Upper Deck has signed a licensing agreement with Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Cup Series team. The company announced Tuesday that it will launch the program with 23XI Racing at this weekend’s race in Darlington, SC. A paint scheme on the No. 45 car driven by Tyler Reddick will feature the Upper Deck logo along with images of Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Tiger Woods, all of … [Read more...] about Upper Deck Signs Deal with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Race Team
Michael Jordan
The Finals Offer Players a Chance to Be New Face of NBA, Hobby
There is a lot at stake – more so than usual – in this year’s NBA Finals. And what’s at stake will have a huge impact on the basketball card market. Some call it a changing of the guard. But it’s more than that. It’s a battle to see who will, once and for all, be the new face of the NBA. If you have been following basketball card podcasts, online posts, and auctions of … [Read more...] about The Finals Offer Players a Chance to Be New Face of NBA, Hobby
25 Years Ago: How Michael Jordan’s Retirement Impacted The Hobby
Every now and then, something happens in the news or in sports and you remember that day vividly. Where were you? Who were you with? Twenty-five years ago, you may have had one of those days. It was January 13, 1999. A bomb dropped on the NBA and on every basketball card collector in the world. And at that time, I can’t imagine there were many collectors out there, … [Read more...] about 25 Years Ago: How Michael Jordan’s Retirement Impacted The Hobby
25 Years Ago: How The NBA Lockout Affected The Hobby
While the baseball strike of 1994 dealt a severe blow to what had been a booming sports card hobby, the NBA lockout that happened before the 1998-99 season and its effects on the sports card industry are rarely discussed. Yet, 25 years ago, the NBA was on hold. Although it did not do the damage to the industry that the baseball strike from four years earlier had done, it … [Read more...] about 25 Years Ago: How The NBA Lockout Affected The Hobby
Chicago’s 10 Most Collectible Sports Stars
With the National Sports Collectors Convention going back to Chicago this week, we thought we would take a look at the 10 most collectible Chicago stars. It's not strictly a list of the most popular guys, although that certainly plays into it. Impact on the city and the market, long term interest and other factors are part of this very unscientific but … [Read more...] about Chicago’s 10 Most Collectible Sports Stars
Little Known 1993 Skinnies Basketball Set Landed Way Out of Bounds With Flagrant Pictures, Comments
From the jump, Skinnies basketball seemed to be a sports card version of Garbage Pail Kids, a roundball representation of Beavis and Butthead, Mad Magazine or even Wacky Packs.These unlicensed basketball cards take it a step, make that 20 steps, further. Many are off color, inappropriate, and in some cases flat out offensive. The 177 card set takes aim at pretty much every … [Read more...] about Little Known 1993 Skinnies Basketball Set Landed Way Out of Bounds With Flagrant Pictures, Comments
Michael Jordan’s Final Warmup Top Sells Privately
The warmup top Michael Jordan was wearing when he left the court for the last time in the spring of 2003 now has a new owner. Sotheby’s says it sold Jordan’s 2002-03 Washington Wizards shooting shirt for $900,000 in a private transaction. The auction house released no other details on the sale of the blue and white top Jordan was wearing as he waved to the crowd on … [Read more...] about Michael Jordan’s Final Warmup Top Sells Privately
1997-98 Upper Deck Basketball Game Used Jersey Set an Insert for the Ages
In a decade that offered plenty of memorable candidates, the 1997-98 Upper Deck Basketball product offered one of the most significant and important insert sets ever released. Both Series 1 and 2 packs featured the very first NBA game-used jersey cards to ever hit the market.With the groundbreaking 22-card set inserted in an astronomically difficult one in every 2,500 packs, … [Read more...] about 1997-98 Upper Deck Basketball Game Used Jersey Set an Insert for the Ages
1993-94 Fleer Ultra Inside Outside Insert Proves Less is More
As the 1990s unfolded, Fleer continued its efforts to produce increasingly higher quality base cards and inserts. The Ultra product that the company offered was as high end as it got back in the day. Compared to today, the process wasn't that complicated. You come up with an idea, add some gloss and some gold foil and call it a day.Fleer managed to get all of the big stars in … [Read more...] about 1993-94 Fleer Ultra Inside Outside Insert Proves Less is More
1996-97 Flair Showcase Hot Shots Insert Debuted as Great Balls of Fire
The 1996 NBA Draft brought an influx of all-time great talent into the league. The trading card manufacturers were expecting greatness and among the upper echelon products, Flair Showcase was a standout. There's even a tongue-in-cheek warning label on the hobby box, stating that the product was "for serious collectors only"... at least I think it's tongue-in-cheek. The … [Read more...] about 1996-97 Flair Showcase Hot Shots Insert Debuted as Great Balls of Fire