TOP 10 eBAY SALES: Rare Michael Jordan ‘Intimidation’ card sells for big dollars; surprising sale for 1974 Topps Carlton Fisk

Here’s a Michael Jordan item we haven’t seen in our Top 10 list: a 1998-99 Skybox Premium card from a subset called “Intimidation Nation.” Graded PSA 10, it was listed on eBay recently and drew 113 bids, soaring to $34,069.

Intimidation Nation cards were inserted randomly in Series 1 packs at a rate of one per 360. Design-wise, they featured rainbow holo-stamping and tightly cropped closeups of players’ faces. 

Also See: Record sale for 1984 Michael Jordan Type 1 photo 

The Jordan example was No. 8 out of 10 in the numbered subset. Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Grant Hill, Shawn Kemp and Shaq O’Neal were also featured in the subset, along with Gary Payton, Keith Van Horne and Antoine Walker.

Interestingly, another PSA 10 example of Jordan’s Intimidation Nation card is currently offered on eBay in a Buy It Now sale for the far higher price of $89,800.

Meanwhile, two 9-grade examples of the Jordan Intimidation Nation card sold on eBay for prices of $5,200 on 24 bids and $5,601 on 46 bids. The next-most popular player on the checklist is Kobe. An ungraded example of the Bryant card recently brought $890 on 35 bids on eBay.

1. $61,850 on 91 bids: 2015-16 Panini National Treasures Nikola Jokic Emerald, #1/5, auto patch (PSA 9, auto 10)

Also See: A Rod Carew rookie card for $1? Say what?

2. $51,665 on 135 bids: 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor (BGS 9.5)

3. $35,842 on 46 bids: 2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani Green Refractor, #43/99, auto (PSA 10)

4. $34,069 on 113 bids: 1998-99 Skybox Premium Michael Jordan Intimidation Nation (PSA 10)

5. $33,855 on 96 bids: 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry Rookie Autograph, #44/225, auto (PSA 10, auto 10)

6. $33,433 on 86 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (BGS 9.5)

7. $32,980 on 101 bids: 2020 Panini National Treasures Justin Herbert, #76/99, auto patch (BGS 9, auto 10)

8. $32,501 on 39 bids: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (SGC 2)

Also See: Top 10 Mickey Mantle cards for collectors 

9. $32,100 on 72 bids: 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan (BGS 8.5)

10. $27,900 on 63 bids: 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth, full-body variation (PSA 4.5)

Also See: Another record sale for iconic Honus Wagner card 

You don’t usually see baseball cards from Topps’ 1974 set sell for upwards of $20,000. That’s changing. If the grade is high enough and the player is legendary enough, you know what happens. This example tells the story: Last month, an eBay seller listed a PSA 10 Gem-Mint Carlton Fisk card and sold it for — hold onto your hat — $26,297 on 28 bids.

PSA has logged only two other 1974 Fisk cards with a PSA 10 grade, so it’s a condition rarity. But keep in mind it’s not even Fisk’s rookie or second-year card; it’s his third appearance in a Topps set.

If you found the price of the PSA 10 hard to believe, you also might be shocked at the going rate for examples in lesser grades. Over the past few months, we saw a half-dozen 1974 Fisk cards graded PSA 8 sell for prices of just $79, $76, $71, $69, $62 and $50. We cite that many examples because it shows a narrow price point has been established.

What about a grade-9 Topps 1974 card of Fisk? Well, one eBay seller just listed one for $955 in a Buy It Now deal. We spotted another for sale at sportsmemorabilia.com — for the asking price of $1,905.

Anyway, on to our full “next 10” list:

• $27,886 on 85 bids: 2001 Upper Deck SP Authentic Tiger Woods, #786/900, auto (PSA 10)

• $26,297 on 28 bids: 1974 Topps Carlton Fisk (PSA 10)

• $26,200 on 94 bids: 2020 Panini Absolute Kaboom! Joe Burrow Gold, #1/10 (PSA 9)

• $25,112 on 50 bids: 2000 Fleer Autographics Tom Brady Gold, #18/50, auto (PSA 9)

• $23,656 on 87 bids: 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle (SGC 7)

• $22,322 on 44 bids: 1997 Fleer Metal Universe John Elway Precious Gems Green, #15/15 (PSA 6)

• $22,322 on 72 bids: 2017 Panini Spectra Patrick Mahomes II Gold Vinyl, #1/1, auto patch (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

• $22,100 on 81 bids: 2003-04 Upper Deck SP Signature Edition LeBron James Famous Nicknames, auto (PSA 9)

• $22,100 on 85 bids: 2019 Topps Chrome Bundesliga (soccer) Erling Haaland Gold Refractor, #34/50 (PSA 10)

• $22,100 on 61 bids: 2020 Panini National Treasures Joe Burrow Silver, #6/25, auto patch (PSA 9, auto 10)