What is the Menendez Brothers Basketball Card?

What Exactly Is the “Menendez Brothers Basketball Card”?

The card:

• Set/Year: 1990-91 NBA Hoops
• Player: Mark Jackson (New York Knicks)
• Card #: 205
• Photo: Action shot at Madison Square Garden.
• Easter Egg: Seated courtside behind Jackson are Lyle and Erik Menendez, who had already killed their parents (1989) but had not yet been arrested (1990) when this photo was taken.

Why it matters:
This card blends sports, pop culture, and true crime—three worlds that rarely collide in a single piece of cardboard. It lived in binders for decades as a regular base card until a sharp-eyed researcher put two and two together. Once the internet took hold of the story, the card transformed from “junk-wax filler” to a conversation starter and, depending on condition, a solid little asset.

Key clarifications:

• It’s not an SSP, variation, or error.
• There is no corrected or alternate version.
• The “Menendez” aspect is purely about the photo—nothing in the checklist or back text calls it out.

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How the Craze Started (and Why It Stuck)

Origin of the discovery:
In 2018, a true-crime writer digging for photographic evidence of the brothers’ post-crime lifestyle noticed they were courtside in this specific Mark Jackson image. Social media amplified it. Hobby outlets covered it. Collectors went to their attic boxes, pulled copies, and the market lit up.

Why it stuck:

• Memorability: It’s a wild fact you can show in 5 seconds—“Look closely at the bottom-left crowd.”
• Accessibility: Because it’s a base card, lots of people could participate.
• Debate factor: Some collectors are fascinated. Others feel weird about the topic. That tension keeps it in the news cycle.
• Media echoes: Every time a docu-series or news story revisits the case, interest bumps again.
• A second discovery: When the Jordan “Rare Air #89” cameo surfaced later, it gave the storyline a sequel and brought fresh eyeballs to the first card.

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Is the Menendez Brothers Basketball Card Rare?

Short answer: No, not in the “low print run” sense. 1990-91 Hoops was printed in massive quantities. Think junk-wax era volume.

So why do some copies sell well?

• Condition. Light gray borders, thin black arch, and typical early-90s centering issues can punish grades. High-grade slabs (especially PSA 10) are much fewer than raw copies.
• Demand. The card is a pop-culture conversation piece. When demand spikes (viral video, mainstream coverage), prices follow—especially on top grades.
• Slab premium. A PSA label is basically a price thermostat for this card. PSA 10s can be multiples of PSA 9s. PSA 9s can be multiples of raw NM/EX copies.

Translation:
Tons exist. But gem-mint copies are a smaller slice of that pie. That’s where most of the value “lives.”

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Real-World Pricing (2025 Snapshot)

General pattern (not promises):

• Raw copies: Usually low dollars to teens depending on condition and who’s watching the market that week.
• PSA 8: Typically modest; entry-level slab if you just want the story encapsulated.
• PSA 9: Solid middle ground—clean copy, recognizable premium over raw.
• PSA 10: Big jump relative to 9s. This is where collectors pay for perfection because it’s tougher than you’d expect for 1990 Hoops.

Tips for checking real numbers before you buy or list:

• Filter for recent sold items (not just asking prices).
• Compare apples to apples (grade vs. grade, raw vs. raw).
• For raw: read the photos like you’re the grader—centering, corners, edges, surface.
• For slabs: confirm the cert, and check a couple weeks of sold data for trendlines.

Market rhythms:

• Viral social posts or a new docu-series can cause short bursts of demand.
• The market calms in between news cycles. Use those dips to buy and peaks to sell if you’re playing the spread.

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How to Spot the Brothers on the Card (and Avoid Fakes)

Where to look:
Turn the card so you’re square with the front. Focus on the lower-left portion of the crowd behind Mark Jackson. You’ll see two young men seated together, courtside. Once you’ve seen the zoomed-in version online, you can pick them out instantly on any raw card.

Authenticity & condition tips:

• It’s not a variant. If a listing calls it an “SP” or “special Menendez edition,” that’s marketing fluff.
• Photos matter: Demand clear front/back photos. If the seller refuses or uses only stock images, skip it.
• Centering check: 1990 Hoops often drifts left/right. A clean, even border and arch is your first screening step.
• Edges & corners: Light borders show wear instantly. Look for chipping or “fuzzy” corners.
• Surface: Glare, scratches, or print lines can drop a grade fast.
• Trim tells: Overly sharp corners on a card with dull surface/gloss can be a trimming red flag. When in doubt, buy graded or from trusted sellers.

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The eBay Policy Saga: What Happened and What It Means

2018 flashpoint:
When the story first popped, eBay reportedly pulled a wave of listings that explicitly referenced the Menendez angle, citing internal policies around profiting from violent crime content. Hobby sites covered the removals, and it became a mini culture war: “Is this murderabilia… or just an NBA card with a weird background?”

Where it landed:
Today, you’ll often see listings that mention the brothers outright. Enforcement has seemed inconsistent over time. It may depend on wording, category, current policy interpretations, or just which moderator sees it.

Practical advice if you’re selling:

• Keep titles factual first (“1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson #205 — Knicks — PSA 9”).
• If you mention the cameo, keep it matter-of-fact in the description, not sensational.
• Follow marketplace rules. If a platform pushes back, adjust your wording and relist.

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The Second Cameo: Jordan “Rare Air #89”

Card details:

• Set: 1994 Upper Deck — Michael Jordan: Rare Air
• Card #: 89 (Decade of Dominance)
• Why it matters: Collectors noticed the brothers again in the crowd on this Jordan card, turning one curiosity into a mini “cameo chase.”

What that did to demand:
It pushed more attention onto the Mark Jackson #205 and gave collectors a “pairing” to hunt—great for content, great for display, and it adds a little long-tail demand to both cards.

If you’re collecting the duo:

• Expect prices on Rare Air #89 to be more variable than a typical Jordan insert because of the cameo story.
• As always, buy the cleanest copies your budget allows, and check sold comps, not just asks.

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Buying, Grading, and Selling—A Practical Playbook

If you’re buying

• Choose your lane:
  • Raw if you just want the story for cheap.
  • PSA 9 for a clean, presentable copy without PSA 10 prices.
  • PSA 10 if you’re a condition hunter or you want a long-term display piece.
• Vet photos like a grader: Centering, borders, corners, edges, surface. Ask for extra photos if needed.
• Set a cap: Pick a max number before bidding. Don’t chase hype—this is a base card.

If you’re grading

• Pre-screen hard: If you don’t see 10 potential, decide whether 9 justifies the grading fee.
• Common dings: Off-centering, tiny corner touches, and edge specks.
• Submission math: Factor shipping, insurance, and turnaround time. Batch wisely.

If you’re selling

• Presentation sells:
  • Clean scans or high-res photos (front, back, corner close-ups).
  • One photo zoomed on the courtside area helps buyers verify.
• Write it clean:
  • Title example: “1990-91 Hoops Mark Jackson #205 — New York Knicks — PSA 9”
  • Description: set/year/number, condition notes, grading notes if slabbed, and one plain sentence acknowledging the courtside cameo.
• Comps over clout: Start near recent sold for similar grade/condition and let the market work.

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Ethics & Sensitivity: How to Talk About It Without Being Weird

Let’s keep it real: a family was murdered, and that’s not a punchline. This card isn’t “murderabilia” in the sense of being about the crime—it’s a basketball trading card that happens to capture a moment in time. Still, people feel different ways about owning or selling it.

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Menendez Brothers Basketball Card FAQs