BASKETBALL

1973-74 TOPPS #240 JULIUS ERVING AS2

Collecting second-year vintage hoops cards is tough since mainstream basketball cards were not produced consistently until the late 1960s. Dr. J’s 1972-73 Topps Rookie Card picturing him with the ABA’S Virginia Squires is a classic. Near Mint-mint 8 grades can now reach more than $10,000, which is double what you could have found them for in December 2020. His second Topps card is this All-star #240 picturing him shooting the classic red-white-and-blue ABA ball with an inset floating headshot. It’s about a tenth of the price of the RC. Raw cards can be found for $100-$150, with PSA 8 grades at around $350.

1997-98 TOPPS CHROME #171 KOBE BRYANT

Kobe Bryant’s tragic death more than a year ago, combined with the incredible rise of trading cards, has caused his cards to explode. His top card is the 1996-97 Topps Chrome Rookie Card, reaching as much as $5,000. A Refractor graded a perfect BGS Pristine 10 black label sold for $1.8 million in March. As it continues to rise, so has his second Topps Chrome card. Raw versions sell for as much as $300, with Mint 9 grades hovering around $1,000. Refractors go for more than $7,000.

1987-88 FLEER #59 MICHAEL JORDAN

In the March issue of BSCM, we covered the incredibly fast rise of Michael Jordan cards, and this has been one of the hottest since last November. Jordan’s 1986-87 Fleer RC has garnered a ton of national media attention from the sales of PSA Gem Mint 10 examples. Even lower grades bring thousands of dollars. This second Fleer card was roughly $200 last summer and is up to $400 to $500 now. Mint 9 grades can reach $3,000. It’s a great option if you can’t afford his RC, and is a must-have for any Jordan collector.

2004-05 TOPPS CHROME #23 LEBRON JAMES

The 2003-04 Exquisite Collection likely will always be Lebron James’ top Rookie Card, but his Topps Chrome has quickly risen as a prime choice even though it ranks sixth in value among his RCS. Ungraded examples now bring $2,000 or more, and Mint 9 grades can top $8,000. His 2004-05 Topps Chrome is still a desirable key Lebron card for around $150-$200. It has a terrific photo of Lebron flying in for a reverse dunk. Gem Mint grades have been selling for $2,500-$3,000.