Nearly 25 years ago, Topps combined early images of NBA stars Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to produce an iconic basketball rookie card. Pictured on the sides of then veteran star Julius Erving, the 1980-81 Topps basketball card of the trio is among the most desirable rookies in the entire sport. These days, the rookie card featuring both Johnson and Bird isn't cheap. … [Read more...] about The ‘Other’ Rookie Cards of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Provide Affordable Alternatives
1980-81 Topps Basketball
Autographed Cards, Vintage Greats Shine in Memory Lane Auction
There were 1,700 lots spread across nearly 400 pages of a catalog but when Memory Lane’s Summer Rarities Auction came to a close early Sunday, all but three lots had found new homes. In all, the auction generated over $5.5 million. There were so many autographed cards in the catalog that it contained a special section devoted to them and when the smoke cleared, two of the … [Read more...] about Autographed Cards, Vintage Greats Shine in Memory Lane Auction
Notes: Namath Rookie Card Photo Brings $197,640 While Modern Slides; Fanatics Auctions’ 1 of 1s; November Grading Numbers
The only known PSA Type I photo used to create Joe Namath’s 1965 Topps rookie card–an image taken in a hospital hallway–sold for $197,640 at Goldin Auctions Saturday night. The 8x10 photo was taken by Bob Olen, the New York Jets team photographer as Namath recovered from knee surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital. “I'd lost 27 pounds,” Namath recalled in an appearance on the … [Read more...] about Notes: Namath Rookie Card Photo Brings $197,640 While Modern Slides; Fanatics Auctions’ 1 of 1s; November Grading Numbers
Vintage Unopened Basketball Boxes, Baseball Cards, MJ and Kobe Autographs in Hindman Sale
A collection of unopened boxes, single cards and autographs from a one owner collection will be on the block through Hindman Auctions this month. A 1986-87 Fleer Basketball box with a pack containing a Michael Jordan rookie card on top is the headliner in the 89-lot auction that takes place on Friday, March 24. The “Grails and GOATS” auction consists of 89 lots, … [Read more...] about Vintage Unopened Basketball Boxes, Baseball Cards, MJ and Kobe Autographs in Hindman Sale
LeBron Logoman 1/1 Auction Ends at $2.4 Million; Signed Rookie Card Brings $2.1 Million
The auction for one of the hobby's most talked about trading cards in 2022 ended Saturday night. The 1/1 LeBron James Triple Logoman card from 2020-21 Panini Flawless sold for $2.4 million in Goldin's June Elite sale. The final price was certainly nothing to sneeze at, but the card fell short of pre-sale projections that it could match or exceed the $6.6 million … [Read more...] about LeBron Logoman 1/1 Auction Ends at $2.4 Million; Signed Rookie Card Brings $2.1 Million
Ultimate 1980-81 Topps Basketball Collection Brings $1.4 Million
One collector's ambitious effort to piece together an all Gem Mint graded set of the unique 1980-81 Topps Basketball cards paid off late Saturday night. The 176-card set of PSA 10s, including the Magic Johnson/Larry Bird rookie card, sold for $1.44 million at Goldin Auctions. The set was accompanied by an unopened pack, also rated PSA 10, a high-grade … [Read more...] about Ultimate 1980-81 Topps Basketball Collection Brings $1.4 Million
Vintage Pack Facts: 1980-81 Topps Basketball
You could buy a box for nine bucks--retail. Truth is, no one was paying retail for 1980-81 Topps Basketball boxes forty years ago. Heck, sports card dealers were taking just about anything halfway decent in trade for basketball back then. Baseball was king. Football was a distant second and basketball was third--or fourth if you were in hockey … [Read more...] about Vintage Pack Facts: 1980-81 Topps Basketball
Notes: Jeff Foxworthy’s Vintage Cards; Emmitt’s Auctions; ’80-81 Set Soars; Vintage Ali
Georgia-based Got Baseball Cards is helping comedian Jeff Foxworthy sell some of his collection. An avid collector of autographed baseballs, Foxworthy has consigned 16 vintage cards through GBC including a Mickey Mantle rookie card graded PSA 4. There are a couple of other Mantles, a Roger Maris rookie card graded SGC 6, rookie cards of Steve … [Read more...] about Notes: Jeff Foxworthy’s Vintage Cards; Emmitt’s Auctions; ’80-81 Set Soars; Vintage Ali
All Gem Mint 1980-81 Topps Basketball Set Tips Off Goldin Winter Elite Sale
A 176-card complete set of 1980-81 Topps Basketball cards, with each one graded PSA 10, leads off Goldin Auctions’ newly launched Winter Elite catalog auction. The unique ’80-81 set is known for the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson combo rookie card, but also includes numerous other Hall of Famers. The lot also includes a PSA 10 set of the Team Pin-Up inserts and a 132-card … [Read more...] about All Gem Mint 1980-81 Topps Basketball Set Tips Off Goldin Winter Elite Sale
1980-81 Topps Basketball: Taming a Perforated Monster
Basketball card collecting has many iconic rookie cards for collectors to chase. From George Mikan to Bill Russell. Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) to, of course, Michael Jordan. But none of them possess the sheer star power totality of the 1980-81 Topps Larry Bird/ Julius Erving/ Magic Johnson card. Both Bird and Magic made their debut in the same year. Pairing … [Read more...] about 1980-81 Topps Basketball: Taming a Perforated Monster