Fanatics and Sotheby’s, in their latest sensational collaboration, have closed their second auction with a resounding success, raking in a staggering $2 million from the sale of just 11 premium sports cards. The star of the show, a Triple Logoman card featuring basketball icons Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, commanded an impressive bid of $600,000, showcasing the allure of collectible sports memorabilia to enthusiasts and investors alike.
Dubbed the “Exquisite | Capsule Collection,” the auction exclusively showcased top-tier cards from Upper Deck’s renowned Exquisite series. Among the standout pieces were a coveted LeBron James 2003 Rookie Patch Autograph, a rare Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant Dual Logoman Autograph, as well as a coveted Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Dual Logoman Patch Autograph. The focus of the event remained steadfastly on NBA legends, with an emphasis on luminaries such as Michael Jordan and LeBron James, thereby emphasizing the enduring demand for cards featuring these iconic figures within the sports memorabilia market.
Building on the triumph of their initial joint endeavor, “Holy Grails,” which saw a LeBron James Exquisite card change hands for an impressive $432,000, this latest auction witnessed another iteration of the same card being sold for $456,000. This price point not only underscores the sustained value of premium sports cards but also reflects the evolving dynamics of the market. In the recent past, identical cards commanded prices exceeding $900,000, with some variants reaching stratospheric valuations exceeding $2 million in 2022.
The Exquisite line from Upper Deck proved to be a game-changer in the sports card industry by introducing revolutionary concepts like rookie patch autographs that have since become must-haves for discerning collectors. The enduring popularity of products such as Panini’s National Treasures owes a debt of gratitude to the innovative approach pioneered by Karvin Cheung through the Exquisite line in the early 2000s.
Fanatics remains steadfast in its commitment to elevating the hobby to unprecedented heights. Through strategic collaborations with esteemed partners like Sotheby’s in hosting high-profile auctions, Fanatics seeks to position sports cards as invaluable cultural artifacts worthy of being showcased in art galleries and esteemed sales events. This proactive approach aims to redefine the perception of sports cards, showcasing them not just as collectibles but also as genuine works of art that hold significant cultural and historical value.