Basketball cards were once so lightly regarded that the only company that made them decided to take a pass, even when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were young, Michael Jordan was an explosive rookie and Dr. J was still flying high and winning titles. That pendulum swung back in the 1990s, though, and now the sport with worldwide appeal is building a pretty … [Read more...]
1975-76 Topps Basketball Bulked Up Ahead of Merger
In the Bicentennial winter, the red, white and blue American Basketball Association was on its last legs. Before the next season, a merger agreement put four surviving ABA teams into the NBA with the rest alive only in memory. For collectors, the last images of the Kentucky Colonels, Spirits of St. Louis, Virginia Squires, San Diego Sails and Utah Stars live on in the … [Read more...]
Ten 1970s Basketball Cards for the Hoop History Lover
They went from tall to small, then back to small again. 1970s Topps basketball cards were all over the board in the decade in which they dutifully produced sets each and every season. They're far from fancy and some years Topps didn't have the rights to show logos so the players wore shirts backwards when the photographer snapped. It was like it or lump it for basketball … [Read more...]
PSA 10 George Mikan Rookie Card Sets New Record
The lone PSA 10 graded example of George Mikan’s 1948 Bowman rookie card sold for $403,664 in SCP Auctions’ 2015 Fall Premier online auction, which concluded early Sunday morning. The card previously sold in 2009 when SCP purchased it for a client, but this auction nearly doubled its previous world record price. The entire auction of more than 1,000 sports memorabilia lots … [Read more...]
Pete Maravich Rookie Card Still Stands Tall
It may be hard for today’s fans to understand in a world where every great college player has a lengthy highlight reel but there was still a bit of a mystery surrounding the NBA’s most anticipated prospect back in 1970. Only a few of his college games had been televised nationally. Pro scouts could only guess as to his impact on the league. The interest and value of … [Read more...]
Best Rookie Cards of 1970s College Hoop Heroes
College basketball tournaments will create their own stars over the next four weeks. For some, it will be the greatest moment of their athletic lives and we'll never see them on an NBA court. For others, it will be a springboard to a great pro career. Even though many will spend several years in the league, what they accomplished in college may overshadow what … [Read more...]
eBay Card of the Day: The Pistol’s ‘Biggest’ Season
We received some great reaction to our recent Card of the Day piece on Julius Erving and his 63 point game on Valentine's Night in 1975. I'm biased but as a young man, there was simply nothing like watching Dr. J in the ABA. That does not mean we can not and will not appreciate the greatness of others, but I will stick to my belief about Erving's revolutionary … [Read more...]
Vintage Pack Break of the Week: 1975-76 Topps Basketball Wax
If you love basketball history, there might not be a better set of trading cards than this one. This week, our sponsor, Just Collect, is ripping a 1975-76 Topps basketball pack. It's from an important and quite awesome time in hoop history. '75-76 marked the last year of the American Basketball Association prior to the merger with the NBA. Not every team made it, so this is … [Read more...]
Pete Maravich Basketball Cards Still Resonate
After creating a lot of publicity for basketball for his college wizardry at LSU and setting many scoring records, Pete Maravich entered the NBA as the third pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. With his floppy socks, amazing passing skills and seemingly impossible shot-making ability, Maravich was the guy every kid growing up in the late 1960’s wanted to be. Pete … [Read more...]
Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Auction Includes Superstar Jerseys, Jerry Lucas Collection
Another former pro sports star has decided to liquidate a memorabilia collection. The 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Auction will feature a 1960 Olympic Basketball gold medal and other items from former Ohio State and NBA star Jerry Lucas. This year’s Induction Auction on Sept. 7 – Grey Flannel Auctions' eighth such event to date – includes 143 lots, each … [Read more...]