The only problem was, the last time the 1991 Upper Deck Baseball Michael Jordan sold for more than a dollar or two was back when Saved by the Bell was still on the air and Reebok was rocking the Foot Locker with pump shoes. The last time I looked in a price guide, these bad boys were selling for $20. 'This card is awesome! Check it out, Michael Jordan taking batting practice with the White Sox. 'I know some of them didn't quite pan out, but they should be worth a little something still, right?' asks the collector.Īs the shop owner nears the bottom of the stack, the collector reaches in and grabs one card. The shop owner continues to thumb through the cards politely as the collector, now completely overcome with visions of forthcoming riches, points out can't-miss rookies like Greg Vaughn, Gregg Jefferies and Kevin Maas. Sports card values from the late 1980s and early 1990s are pretty much worthless, with some notable exceptions.

Those were some great cards back when they were first released, but they aren't going to put anyone through college today, let alone buy a ham sandwich. Same with the Upper Deck card where there's three pictures of him.' That Nolan Ryan where he's wearing the tuxedo I've got two of them. But he opens the box anyway, out of courtesy.īefore the shop owner even has a chance to take a handful of cards out, the customer amps up the sales pitch, 'I've got tons of Hall of Famers in there. Seeing the mix of Fleer team logo stickers and Upper Deck holograms tattooing the box, the shopkeeper knows the customer won't be leaving the store happy or with a newfound wad of cash. They confidently toss them on the glass display case, look up at the card shop owner and ask, 'How much'll you give me for these?' expecting high sports card values. It's a familiar scene in sports card shops: someone walks in enthusiastically with a faded box or two under their arms.

The Magic Coin by Ruth Chew