1983-1984 Star Company Basketball Complete Set (275) Including Eight Sealed Team-Set Bags

Sold For:

$1,560

Year:

1983

Auction:

2021 Spring

Lot #:

2900

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Presented is an outstanding high-grade complete 275-card set of 1983-1984 Star Company Basketball, highlighted by the first NBA cards of Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, and James Worthy. Bridging the gap between the 1981-1982 Topps and the 1986-1987 Fleer issues, Star Company was the only NBA-licensed manufacturer of trading cards for the 1983-1984 through 1985-1986 basketball seasons. Despite a consistently loyal following during that time, surprisingly these issues have not received even more attention from modern-day collectors, especially given the stature of the players who made their first appearances in these sets. The reason for this may lie in the fact that for many years grading companies did not grade these issues due to rumors of original plates being used to reprint cards and complete sets. While it is true that some preproduction samples or factory rejects did make their way into the hobby, there is no evidence (confirmed by an FBI investigation) that Star Company cards were ever reprinted from original plates. BGS began grading Star Company basketball cards in 2008, leading to a resurgence in hobby interest for these important sets. A total of ninety-five cards from eight teams (Clippers, Nets, Nuggets, Pistons, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, and Trail Blazers) still reside in their sealed team-set bags, as originally issued. The condition of the 180 unbagged cards is 33% Nr/Mt-Mt to Mint (mostly Nr/Mt-Mt), 37% Nr/Mt, and 30% Ex to Ex-Mt (including a few lesser and 4% that measure small). Keys: #1 Erving (Ex), 13 Johnson (Ex-Mt), 14 Abdul-Jabbar (Nr/Mt+), 25 Worthy (Vg-Ex), 26 Bird (Ex-Mt), and 263 Wilkins (Nr/Mt+). This is a superb, mostly high-grade complete set of this modern classic basketball issue, loaded with all of the great stars and Hall of Famers of the era. Total: 275 cards. Reserve $300. Estimate (open).