This period saw the re-emergence of different manufacturers and landmark sets that would help revitalize the hobby. Fleer released its iconic 1986–87 set, considered a pivotal moment in the hobby, featuring the rookie cards of numerous Hall of Famers including Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley. The 1980–81 Topps card featuring Larry Bird and Magic Johnson with Dr. J is another iconic multi-player card from this time.
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The “Hick from French Lick” was featured in the 1981-82 Topps basketball checklist, and features Larry in his first-ever base card. A great value, but tricky grade; the borders in this release are notoriously problematic, and the centering could be much better. Very thin borders cause common centering issues, but a Beckett autograph grade of 10 (on this specific card) really increases its’ value.
The photo of 1981 Topps Larry Bird #4 is a simple one, but Bird looks very cool here. The green borders are perfect for a Celtics card, adding to the appealing look. The comic book explosion style lettering works well here too. And it represents a stage in his career when he was already one of the best players in the league, but was not yet dominant. No wonder he won Rookie of the Year, that rookie season racked up numbers averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Bird is one of two players in NBA history to capture the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award in three consecutive seasons (1984-1986), and honor he shares with fellow Celtic and Hall of Famer Bill Russell.
Boxes of 1986-87 Fleer basketball could be had for as low as $10 upon release. In 2020, they have fetched as high as $91,000 a piece. They have outperformed Microsoft Stock (which had its IPO in 1986) by several multiples. Simply put, 1986-87 Fleer boxes are among the all-time great investments. But surely very few people originally bought them with the expectation that their value would verge on six figures a few decades down the line. Instead, the great majority of 1986-87 Fleer packs were opened, the cards were yanked out, and then they were jammed into binder pages or wedged in between bike spokes. Easily one his most popular cards, 1986 Fleer has the official Patrick Ewing rookie card. The card is likely familiar to all basketball collectors as the deep checklist and timeless layout has become immortalized in the hobby.
It is easy to forget just how dominant Patrick Ewing was in college and during his NBA career. The lack of championship rings has seemingly softened the mainstream appreciation of the former All-Star. However, basketball fans and collectors do value his contributions to the game and there is a reason why Patrick Ewing cards maintain strong interest after so many years. Throughout his 17-year career, Patrick Ewing enjoyed both individual and team success. Ewing was an 11-time All-Star and an Olympic Gold Medalist in 1992, as a member of the original "Dream Team." Although the New York Knicks were regularly in the playoff hunt, and Ewing helped carry the team to the 1994 and 1999 NBA Finals, he was unable to bring a championship back to New York. Ewing was ultimately elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
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