March Premium Auction Ending April 3, 5 & 6
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/5/2021
Each card has been graded by BGS. Up for auction is a complete set of the 80 basketball cards which comprise the rare Row 0 tier of 1997-98 Flair Showcase. This set actually represents the first ever basketball base set (put out by a major NBA licensed manufacturer) to be serial numbered, and is offered with all 80 cards in very high grades from Beckett Grading Services (BGS). Several of the grades achieved in this offering are the highest ever graded, making it a one-of-a-kind opportunity. The set is broken down into four different serial numbered tiers, with the first 20 cards limited to only 250 copies and featuring most of the biggest stars of the period, followed by the next 20 cards limited to 500 copies, then another 20 cards limited to 1,000 copies, with the final 20 cards in the set limited to 2,000 serial numbered copies. While all 80 cards have been graded by BGS, 78 of them have attained grades of BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint) or 10 (Pristine), with only two cards barely missing the “Gem Mint” mark with overall grades of 9 (Mint). Here are some more highlights and features of this graded set, including a complete listing of the players featured in the set:
All 80 cards include unique and machine stamped serial numbers on the backs, as well as subgrades issued by BGS for the following attributes: centering, corners, edges and surface.
As of the time of this auction’s beginning, 68 of the 80 cards have no other examples graded higher – including Kobe, Rodman, Iverson, Garnett, Pippen, Kemp, Penny Hardaway, David Robinson, Hakeem, Barkley, Ray Allen, Drexler, Mullin, Ewing, Richmond, Reggie Miller, Mourning, and 50 others!
As of the time of this auction’s beginning, 30 of the 80 cards have only been graded one time, meaning they are represented here in the set.
Michael Jordan /250 BGS 9.5 – This was Jordan’s last year as a Bull, and the year he won his sixth and final championship. The card has a grading score of 38.5 (sum of all four subgrades including centering, corners, edges and surface), with only 1 other example graded higher.
Kobe Bryant /250 BGS 10 Pristine – This is Kobe’s second year in the NBA, and is one of four BGS 10 Pristines in existence (39.5 grading score), with no other examples graded higher.
Tim Duncan /250 BGS 9.5 – This is Duncan’s rookie year, and is one of four BGS 9.5s with a grading score of 38.5 across all four subgrades, with only three other examples graded higher.
Dennis Rodman /250 BGS 10 Black Label – This is the only card in the entire graded population (399 total cards graded to date) which has ever received the BGS 10 Black Label (perfect grading score of 40 across all four subgrades)!
Here are all of the players featured in the set, along with their card numbers and serial numbered print runs:
Michael Jordan /250
Grant Hill /250
Allen Iverson /250
Kevin Garnett /250
Tim Duncan /250
Shawn Kemp /250
Shaquille O’Neal /250
Antoine Walker /250
Shareef Abdur-Rahim /250
Damon Stoudamire /250
Anfernee Hardaway /250
Keith Van Horn /250
Dennis Rodman /250
Ron Mercer /250
Stephon Marbury /250
Scottie Pippen /250
Kerry Kittles /250
Kobe Bryant /250
Marcus Camby /250
Chauncey Billups /250
Tracy McGrady /500
Joe Smith /500
Brevin Knight /500
Danny Fortson /500
Tim Thomas /500
Gary Payton /500
David Robinson /500
Hakeem Olajuwon /500
Antonio Daniels /500
Antonio McDyess /500
Eddie Jones /500
Adonal Foyle /500
Glenn Robinson /500
Charles Barkley /500
Vin Baker /500
Jerry Stackhouse /500
Ray Allen /500
Derek Anderson /500
Isaac Austin /500
Tony Battie /500
Tariq Abdul-Wahad /1,000
Dikembe Mutombo /1,000
Clyde Drexler /1,000
Chris Mullin /1,000
Tim Hardaway /1,000
Terrell Brandon /1,000
John Stockton /1,000
Patrick Ewing /1,000
Horace Grant /1,000
Tom Gugliotta /1,000
Mookie Blaylock/1,000
Mitch Richmond /1,000
Anthony Mason /1,000
Michael Finley /1,000
Jason Kidd /1,000
Karl Malone /1,000
Reggie Miller /1,000
Steve Smith /1,000
Glen Rice /1,000
Bryant Stith /1,000
Loy Vaught /2,000
Brian Grant /2,000
Joe Dumars /2,000
Juwan Howard /2,000
Rik Smits /2,000
Alonzo Mourning /2,000
Allan Houston /2,000
Chris Webber /2,000
Kendall Gill /2,000
Rony Seikaly /2,000
Kenny Anderson /2,000
John Wallace /2,000
Bryant Reeves /2,000
Brian Williams /2,000
Larry Johnson /2,000
Shawn Bradley /2,000
Kevin Johnson /2,000
Rod Strickland /2,000
Rodney Rogers /2,000
Rasheed Wallace /2,000