Fanatics and Sotheby’s recently concluded their second joint endeavor, a sports card auction that raked in an impressive $2 million from the sale of just 11 cards. The star of the show was a remarkable Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman Triple Logoman card, which fetched an astonishing $600,000.
Dubbed the “Exquisite | Capsule Collection,” this auction exclusively showcased premium cards from Upper Deck’s renowned Exquisite series. Among the highlights were a LeBron James 2003 Rookie Patch Autograph, a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant Dual Logoman Autograph, and a Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Dual Logoman Patch Autograph.
With a keen focus on NBA legends, particularly Michael Jordan and LeBron James, many of the cards on offer emphasized the ongoing allure of iconic personalities in the sports card market. This spotlight on basketball greats only served to deepen the interest and enthusiasm surrounding the auction.
This successful event follows their initial collaboration, “Holy Grails,” where a LeBron James Exquisite card was sold for $432,000. In this latest auction, another edition of the same card commanded an impressive $456,000, underlining the enduring value of premium sports cards while reflecting adjustments in the market. It is noteworthy that just a few years back, the same card went for over $900,000, with similar versions reaching peaks of over $2 million in 2022.
The Exquisite line from Upper Deck revolutionized the sports card industry by introducing rookie patch autographs—a feature now considered a staple among high-end collectors. Products like Panini’s National Treasures owe a debt to Exquisite’s visionary approach, spearheaded by Karvin Cheung in the early 2000s.
Fanatics remains committed to elevating the sports card hobby to new echelons. By partnering with Sotheby’s for these prestigious auctions, they are striving to position sports cards as cultural artifacts deserving of display in art galleries and inclusion in esteemed sales events. This strategic initiative aims to reshape the perception of sports cards, highlighting their value not only as collectibles but also as bona fide works of art.
