For years, the 1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson basketball card has lingered in the shadows of obscurity. Though Jackson was a solid player, the card itself wasn't a standout in most collections, often buried in boxes and forgotten. Boxes like the thin walled pencil box where I've been storing all of my basketball cards since my childhood.
Truth be told - I was always a bigger collector of baseball cards, but...I had a binder or two and a couple of boxes of basketball cards. It was the late 80s/early 90s after all.
The hunt for a card of any one of the members of "The Dream Team" was of course the priority. So, Mark Jackson - to be perfectly honest was never on my radar. Nor, was this card.
But thanks to an unexpected twist involving a resurgence of my own interests in the True Crime genre, and accidentally seeing this card in an article, it's time to give this card a second glance.
Do you see those two figures seated courtside on the edge of the card? I 100% thought this was AI art when I saw the article.
Your mind isn't playing tricks on you here folks...yes, they bear a striking resemblance to none other than the infamous Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik. Yes, the same brothers who shocked the nation with the brutal murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in 1989.
That's because it really is them.
Following the murders, before their arrest in March 1990, the brothers went on a lavish spending spree, indulging in luxury items and extravagant experiences, including courtside tickets at Madison Square Garden. And it's during this period that the photograph on the 1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson card was taken, with Jackson sporting a knee brace from the 1989-90 season.
The Menendez brothers' cameo on this basketball card has apparently sparked immense interest, leading to a surge in its value. Once a dime-a-dozen find, this card is now fetching prices ranging from $10 to $20 or more, fueled by its newfound notoriety.
However, it's worth noting that despite the sudden demand, the 1990-91 Hoops series isn't exactly rare. Many collectors likely have stacks of these cards lying around. So if you happen to have one tucked away, now might be the opportune moment to consider selling or trading it.
Although if you ask me, I think holding on to it as a strange collision of pop culture and true crime might be where it's at.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time a sports card has gained attention for its background figures. From the 1956 Topps Hank Aaron featuring Willie Mays to the 2007 Topps Derek Jeter with President George W. Bush and Mickey Mantle, sports cards have a history of hidden stories waiting to be uncovered.
I don't know that any of them however can claim to have not one but TWO convicted murders printed on the thin cardboard. Especially such a high profile case such as the Menendez brothers.
In the case of the 1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson card, its newfound fame sheds light on a dark and unusual chapter, transforming an ordinary collectible into a piece of true crime memorabilia with a captivating tale to tell.
Dig around your old basketball cards and see if it's hidden somewhere in the stack of "junk wax" you haven't brought yourself to throw away yet.
To hear more about my shocking discovery of this card be sure to tune into our episode here:
S4 E1
Be Rad,
Woody
