In the year 2023, a remarkable trend took hold in the world of sports card collecting. There was a renewed interest in vintage cards from the 1950s to the 1980s, capturing the attention of collectors who were fascinated by the rich history of sports memorabilia. The authentication and grading companies, including industry giants like PSA, ISA, BGS, and SGC, observed a significant surge in submissions of cards from these eras.
Leading the charge in this vintage revival was the iconic 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. card. A true hallmark of baseball card collecting, this card saw nearly 14,000 new graded copies in 2023, surpassing any other sports card from the 1950s to 1980s. With a total of almost 161,000 graded copies now in existence, the Griffey card has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of sports card collecting.
In the realm of baseball, the 1980s era was further defined by the 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie card, which saw over 7,800 new graded copies, bringing its total to nearly 51,000. Basketball, another major sport in the card collecting world, was dominated by the legendary Michael Jordan. All five of the most graded basketball cards from the 1980s bore Jordan’s name, with his 1989 Hoops card leading the way with 5,130 new grades.
Mickey Mantle, an icon of the 1950s and 60s baseball card scene, was well-presented with four of the top ten cards from these decades. His 1966 Topps card alone was graded 2,845 times. Football cards from the same era were led by Jim Brown, with his 1958 Topps rookie card and 1959 Topps card leading the submissions. The 1970s featured Walter Payton’s 1976 rookie card in football and George Brett’s 1975 rookie card in baseball, both joining the ranks of the most graded cards.
Interestingly, the rarity of 1950s basketball cards did not dampen the enthusiasm for Bill Russell’s rookie card and his Celtics teammate, Bob Cousy. In hockey, Wayne Gretzky’s 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee rookie card took the crown as the most graded, surpassing the Topps version.
The grading of vintage cards extended beyond the most popular names. Other notable cards from the 1950s to the 1980s that received a high number of grades included the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman rookie card, the 1968 Topps Johnny Bench rookie, and the 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie in baseball. In basketball, the 1972-73 Topps Julius Erving rookie and the 1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor rookie were also highly sought-after. Hockey saw a few vintage cards graded more than 1,000 times, a testament to the growing interest in this sport’s memorabilia.
This resurgence of interest in vintage sports cards is not just a passing trend; it’s a reflection of the nostalgia and historical significance these cards hold. They serve as a connection to the past, a connection to the heroes and legends of the sports world. For collectors, these cards are not simply pieces of cardboard, but pieces of history, tangible links to the athletes and moments that have shaped the world of sports.
The increasing number of these cards being graded also signifies a growing awareness of their value, both in terms of monetary worth and sentimental value. As more collectors seek to authenticate and preserve these treasures, the sports card collecting hobby continues to evolve, bridging the gap between the past and the present.
Looking back on 2023, it becomes clear that the year marked a significant chapter in the story of sports card collecting. It was a year that celebrated and cherished the pastimes of previous generations, breathing new life into the vintage cards that had once captured the imagination of fans. This resurgence serves as a reminder that sports cards are more than just collectibles; they are a way for us to connect with the history of sports, to remember the greats of the game, and to ensure their legacy lives on for future generations.
