

The ungraded copies routinely sell for $60 to $100 and I was able to snag one for my Jordan side PC. I'm not a grading expert but I think mine is a NEAR MINT-MINT+.

See for yourself.

FRONT

BACK

This should be my last significant acquisition for the year 2011. And what a card to end the year! Definitely one of my top five cards acquired for 2011.

Thanks to elti0915 of NBA Cards PH for a nice deal.

Mail Week December 5 - 9: Kobe Premium Players, Jordan Hoops High Voltage, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:27:00 +0000

Here are my recent acquisitions for my Shaquille O'Neal main PC as well as for my Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant side PCs.

Check out my mail week December 5 - 9.

Just click on the image for a larger view.

These are the Kobes I acquired:

The best card from above would be the 1997-98 SkyBox Premium Premium Players. Odds of getting a Premium Players card is 1:192. However, with 15 players in the set, real odds to get this one is 1:2,880.

This one below is not shabby either. Kobe's 1997-98 Finest GOLD Embossed - odds of 1:96; with 106 players in the set, real odds to get this one is 1:10,176.

Below are the Jordans I got:

The uppermost cards are part of the 1994-95 Competitive Images Artistic Promotions America's Sports Artist Tour set.

This 8-card set is created to promote the Art Exhibit Tour of Competitive Images featuring its top sports artists from January 1994 to January 1995. This is a VERY HARD TO FIND set with novelty value for player completist collectors.

Among the mainstream Jordan cards, of note are the 97-98 Hoops High Voltage, 96-97 Hoops Superfeats and 96-97 Topps Mystery Finest Borderless REFRACTOR Super Teams.

Odds of getting a High Voltage card is 1:36. However, with 20 players in the set, real odds to get this one is 1:720.

Odds of getting a Superfeats card is 1:36. However, with 10 players in the set, real odds to get this one is 1:360.

This card is part of a set which can be redeemed if you have an NBA Finals Super Team card of Chicago or San Antonio. This is similar in design to the regular Bordered Refractors issued in 1996-97 Topps series two. The cards differ by having a "Super Team Champion" logo on the card front.

This card's value base on the Beckett Price Guide is $50 as opposed to the regular one which is $150.

For the Shaqs, got these two cards, a 09-10 Classics Classic Combos regular card and its PLATINUM parallel version which has a serial number of 18/25.

The bottom two cards are Borderless Refractors parallel version from the 1995-96 Finest Mystery. They are randomly inserted into first and second series hobby packs at a rate of one in 96 and retail at one in 80. With 44 cards in the set, odds of pulling a specific Scottie Pippen or Grant Hill card is a staggering 1:4,224!

Both are for trade or for sale by the way.

I got these cards from various sources, eBay, Hobbykings, SCF, Ozcard and NBA Cards PH.

My First Kobe Bryant Patch Card, Serial Numbered 10/10 - a 1 of 1?

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Finally got my first Kobe Bryant patch card!

It's a 2009-10 Prestige Prestigious Pros Materials Platinum #1. It's actually the patch version of the regular Pros Materials Blue jersey card which is serial numbered to 200.

My card is serial numbered to only 10. What makes this card really special is that it has a serial number of 10/10. A 1 of 1 card!

Haha, not really. But 10 is Kobe's jersey number when he played for the USA Dream Team.

The serial numbering and the low print run are what really endeared me to this card. Add to it the fact that I got it at a really good price. It helped that the eBay seller where I got this one titled this card as a jersey, not a patch. (*wink *wink)

Kobe Bryant Graded Rookie Card: 96-97 Finest BGS 9.5 UNPEELED

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:26:00 +0000

Here's an important addition to my Kobe Bryant BGS 9.5 RC collection.

It is Kobe's Finest RC.

This one's tougher to grade than the usual because this one is UNPEELED!

A Finest peel is usually considered as part of the card's surface. And it is usually prone to peeling, scratches and bubbles so this one carries a premium than the more common peeled BGS 9.5 that are being sold.

I now have seven BGS 9.5 RCs, one BCCG 10 RC (Topps Chrome) and a BGS 8 RC-year insert (Topps Draft Redemption).

Mail Day October 24: Dwight Howard Rookie Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Check out my mail day for October 24, 2011.

Thanks to lemu23 of nbacardsph for letting go of his Dwight Howard rookie cards.

Just click on the image for a larger view.

Dwight Howard's Finest RCs are very difficult to come by. Now I have three.

Thanks also to partboy26 also from nbacardsph for this 04-05 Topps Chrome RC BLACK Refractor graded BGS 9.

My First Shaquille O'Neal National Treasures Card: NBA Greatest Materials Patch #d/10

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:36:00 +0000

This is my first Shaquille O'Neal card from Panini's $400-box, its most expensive basketball product, the answer to Upper Deck's Exquisite - the Playoff National Treasures.

It's a 09-10 Playoff National Treasures NBA Greatest Materials Prime #17 serial numbered 09 out of 10.

Not exactly the sickest of patches but I'll still take it anytime.

FRONT

BACK

Thanks to schaudhr of hobbykings for this card. I traded away some of my Kobe insert cards and two Dwight Howard autos to get this along with a Shaq 98 UD Hardcourt Homecourt Advantage PLUS #d/500 but it's well worth it.

Manny Pacquiao 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter Autograph eBay Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:10:00 +0000

2011 Topps Allen and Ginter baseball went live yesterday.

This product is highly anticipated by collectors because randomly inserted in packs are the first Manny Pacquiao certified autographed trading cards.

After one day, two sales were already done at eBay. And if they're future indications of the card's value, be prepare to shell out some serious dough.

Check them out:

First sale July 13, 2011 - sold for US $575.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/2011-Allen-Ginter-MANNY-PACQUIAO-Mini-AUTO-Card-SP-/150631862061?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item23125bcf2d

Second sale July 13, 2011 - sold for US $750.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/2011-Allen-Ginter-MANNY-PACQUIAO-Mini-AUTO-Card-SP-/260817811221?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb9f3f715

I will update this post from time to time to track future eBay sales of this card.

Panini HRX Video Autographed Trading Cards (Kobe, Durant, Griffin, Wall)

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Panini is changing the face of the sports cards hobby by recently releasing the world's first video trading cards.

As the name implies, these cards include a small screen that can play up to 30 minutes worth of video footage of the player indicated on the card.

The cards are officially called as the Panini HRX (Highlight Reel Xperience) trading cards with the first batch featuring four of basketball's top athletes (Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, John Wall and slam-dunk champion Blake Griffin) plastered across them.

They are randomly inserted in packs of 2010-11 Totally Certified Basketball.

The cards feature 2GBs of internal storage while a micro-USB port on the side will be used for charging and connecting to standard USB cables which means fans can even add their own videos!

Cool eh?

What's even cooler is that there will be autographed versions of the cards as well. The print run for the regular video cards is 40 for each player and 10 for the autographed ones. There's also a special gold version for each player that is a 1/1.

Check out the autographed Panini HRX video cards below:

Kobe Bryant

Kevin Durant

Blake Griffin

John Wall

Mind you, these are not cheap.

The first Kobe Bryant autographed HRX card sold for $1,000 at eBay. The first Blake Griffin closed at $862.50. The first Kevin Durant autographed version brought more than $500 and a Griffin unsigned copy generated $400.

The Bryant Autographed Gold 1/1 was recently sold for $2,000.

Manny Pacquiao's First Certified Trading Card Autograph

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:02:00 +0000

While this site is clearly dedicated to basketball sports cards, allow me to once in a while post something not related to the sports.

After all, this one is still about sports cards. And I am a big Manny Pacquiao fan so I'm really excited about this one.

Today, 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball, the sixth installment of the popular trading card series with the retro tobacco card design and the world's greatest athletes in several sports is released.

What makes it special is that it includes the first certified Manny Pacquiao autographed trading card ever issued. Pacquiao's card is included in the Framed Autographed Collector's Item set randomly inserted in 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter hobby and retail trading packs.

For Topps, Pacquiao's inclusion was a no-brainer.

"He's someone we've been trying acquire a deal with for some time," said Topps Director of Product Development Clay Luraschi. "The product has always had a champions theme and Manny is known across the globe as not only one of the greatest champions in sports today, but of all time."

Pacquiao isn't the only boxer of slated to appear in this year's set. Also signing autographs for Ginter are Jake LaMotta of "Raging Bull" fame and Micky Ward, whose story was recently told in "The Fighter" starring Mark Wahlberg.

It will be interesting to see how much the cards will sell for at online auctions particularly eBay.

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UPDATE July 14, 2011:

Two sales of the cards were registered at eBay today. Check it out.

Kobe Bryant 96-97 Topps Chrome RC BCCG 10

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:48:00 +0000

Finally, I already have in my possession a copy of Kobe Bryant's best rookie card, a 96-97 Topps Chrome.

Beckett says that just like the Michael Jordan 86-87 Fleer rookie card, counterfeit copies of this one are flying around due to its high demand and scarcity.

With that in mind, I decided to obtain a graded copy. A BGS 9.5 or a PSA 10 would be cool but I can't afford them as most are selling in the $400+ price.

Being a perfectionist, I bought the nearest copy close to perfection, a BCCG 10 one.

This is equivalent to a BGS 9 or PSA 9 card. It is valued at $350 in the Beckett price guide.

How to Spot a Fake Michael Jordan Rookie Card

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:13:00 +0000

Michael Jordan only has one mainstream rookie card, the 1986-87 Fleer #57.

It is widely considered the "Holy Grail" of the basketball sports cards hobby. This is a must have for any die-hard fan of the greatest basketball player ever.

While not entirely scarce, it is expensive due to high demand. The ungraded ones usually sell for $200 - $500 and the graded ones, for way more.

Being so, fake or counterfeit copies are very much widely available to trick the gullible ones. Personally, I bought fake copies because I can't really afford the real ones.

To be on the safe side, I suggest buying a graded copy. Be prepare to shell out some serious dough though for the high-grade ones. A 1986-97 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan BGS 10 Pristine copy sold for $82,000 in 2009!

So, how do you spot a fake Michael Jordan rookie card?

I'm not an expert on this thing because I have not personally held in my hands or even seen the "real" thing.

Check out the links below tackling this topic:

eBay Guide: How to spot a fake Michael Jordan rookie card

Sports Card Info: How To Spot A Fake Michael Jordan 86-87 Fleer Rookie

Sports Card Forum: How To Spot Fake / Counterfeit Michael Jordan / Wayne Gretzky RC

Here's a YouTube video:

Mail Week June 13 - 17: Dwight Howard 09-10 National Treasures Patch #d/10, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:31:00 +0000

For this mail week, I got cards for my Shaq and Dwight Howard main PC as well as for my Kobe Bryant side PC.

Check out my mail week for June 13 - 17.

Just click on the image for a larger view.

The best card from this mail week is a 2009-10 Playoff National Treasures NBA Gear Trios Prime #12 Dwight Howard. It is serially numbered 2 out of 10.

Another Howard patch I got is a 2009-10 Absolute Memorabilia Materials Prime Spectrum #2. What's special about this card is it is the first card in the series, serial numbered 1/25.

For the Shaqs, I got a 96-97 Ultra Starring Role acetate, a 06-07 Finest Refractors and a 93-94 Stadium Club Beam Team.

For the Kobes, I got a 96-97 Finest rookie card (my second one), a 09-10 Timeless Treasures Championship Season Materials #5 Kobe Bryant #d/100 and a 97-98 Fleer High Flying Soaring Stars.

All of these cards expect for the Shaq Starring Role, I got from a trade with a member at the NBA Cards Philippines forum.

I traded a Kobe Bryant 96-97 Topps Draft Redemption and a 09-10 Exquisite Collection Brandon Jennings rookie card.

My Two Favorite Shaq 90's Inserts: Hot Numbers and SkyView

noreply@blogger.com (Ark) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:06:00 +0000

Out of my Shaquille O'Neal collection, these are the two insert cards I really like.

The 1995-96 Hoops SkyView and 1995-96 Flair Hot Numbers cards.

The 1995-96 Hoops SkyView is I think the first insert set to feature an acetate window that was widely used in the 1996-97 EX-2000 set.

Odds of finding one in 95-96 Hoops series 2 packs is 1:480. Since there are ten players from the set (including Michael Jordan), odds of finding a specific player from the set jumps up to a huge 1:4800 odds.

The 1995-96 Flair Hot Numbers meanwhile is I think the first lenticular insert set. Each card is given a three-dimensional effect by the addition of a special lenticular coating (a ribbed plastic material) on the front. The full color player photos are placed against a swirling background of numbers. The backs continue with the numbers motif that serve as a background for the full-color player cutout. Player's name and short biography are printed in white.

A Hot Numbers card is inserted at rate of one in 36 packs with 15 players comprising the set (including Michael Jordan as well).

Because they are my two favorite Shaq insert cards, I plan on acquiring as many as possible. As of this writing, I have 4 Hot Numbers and 3 Skyviews.

Please help me if you have any.