| The HOOPS Page!!! |
| 1968 Aamco Transmission Postcard(s) Wilt Chamberlain |
WELCOME to Nowbatting19's HOOPS Page! On this page, we will feature some terrific basketball cards. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., the biggest bubble gum card maker on the
planet, issued a major basketball set in 1957 but basketball was just not as popular with the kids, so it wasn't until 1969 that Topps began producing basketball cards again. Frank H. Fleer
Company also issued early basketball cards in 1961 and these feature some great early cards of Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Jerry West, to name a few; however this
was their last effort. Topps not only had a monopoly on the baseball market, but it seems the basketball market as well. My site is pretty well prejudiced as it features mostly baseball cards
(as I think it is the best game ever!) but it is time to acknowledge the other sports as well. Except GOLF, as that is not a sport, but a retirement game. Any game where you do not break a
sweat is NOT a sport in my book. Same goes for playing cards. Playing cards is NOT a sport! It is playing cards. Period. And while I am on a roll, I also want to mention that soccer is the
most boring sport in the universe! There are only a couple things that happen in soccer. One is you have a bunch of guys or girls running around like chickens with their head's cut off.
Then they try and kick the ball into the net. The goalie tries to stop this. I would rather be an AMERICAN IDIOT and spend an hour watching "AMERICAN IDOL" than watch 5 minutes of
soccer. Anyway enjoy our new hoops page! Tim
planet, issued a major basketball set in 1957 but basketball was just not as popular with the kids, so it wasn't until 1969 that Topps began producing basketball cards again. Frank H. Fleer
Company also issued early basketball cards in 1961 and these feature some great early cards of Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Jerry West, to name a few; however this
was their last effort. Topps not only had a monopoly on the baseball market, but it seems the basketball market as well. My site is pretty well prejudiced as it features mostly baseball cards
(as I think it is the best game ever!) but it is time to acknowledge the other sports as well. Except GOLF, as that is not a sport, but a retirement game. Any game where you do not break a
sweat is NOT a sport in my book. Same goes for playing cards. Playing cards is NOT a sport! It is playing cards. Period. And while I am on a roll, I also want to mention that soccer is the
most boring sport in the universe! There are only a couple things that happen in soccer. One is you have a bunch of guys or girls running around like chickens with their head's cut off.
Then they try and kick the ball into the net. The goalie tries to stop this. I would rather be an AMERICAN IDIOT and spend an hour watching "AMERICAN IDOL" than watch 5 minutes of
soccer. Anyway enjoy our new hoops page! Tim
1973 Topps #240 Julius Erving AS 1986 Fleer #31 Julius Erving
In 1968 (or thereabouts) Aamco Transmissions produced a set of large postcards featuring some bigger than life sport figures. I was aware of only two players, Roger Maris of the St. Louis
Cardinals, and Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts. However what is great about the world wide web is that someone, somewhere, will provide more information and in this case, I would
like to give full credit to Brent Kondritz. Brent recently acquired the Maris, Unitas, and this super Wilt Chamberlain postcard, which is really TWO separate postcards. I put them together
so you can get the "full picture." This is just a terrific piece and I am so happy Brent provided these scans so we can all enjoy them! Thanks Brent!!!
P.S. Speaking of the great Wilt Chamberlain, makes me think fondly of the Laker teams of old. You had the great Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt "The Stilt," the Laker teams of the 1980's
which featured Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the terrific announcer through those great teams, Chick Hearn (RIP Chicky baby). Notice I am not going mention
the Kobe Bryant/ Shaqullle O' Neal "soap opera" teams, which caused me to care less about the Lakers. I was just reading in the papers today about how Kobe is "unhappy" with management, etc.
These pampered pusses don't deserve any respect. Not from this fan. Reminds me of a line from John Wayne in the movie "The Cowboys." Wayne's character says "it takes more than a
big mouth to be a big man." So just shut the hell up and PLAY Kobe! If you were any leader you would kick some ass on the team. Not bitch and whine like the wuss that you are. Aw
blow it out!
Cardinals, and Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts. However what is great about the world wide web is that someone, somewhere, will provide more information and in this case, I would
like to give full credit to Brent Kondritz. Brent recently acquired the Maris, Unitas, and this super Wilt Chamberlain postcard, which is really TWO separate postcards. I put them together
so you can get the "full picture." This is just a terrific piece and I am so happy Brent provided these scans so we can all enjoy them! Thanks Brent!!!
P.S. Speaking of the great Wilt Chamberlain, makes me think fondly of the Laker teams of old. You had the great Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt "The Stilt," the Laker teams of the 1980's
which featured Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the terrific announcer through those great teams, Chick Hearn (RIP Chicky baby). Notice I am not going mention
the Kobe Bryant/ Shaqullle O' Neal "soap opera" teams, which caused me to care less about the Lakers. I was just reading in the papers today about how Kobe is "unhappy" with management, etc.
These pampered pusses don't deserve any respect. Not from this fan. Reminds me of a line from John Wayne in the movie "The Cowboys." Wayne's character says "it takes more than a
big mouth to be a big man." So just shut the hell up and PLAY Kobe! If you were any leader you would kick some ass on the team. Not bitch and whine like the wuss that you are. Aw
blow it out!
1968 Topps Test #1 Wilt Chamberlain 1960 Leaf #37 Duke Snider
Here is another rare Wilt Chamberlain issue. Prior to Topps' 1969 basketball set (their first since 1957), they produced a "test issue." I don't know much about them except that they are
very, very rare. I spotted this example on eBay and being that I could not afford the $5,000 asking price (I think it was somewhere around there) I lifted the image and pasted it here so that
other collectors (like me) could see what they look like. To me, they look very much like the 1960 "Sports Novelties" (Leaf) baseball cards (see the above Duke Snider card, right). Maybe
that's why they were not produced. I don't know. What I do know, is that these 1968 Topps basketball test issues are very rare and very valuable. And that is all you need to know about
these cards.
very, very rare. I spotted this example on eBay and being that I could not afford the $5,000 asking price (I think it was somewhere around there) I lifted the image and pasted it here so that
other collectors (like me) could see what they look like. To me, they look very much like the 1960 "Sports Novelties" (Leaf) baseball cards (see the above Duke Snider card, right). Maybe
that's why they were not produced. I don't know. What I do know, is that these 1968 Topps basketball test issues are very rare and very valuable. And that is all you need to know about
these cards.
1981 Topps #4 Larry Bird 1981 Topps #21 Magic Johnson
Some collectors feel the 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is THE basketcall card to own. I don't agree with that. If I had to choose the best basketball card of all-time I would choose
the 1980-1981 Topps Larry Bird/ Magic Johnson rookie card (btw, the 3-card panel also features the guy who was "AIR" before Jordan, Julius Erving). That card features the two players
who put basketball on top. It was not Michael Jordan. Additionally, the BIrd/ Magic Topps rookie card is much more affordable than Michael Jordan's 1986 Fleer rookie card. Either way, you
can't go wrong with either choice but I think the 1980 Topps Bird/ Erving/ Magic card is the all-time best basketball card. You can see what their rookie card looks like by going to the
All-Time Great Cards Page.
The above 1981 Topps cards of Larry Bird & Erving "Magic" Johnson are not their rookie cards, but second year cards. While not difficult to acquire by any means, they are difficult to find
well centered. For some reason, Topps again stopped producing basketball cards after this effort. It was not until 1991-1992, that they resumed the basketball series again.
the 1980-1981 Topps Larry Bird/ Magic Johnson rookie card (btw, the 3-card panel also features the guy who was "AIR" before Jordan, Julius Erving). That card features the two players
who put basketball on top. It was not Michael Jordan. Additionally, the BIrd/ Magic Topps rookie card is much more affordable than Michael Jordan's 1986 Fleer rookie card. Either way, you
can't go wrong with either choice but I think the 1980 Topps Bird/ Erving/ Magic card is the all-time best basketball card. You can see what their rookie card looks like by going to the
All-Time Great Cards Page.
The above 1981 Topps cards of Larry Bird & Erving "Magic" Johnson are not their rookie cards, but second year cards. While not difficult to acquire by any means, they are difficult to find
well centered. For some reason, Topps again stopped producing basketball cards after this effort. It was not until 1991-1992, that they resumed the basketball series again.
1971 Topps #50 Jerry West
I was not a big hoops fan as a kid. I was primarily a baseball nut. However I do remember in the early 1970's my mom would buy us packs of cards (including both football and basketball)
when we were sick. We would rip into these packs and I really liked the bright colors Topps used in the 1971 and 1972 Topps sets. This is one of my favorites featuring Laker great, Jerry
West. In the 3rd grade I remember we were watching some film and Jerry West was in it. Some kid, I can only remember his first name, Jeff; anyway Jeff said out loud that he saw Jerry
West. Well this is fine, except Jeff kept repeating this line, much to the chagrine of our teacher who told him to stop it. Jeff kept on saying, amost singing, "I SAW JERRY WEST... I SAW
JER-RY WE-EST.... I SAW JER-RRRY WE-ESST," etc., etc. Well the teacher had enough and escorted Mr. Jeff outside to the back, outside of the classroom. And there Mr. Jeff
proceeded to go into his 4-word song... "I SAW JER-RY WE-EST...." Why I remember this, I do not know. Jeff, if you are reading this, I hope you did see Jerry West.
when we were sick. We would rip into these packs and I really liked the bright colors Topps used in the 1971 and 1972 Topps sets. This is one of my favorites featuring Laker great, Jerry
West. In the 3rd grade I remember we were watching some film and Jerry West was in it. Some kid, I can only remember his first name, Jeff; anyway Jeff said out loud that he saw Jerry
West. Well this is fine, except Jeff kept repeating this line, much to the chagrine of our teacher who told him to stop it. Jeff kept on saying, amost singing, "I SAW JERRY WEST... I SAW
JER-RY WE-EST.... I SAW JER-RRRY WE-ESST," etc., etc. Well the teacher had enough and escorted Mr. Jeff outside to the back, outside of the classroom. And there Mr. Jeff
proceeded to go into his 4-word song... "I SAW JER-RY WE-EST...." Why I remember this, I do not know. Jeff, if you are reading this, I hope you did see Jerry West.
1973 Topps #130 Pete Maravich
****** This page is currently under construction. Please check back soon for more great basketball cards! ******
The Duke says...
"What in the HELL am I doing here???
"What in the HELL am I doing here???
The late great "Pistol" Pete Maravich. During his tenure in college with LSU, the amazing "Pistol Pete" averaged over 44.2 points a game! And not just one season; this was his entire
college career! A wizard with a basketball, Maravich could do it all. I would not be surprised if he didn't sleep with a basketball. After college, Maravich played for the Atlanta Hawks, New
Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics of the NBA and thrilled everywhere he went. He averaged 24.2 points per game and scored 15948 points in a short 10 year career. He was elected to the
Basketball Hall Of Fame in 1987 and was also named as one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History." Maravich had a troubled soul but became a born again Christian after this
playing career had ended. On January 5, 1988 Maravich died while playing a pick-up game of basketball in Pasadena California gym. He was only 40 years old. It is ironic that Pete
Maravich died in a church gym; he had found religion and was at last, in peace. For more on Pete Maravich, you can check out the Pistol Pete 23 website.
college career! A wizard with a basketball, Maravich could do it all. I would not be surprised if he didn't sleep with a basketball. After college, Maravich played for the Atlanta Hawks, New
Orleans Jazz, and Boston Celtics of the NBA and thrilled everywhere he went. He averaged 24.2 points per game and scored 15948 points in a short 10 year career. He was elected to the
Basketball Hall Of Fame in 1987 and was also named as one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History." Maravich had a troubled soul but became a born again Christian after this
playing career had ended. On January 5, 1988 Maravich died while playing a pick-up game of basketball in Pasadena California gym. He was only 40 years old. It is ironic that Pete
Maravich died in a church gym; he had found religion and was at last, in peace. For more on Pete Maravich, you can check out the Pistol Pete 23 website.
1973 Topps #70 Oscar Robertson 1971 Topps #142 NBA Rebound Leaders
Basketball cards, especially 1970's Topps, are very good bargains. Tops stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Pete Maravich, Julius Erving, etc., can be had for
a few bucks to about $50 depending on condition. There are only a small handful of Topps cards from the seventies that get a bit expensive; Rookie cards of Maravich and Erving are
probably the most expensive basketball cards of the decade with graded NM examples selling for about $250 (1971 Topps #123 Maravich) and $130 (1972 Topps #130 Julius Erving).
Ungraded cards would sell for even less. Other than those two cards, most regular Topps basketball cards are pretty cheap. I just picked up the above two cards for about $10 each; it
costs over $10 apiece just to have the cards graded by PSA! The 1973 Topps #70 Oscar Robertson (above left) is one of his last cards and has a great action shot of Robertson going
strong to the hoop. And check out the 1971 Topps #142 NBA Rebound Leaders card (above, right). 3 Hall of Famers are pictured (Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, & Lew Alcindor
who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and all for just ten bucks or less! Now if that isn't a bargain, I don't know what is!
a few bucks to about $50 depending on condition. There are only a small handful of Topps cards from the seventies that get a bit expensive; Rookie cards of Maravich and Erving are
probably the most expensive basketball cards of the decade with graded NM examples selling for about $250 (1971 Topps #123 Maravich) and $130 (1972 Topps #130 Julius Erving).
Ungraded cards would sell for even less. Other than those two cards, most regular Topps basketball cards are pretty cheap. I just picked up the above two cards for about $10 each; it
costs over $10 apiece just to have the cards graded by PSA! The 1973 Topps #70 Oscar Robertson (above left) is one of his last cards and has a great action shot of Robertson going
strong to the hoop. And check out the 1971 Topps #142 NBA Rebound Leaders card (above, right). 3 Hall of Famers are pictured (Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, & Lew Alcindor
who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and all for just ten bucks or less! Now if that isn't a bargain, I don't know what is!
1986 Fleer Basketball
1986 Fleer #1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1986 Fleer #131 James Worthy RC 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan RC
Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. had a virtual monopoly on most sports and non-sports cards during the 1970s. However early in the 1980s, a lawsuit was filed and won by rival companies
Donruss and Fleer. As a result, the two companies began producing baseball cards in 1981 (without bubble gum). Topps Basketball cards were not selling on the same level as their
baseball and football issues, hence Topps stopped producing basketball cards following their 1981 effort. Star Company began producing basketball cards in the mid-eighties and these
beautiful cards became very popular, though not considered a "major" set. In 1987 Fleer changed all this with their first basketball set since 1962. The bright colorful cards were an
immediate hit, helped by the slew of established star players and a crop of young rookies that were included in the set. As a result of basketball's booming popularity (aided largely by Larry
Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan) Topps began producing cards again in 1992. The 1980's and 90's saw an explosion in the hobby of too many card manufacturers to mention.
Everyone wanted to cash in on the card market. Card shops appeared everywhere and everyone wanted a piece of the pie. As a result the card manufacturers began producing mass
quantities of cards, so much so that there was more supply than demand. Hence you have tons of cards from this time period that you practically can't give away. I personally believe this
1986 Fleer basketball set is probably the last great basketball set. You can't ignore the importance of this set, the cards are very tough to find in high grades (9's or better), hence it is very
attractive to collectors. You don't even have to add the importance of the Jordan rookie card; arguably the best basketball card of all-time. Plus the set was made with enough scarcity that
not everyone has them. This is a true modern classic.
P.S. The 1986 Fleer #131 James Worthy card (above, center) is his rookie card. "BIG GAME JAMES" was my favorite Laker player and I got to go to the Lakers game when they retired his
jersey (#42). "Magic to Worthy...SLAAAAAAAAM Dunk!!!!" "The butter's getting hard and the Jell-O's jiggling; this game is in the refrigerator!" (Chick Hearn; we miss you Chickey Baby!)
Donruss and Fleer. As a result, the two companies began producing baseball cards in 1981 (without bubble gum). Topps Basketball cards were not selling on the same level as their
baseball and football issues, hence Topps stopped producing basketball cards following their 1981 effort. Star Company began producing basketball cards in the mid-eighties and these
beautiful cards became very popular, though not considered a "major" set. In 1987 Fleer changed all this with their first basketball set since 1962. The bright colorful cards were an
immediate hit, helped by the slew of established star players and a crop of young rookies that were included in the set. As a result of basketball's booming popularity (aided largely by Larry
Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan) Topps began producing cards again in 1992. The 1980's and 90's saw an explosion in the hobby of too many card manufacturers to mention.
Everyone wanted to cash in on the card market. Card shops appeared everywhere and everyone wanted a piece of the pie. As a result the card manufacturers began producing mass
quantities of cards, so much so that there was more supply than demand. Hence you have tons of cards from this time period that you practically can't give away. I personally believe this
1986 Fleer basketball set is probably the last great basketball set. You can't ignore the importance of this set, the cards are very tough to find in high grades (9's or better), hence it is very
attractive to collectors. You don't even have to add the importance of the Jordan rookie card; arguably the best basketball card of all-time. Plus the set was made with enough scarcity that
not everyone has them. This is a true modern classic.
P.S. The 1986 Fleer #131 James Worthy card (above, center) is his rookie card. "BIG GAME JAMES" was my favorite Laker player and I got to go to the Lakers game when they retired his
jersey (#42). "Magic to Worthy...SLAAAAAAAAM Dunk!!!!" "The butter's getting hard and the Jell-O's jiggling; this game is in the refrigerator!" (Chick Hearn; we miss you Chickey Baby!)
1971 Topps Stickers 22 Pete Maravich, 23 Bob Kaufman, 24 John Havlicek
Commonly referred to as "Topps Trios," these stickers featured three players on each card. Like the 1971 Topps baseball series, these stickers have jet black borders and show the
tiniest hints of wear. With that in mind, and the fact that many of these were used as, well, stickers, the 1971 Topps basketball stickers are very scarce to acquire in high grade. Topps
also didn't help matters much by producing many of these off-center (back then centering issues were not as important as they are today). Some of the games greatest players are
featured on these stickers. This particular issue features Hall of Famers "Pistol" Pete Maravich and John Havlicek ("HAVLICEK STOLE THE BALL! HAVLICEK STOLE THE
BALL!!!"). Terrific hoops collectible from the 1970's.
tiniest hints of wear. With that in mind, and the fact that many of these were used as, well, stickers, the 1971 Topps basketball stickers are very scarce to acquire in high grade. Topps
also didn't help matters much by producing many of these off-center (back then centering issues were not as important as they are today). Some of the games greatest players are
featured on these stickers. This particular issue features Hall of Famers "Pistol" Pete Maravich and John Havlicek ("HAVLICEK STOLE THE BALL! HAVLICEK STOLE THE
BALL!!!"). Terrific hoops collectible from the 1970's.
1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell (Rookie card)
1975 Topps #300 Julius Erving
Ha-ha! Look at the Kentucky Colonel player getting "posterized" by the great "Doctor J." I love these 1970's Topps basketball cards. They have many of the games greatest players
(including most of the "NBA's 50 Greatest Players), feature ABA teams and players (check out the Red, White & Blue basketball in Erving's hands), and are very inexpensive. When
baseball was the "National Pastime" sports like basketball, football and hockey took a back seat to baseball. Hence, these other sports cards were not as popular as baseball cards from
the same time. In fact basketball cards were so unpopular with fans back in the 1970's - early 80's that Topps stopped production of basketball cards starting in 1982. They didn't start
producing hoops cards again until 1992. Star Company picked up the slack and began producing basketball cards in the 1980's, along with Fleer, which produced the classic 1987 Fleer
set (see above). By the early 1990's companies like Upper Deck, Skybox, Hoops, and countless others begain mass producing basketball cards, so much so that today these cards have
little monetary value. So if you want to collect vintage basketball cards on a budget and want to pick up players like Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pete
Maravich, Jerry West, etc., your best bet is 1970's Topps cards. I just picked up this cool 1975 Topps #300 Julius Erving card, graded PSA 9 MINT (OC) for about $20. Considering it
costs about ten dollars to have the card professionally graded, I'd say that twenty bucks is a bargain!
(including most of the "NBA's 50 Greatest Players), feature ABA teams and players (check out the Red, White & Blue basketball in Erving's hands), and are very inexpensive. When
baseball was the "National Pastime" sports like basketball, football and hockey took a back seat to baseball. Hence, these other sports cards were not as popular as baseball cards from
the same time. In fact basketball cards were so unpopular with fans back in the 1970's - early 80's that Topps stopped production of basketball cards starting in 1982. They didn't start
producing hoops cards again until 1992. Star Company picked up the slack and began producing basketball cards in the 1980's, along with Fleer, which produced the classic 1987 Fleer
set (see above). By the early 1990's companies like Upper Deck, Skybox, Hoops, and countless others begain mass producing basketball cards, so much so that today these cards have
little monetary value. So if you want to collect vintage basketball cards on a budget and want to pick up players like Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pete
Maravich, Jerry West, etc., your best bet is 1970's Topps cards. I just picked up this cool 1975 Topps #300 Julius Erving card, graded PSA 9 MINT (OC) for about $20. Considering it
costs about ten dollars to have the card professionally graded, I'd say that twenty bucks is a bargain!