Fanatics and Sotheby’s recently concluded their second collaborative auction, “Exquisite | Capsule Collection,” making waves in the sports card market with over $2 million in sales from just 11 cards. The star of the show was the Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman Triple Logoman card, which fetched a jaw-dropping $600,000.
The auction featured exclusively premium cards from Upper Deck’s acclaimed Exquisite series, showcasing iconic NBA players in rare and highly sought-after cards. Notable highlights included 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.
Unsurprisingly, the spotlight remained on basketball legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James throughout the event, emphasizing the enduring demand for cards featuring these iconic figures in the sports card market. The fascination with these players reinforces the collectible nature and timeless appeal of their memorabilia.
This successful auction followed the triumph of their first collaboration, “Holy Grails,” where a LeBron James Exquisite card sold for an impressive $432,000. In this latest auction, another version of the same card soared to $456,000, showcasing the continued value of premium cards amidst market fluctuations. It’s noteworthy that a few years ago, the same card commanded prices exceeding $900,000, with similar versions reaching staggering heights of over $2 million in 2022.
The Exquisite line from Upper Deck has played a pivotal role in shaping the sports card industry, particularly with the introduction of rookie patch autographs that have become a staple for high-end collectors. Products like Panini’s National Treasures owe much of their popularity to the innovative approach initiated by Karvin Cheung through the Exquisite series in the early 2000s.
Fanatics maintains its commitment to elevating the hobby to new levels by partnering with Sotheby’s for these high-profile auctions. Their strategic alliance aims to position sports cards as not just collectibles but as valuable cultural artifacts deserving of exhibition in art galleries and inclusion in prestigious sales events. This forward-looking strategy seeks to redefine the traditional perception of sports cards, highlighting their significance as both collectible items and works of art.
