A fellow Syracuse alum and the good Dr. in a team card

This 2003-04 Upper Deck SP sSignatures autograph set is massive. It’s probably my favorite autograph set. Partly because it blends the old and the new… Showcasing autographs from LeBron‘s rookie year, but still capturing players like Kobe, bird, magic, Garnett, Dr. J, and others. Aesthetically, it’s a very clean, looking set, which highlights clean, bold autographs. The gold parallel set is numbered out of #/50 and carries a pretty heavy premium at times.

Over time, the more I collect the more I look for rare, unique, or interesting items. In fact, the more I collect the less into current shiny cards and the more interest lies in vintage and a Hall of Fame caliber players. This card stuck out for me as it has autographs of two of my favorites, old timers. Yes, they are sticker autos and for me, the grade doesn’t matter as much as the aesthetics, the players, and the bright, bold, clear autographs.

Dr. J

I got this from an auction house in New York about 3 years ago.

Upper Deck bought the Fleer/Skybox license and could produce cards with that branding but no longer had the NBA license, so they produced some amazing retro cards (and the checklist is very good. Full of stars and HOFers like Jordan, LeBron, Bird, Magic, Dr. J and others) just in their college uniforms. Retro sets included Autographics, Jambalaya, star Rubies, credentials, PMGs, and other classic 90’s inserts. Really nice opportunity to buy cool cards for much much lower prices