What is considered the greatest set from the 90s?

[mjordandagoat]

I hear a lot of people clamore to 97' Metal Universe but curious to hear what the masses here at B.O. think.

I personally love anything Flair Showcase.

[Archangel1775]

For a regular set, 1996 /97 Topps Chrome is hard to top.
As an insert set, 1997/98 Precious Metal Gems for sure

[hermanotarjeta]

For a regular set, 1996 /97 Topps Chrome is hard to top.
As an insert set, 1997/98 Precious Metal Gems for sure

This is the correct answer.

[ninjacookies]

If you don't say 90 Hoops then you're either a communist or classless hypeboi.

Possibly both.

[drobfan8]

It's actually 96/97 Flair.

[Makakilo Cards]

For a regular set, 1996 /97 Topps Chrome is hard to top.
As an insert set, 1997/98 Precious Metal Gems for sure

If you call PMG an insert set, you lose all street cred.

[Makakilo Cards]

If we're talking about the total package--base, parallels, inserts--I would have to go with 97 E-X2001. Otherwise 91 Skybox.

[rifleman69]

If we're talking about the total package--base, parallels, inserts--I would have to go with 97 E-X2001. Otherwise 91 Skybox.

Yep, the clean computer graphics on a white background is the only answer that is deemed valid and correct.

[duron]

Outside of the base design (they’re fine but nothing incredible like ex2000, spx, or showcase) I’d pick both series of 97-98 Skybox Premium as the greatest single year for a basketball product. The insert lineup could carry multiple products on its own. And the star rubies are my favorite base parallels ever.

If we’re talking consistently best product throughout the decade, I’d go Fleer Ultra.

And this is getting off topic but I think two underrated base sets are 95-96 Flair and 95-96 Metal.

[KhalDrogo]

Base: 96 E-X, 97 Metal Universe
Parallel: 98 Skybox Premium Star Rubies, 97 Metal Universe Championship PMG
Insert: 97 Jambalaya, 98 Molten Metal Fusion Titanium

[Kobe101]

Base: 96 E-X, 97 Metal Universe
Parallel: 98 Skybox Premium Star Rubies, 97 Metal Universe Championship PMG
Insert: 97 Jambalaya, 98 Molten Metal Fusion Titanium

Those are some awesome choices.

I would add 96-97 Flair to base list.

Love the Metal Universe Champ PMG over red/green PMG... so much cooler IMO.

I would replace titanium fusion with Noyz Boyz, BMOC, Dunk-go-nuts or linchpins. A lot of great 90s inserts!

[Archangel1775]

If you don't say 90 Hoops then you're either a communist or classless hypeboi.

Possibly both.

That was my first choice but I'm trying to keep the set on the down low. Monster Season 2 coming up yo.

If you call PMG an insert set, you lose all street cred.

I get it was a parallel set but it made sense to keep it simple. Either way, it was still inserted in packs at x-amount odds. Don't come at me like that dawg.

[pmatic]

No love for SPX? I remember when I was in grade school, holograms were all the rave and seeing them on basketball cards were breaking new ground.

[phdbeckett]

Recency bias, but the photography of the 1998-99 Fleer Tradition set. Seriously, it made just about everyone look good, and the pairings of stars, or scrub vs star battles are like no other set. Examples incoming-

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52885834742_c8b6b99f8e_b.jpg

Not to mention:

The Anstey card is the only appearance by Barkley in the entire checklist and insert sets. Crazy. Shaquille is only a subset as well. Must have been planning a series 2 pre-lockout that never materialized.

[discodanman45]

1992-93 Stadium Club Beam Team. The 90's parallels and inserts were awesome. Some of the Atomic Refractors are absolutely beautiful.

[Makakilo Cards]

No love for SPX? I remember when I was in grade school, holograms were all the rave and seeing them on basketball cards were breaking new ground.

Personally, I thinks it's kind of shocking how poorly Upper Deck products aged. Conversely, I have absolutely no idea why Topps products withstood the test of time.

[Makakilo Cards]

I get it was a parallel set but it made sense to keep it simple. Either way, it was still inserted in packs at x-amount odds. Don't come at me like that dawg.

Sensitive subject for me ever since Sports Card Incestor had it on his "Best Inserts" list.

[rafibomb]

Favorite base sets are EX-2000/EX-2001 and 1997-98 Metal Universe.

And this is getting off topic but I think two underrated base sets are 95-96 Flair and 95-96 Metal.

95-96 Flair and Metal are def my next favorite base sets! They were the first 2 sets that I remember wanting really badly as a kid. Maybe 98-99 Skybox Premium too.

[mfw13]

If we're talking about the total package--base, parallels, inserts--I would have to go with 97 E-X2001. Otherwise 91 Skybox.

Yep....91-92 Skybox is by far and away the best "regular" basketball set of the 90's.

Brilliant design that was revolutionary at the time.

[duron]

No love for SPX? I remember when I was in grade school, holograms were all the rave and seeing them on basketball cards were breaking new ground.

I mentioned spx but specifically the 1996 set is the one I’ll always love. The golds look amazing, so much nicer than later versions imo.

[duron]

1992-93 Stadium Club Beam Team. The 90's parallels and inserts were awesome. Some of the Atomic Refractors are absolutely beautiful.

96-97 Bowman’s Best Atomics are purdyyyyyy thangs.

[auburn35]

Recency bias, but the photography of the 1998-99 Fleer Tradition set. Seriously, it made just about everyone look good, and the pairings of stars, or scrub vs star battles are like no other set. Examples incoming-

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52885834742_c8b6b99f8e_b.jpg

Not to mention:

The Anstey card is the only appearance by Barkley in the entire checklist and insert sets. Crazy. Shaquille is only a subset as well. Must have been planning a series 2 pre-lockout that never materialized.

Yeah, Tradition always had some great photography and was a fun product. I don't recall if I have images of the base set (Barkley, Shaq designs?) but I did share some production notes on the unreleased 1998-99 Series 2 in this thread.
The inserts looked great.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showpost.php?p=14606987&postcount=33

[Unwrapit]

1995-96 Metal/Ultra and Skybox Premium series 1. EXL was very unique as well that year.


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[TBarn291]

E-Motion was by far my favorite base set.

[GOATcards]

Recency bias, but the photography of the 1998-99 Fleer Tradition set. Seriously, it made just about everyone look good, and the pairings of stars, or scrub vs star battles are like no other set. Examples incoming-

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52885834742_c8b6b99f8e_b.jpg

Not to mention:

The Anstey card is the only appearance by Barkley in the entire checklist and insert sets. Crazy. Shaquille is only a subset as well. Must have been planning a series 2 pre-lockout that never materialized.

design isn't loud enough :(

[duron]

Agree with the previous posts, Emotion and Exl are definitely worthy of mention too

It’s a shame Emotion didn’t have one more big, chase insert, but the long-odds stuff didn’t really hit until 95-96. Then in 96-97 it basically became the standard for most products across the board.

The ntense set is already incredible, can only imagine what say a 1:288 insert would look like.

[pmatic]

Those E-Motion cards are such a beauty. They look better than most Panini case hits if we're being honest lol.



I would take a base E-motion over Blank Slates or Aurora's any time.

[duron]

Those E-Motion cards are such a beauty. They look better than most Panini case hits if we're being honest lol.



I would take a base E-motion over Blank Slates or Aurora's any time.

I still remember the promo sheets sitting at the counter of my local comic shop. Was right around the time they started dipping their toes into sportscards. Eventually Sandy wiped them out and the owner lost everything to water damage. Never reopened.

RIP Krypton Comics.

[GOATMJ]

E-Motion was amazing.
Early 90's Skybox was killer as well.
Topps Finest was the first ever Chrome product and REFRACTORS!
Late 90's Skybox and Fleer had some amazing sets too.

90's simply the best.

[dizzy4111]

If we're talking lower end, Stardate 2000 deserves a mention. When it hits the light the glitter effect is awesome. I need a Kobe to go with my AI come to think of it.

[1980bust]

+1 for E-motion.

Everything about that set was awesome, and still is. Remember pulling a Shaq N-Tense as a kid and just being amazed at how it looked.

My personal greatest are 93 Scoring Kings and 93 Die Cut All-Stars. Just iconic.

[TBarn291]

Agree with the previous posts, Emotion and Exl are definitely worthy of mention too

It’s a shame Emotion didn’t have one more big, chase insert, but the long-odds stuff didn’t really hit until 95-96. Then in 96-97 it basically became the standard for most products across the board.

The ntense set is already incredible, can only imagine what say a 1:288 insert would look like.

The Emotion packs were incredible. I feel like they were $6-$7 a pack, but came in those little boxes. It felt like you were really opening something special when you opened a pack. I can't remember, but were they the first thicker licensed base cards?

[Tallboy]

I hear a lot of people clamore to 97' Metal Universe but curious to hear what the masses here at B.O. think.

I personally love anything Flair Showcase.

'97 Metal Universe has an excellent case. The thing about it is that the photography/design is spotty. The Tracy McGrady card is absolutely awful for example.

This to say that the '97 Metal Universe Jordan with parallels is the best individual card design achievement of the decade, and there are others in the set that hit similar highs - as a Steve Nash fan, I love the MU card - but whether that adds up to an entire best set is up to how you weight things.

I would give a shout out to '96 Ultra as something that has an awful lot going for it:

1. First year of an iconic design - the Swash design that would become synonymous with Ultra afterward.

2. Best rookie year of the decade.

3. Best of the sets that have all 5 of the HOF rookies - Kobe, Nash, AI, Ray, Ben.

I would give SkyBox a major tip of the cap as the brand of the decade by a large margin, and would note that it is SkyBox Metal Universe in '97 rather than the Fleer Metal of '96 that's an all-timer.

Other set that come to mind:

'90 SkyBox - revolutionary photography/design impact
'94 E-Motion - brilliant concept with unprecedented photography for the time
'95 Topps - epic photography in this set that's really gone under the radar
'96 Upper Deck - the photography on this set is so fun like nothing else, for anyone who like Photogenic, they should check this one out.
'98 SkyBox - really distinct approach to showcasing motion
'99 Flair Showcase - as you say, every year of this program is solid, but forced to pick just one design, I'll side with the '99 design with the rookie-eyes sub-design.
'99 Fleer Force - clearly Fleer trying to do their own version of Topps Chrome...and you know what? They freaking nailed it and then some, and it seems no one notice.

[duron]

The Emotion packs were incredible. I feel like they were $6-$7 a pack, but came in those little boxes. It felt like you were really opening something special when you opened a pack. I can't remember, but were they the first thicker licensed base cards?

I think they were $4-5?

But yea that year’s Flair also had thicker stock. Prob the first 2 at least from basketball.

These were the promo strips I remember:
https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2217/2217-NNO1Fr.jpg

[duron]

'99 Fleer Force - clearly Fleer trying to do their own version of Topps Chrome...and you know what? They freaking nailed it and then some, and it seems no one notice.

I absolutely hated Force. Til this day I think the only saving grace from the product was the Operation Invasion Forcefield insert parallel.

I actually think the following abomination was going for more back then than it is now:
https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2829/2829-709341Fr.jpg

[bjho852]

^ Autographed version to match:

https://i.imgur.com/1HYJ185.jpg

For some reason, I love this card, autographed (300 copies) or not (stated odds of 1:300 packs).

[maconithappen]

If you count greatest as most expensive it's 1997-98 Metal Universe PMGS red or green. I think the most popular are:
base-96/97 Topps Chrome
insert-97/98 E-X2001 Jambalaya
parallel-97/98 Metal PMG

[Josie27]

My personal favorite of the era is 1997-98 Finest. I feel like the color tone could have been a bit brighter instead of the dark orange and brown tone but overall it’s probably my favorite.


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[Asian62150]

I'm a fan of SPx Finite.

First set with every single card being serially numbered. Simple parallels (Radiance with the gold plating and Spectrum with the holofoil).

Photography is amazing.

Downside is all the chipping on edges/corners.

[duron]

My personal favorite of the era is 1997-98 Finest. I feel like the color tone could have been a bit brighter instead of the dark orange and brown tone but overall it’s probably my favorite.


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Definitely my favorite overall year of Finest because of the silver embossed refractors. Gold embossed are great too obviously.

Tossup for favorite base design between 93-94 and 94-95 Finest.

[Tallboy]

I absolutely hated Force. Til this day I think the only saving grace from the product was the Operation Invasion Forcefield insert parallel.

I actually think the following abomination was going for more back then than it is now:
https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2829/2829-709341Fr.jpg

Wow, you hated it? Interesting.

So first, I think I should be clear that I'm one of the guys who got sucked back into the hobby during the pandemic after leaving it in the '90s before a brand like Force existed. As such, I really don't know how it was perceived at the time, other than the fact that it obviously didn't resonate enough with collectors to survive, and I'm curious what those who were paying attention at the time thought if it's something more acute than that.

For myself, I think that first year of Force, when it operated as a Chrome/Optic/Platinum-type premium parallel for Fleer, had some gorgeous cards:

https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2829/2829-709160Fr.jpghttps://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2829/2829-709206Fr.jpghttps://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2829/2829-709316Fr.jpg

- The design is excellent for allowing action photography to shine, both vertically and horizontally.

- The actual photography is often spectacular.

- The "Forcefield" parallel functions well as a Chrome-variant but has it's own somewhat mist-like effect that adds to the pop of the action.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IScAAOSw2xdjyDSc/s-l1600.jpg

For me the only real downside to the main set - which is typically what I'm most focused on - is that most rookies don't have an awesome action shot going like Francis. If we were just going based on the veteran set, it's the best executed of that season imho. (The drastic superiority of the rookie set in Flair Showcase makes me give it the nod overall.)

One quirk: With Force being a premium parallel, I'd often not single it out separately from the "flagship" (Fleer Tradition) it rode on, but this is a weird circumstance where:

- Force was only used as a premium parallel once.

- And aside from the premium-type improvements it had over Tradition, they just plain cleaned up, and improved the design. Here's a Tradition card from that year:

https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2833/2833-709578Fr.jpg

Notice that instead of the font being white - a neutral color that goes with everything - they have the font in red here which clashes with the team color and isn't as easy to read.

Why red? I believe it was chosen by conference, and note that they take up more real estate to awkwardly throw the conference logo in...and seemingly trip Jason Williams there.

I think there are a lot of flagship Fleer designs that are really great without any premium too them, but this one really just doesn't work for me...until the revisions made with the Force release.

Whoever was the force behind Force that first year, I'm inclined to tip my cap to them.:)!

[Makakilo Cards]

Yeah, if you like Fleer Force then God bless you; but no, it was never well liked. Put it this way...that Sgt Carter card was supposed to be THE pull of the set.

[Tallboy]

Yeah, if you like Fleer Force then God bless you; but no, it was never well liked. Put it this way...that Sgt Carter card was supposed to be THE pull of the set.

:eek: That's...wow. Yeah, if that's what I first saw of the set, it would probably make me never give it a second look.

As is, I had no idea that card even existed.

[Makakilo Cards]

:eek: That's...wow. Yeah, if that's what I first saw of the set, it would probably make me never give it a second look.

As is, I had no idea that card even existed.

Gave me such a good chuckle, I literally just bought one. If you could sum up 1999 with one card, this would be it.

[mjordandagoat]

Wow quite the response which I wasn't expecting. A few mentioned it earlier on but Flair 96/97 Showcase is my favorite set overall in terms of quality/design for the bases, inserts, etc.

[wubh]

I’ll throw in an honorable mention for 1996 SPx. A single card per pack was crazy (and probably set a bad early precedent for modern high end). I ended up putting together the full base set years later when most were quarter and dollar bin fodder and still love the ones where the holographic pic winks or smiles at you as you tilt the card against light.

My personal favorite set is 98/99 Flair. Row 1 and Row 3 are especially gorgeous to me.

A random favorite insert set is 98/99 Skybox Fresh Faces. Not too hard to hit or expensive and while I usually donÂ’t love candid street clothes cards, this design, epic rookie class and the high quality holofoil finish hits a sweet spot for me.

[wubh]

Another +1 for E-motion. My LCS would sell these $1 team set bags with like 15 cards or so. I remember using my $1 weekly allowance once and got the Rik Smits and my 10 year old self was just amazed.

Sprewell is my main basketball PC and his base card from this set is still one of my top 10 all time favs

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/1994-95/Skybox-Emotion---Base/34/Latrell-Sprewell.jpg?id=ad5daca8-46b9-4d56-a98e-5fce0edaf54b&size=original (https://www.comc.com/Cards/Basketball/1994-95/Skybox_Emotion_-_Base/34/Latrell_Sprewell/1437158)
1994-95 Skybox Emotion - [Base] #34 - Latrell Sprewell
Courtesy of COMC.com (https://www.comc.com)

[Tallboy]

Another +1 for E-motion. My LCS would sell these $1 team set bags with like 15 cards or so. I remember using my $1 weekly allowance once and got the Rik Smits and my 10 year old self was just amazed.

Sprewell is my main basketball PC and his base card from this set is still one of my top 10 all time favs

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/1994-95/Skybox-Emotion---Base/34/Latrell-Sprewell.jpg?id=ad5daca8-46b9-4d56-a98e-5fce0edaf54b&size=original (https://www.comc.com/Cards/Basketball/1994-95/Skybox_Emotion_-_Base/34/Latrell_Sprewell/1437158)
1994-95 Skybox Emotion - [Base] #34 - Latrell Sprewell
Courtesy of COMC.com (https://www.comc.com)

I'm enjoying seeing E-Motion getting singled out.

I think what the E-X brand became is something good, but I wish they'd kept E-Motion going and just kept refining their word choice so it was as consistently awesome as this card.

[lemmer]

+1 for e-motion. Awesome photos and I also loved the packaging as a kid.

[drobfan8]

E-x is really the answer but it's hard to get involved in that set unless you just want the base.

Jambalaya is the number 1 insert from the 90s in most people's eyes (I prefer Playmakers Theatre as 1).

Credentials is the ultimate chase parallel with the scarcity of most and aesthetics are better than the PMGs.

98/99 Metal Universe deserves a vote also.

[duron]

E-Motion Jordan approves of this thread.
https://i.imgur.com/lGIuNjq.png
Let’s get X-Cited
https://i.imgur.com/aM3l0d9.jpg


@Tallboy
I respect the perspective, “misty” is actually a good way of describing the Forcefields. For that same reason I always associated them with a cheaper looking refractor. The photography is great but I’m not a fan of any of the inserts except for the Operation Invasions, especially the parallel. Here’s a vid I had made trying to show it off - https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnQReK3qZIG/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==


I’ll throw in an honorable mention for 1996 SPx. A single card per pack was crazy (and probably set a bad early precedent for modern high end). I ended up putting together the full base set years later when most were quarter and dollar bin fodder and still love the ones where the holographic pic winks or smiles at you as you tilt the card against light.

Broken record duron strikes again, but it’s still prob my 2nd favorite base design after 96-97 ex2000. I have zero mj autos, but if I’m ever able to get one it would be his nno from the set. These will have to do for now.
https://i.imgur.com/s7VioARh.jpg

[SlangNRox]

1998 SP Authentic

[Archangel1775]

1998 SP Authentic

It's crazy to think that some of the most iconic rookie cards in other sports are from the "Future Watch" rookie subset and that 1998 was the first and only NBA (aside from Retro) set to serialize them and use the name. They were called Rookie F/X from 99-on. Sucks 1997 didn't serial number the cards. The 1998 rookie class was solid though with Vince Carter and Dirk.

[wubh]

Broken record duron strikes again, but it’s still prob my 2nd favorite base design after 96-97 ex2000. I have zero mj autos, but if I’m ever able to get one it would be his nno from the set. These will have to do for now.
https://i.imgur.com/s7VioARh.jpg

To wax on more about 1996 SPx, it’s a testament to thoughtful simplicity in design. Lots of beautiful symmetry, perfect logo placement, nice font type, and wonderful player photo & hologram placement and choice that really highlights each player. And that Penny is just gorgeous. I saw a Jordan auto once and was blown away.

1997 SPx had a cool idea to showcase and bookend the S and X of SPx on either edge but I’ve always disliked all those sharp corners. And while I like the photo and holo choices for 1998 SPx, the card silhouette looks like an oval with the edges chopped off.

As I was looking over some 96 SPx photos, I saw a Sprewell copy that has McDyess as the holo so I bought it. Are these errors common? I would love to grab more variations of my PC guy since I love this set so much and also enjoy error cards.

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/1996-97/SPx---Base/18/Latrell-Sprewell.jpg?id=0b9edea2-80d8-4a87-ae9a-c21998cb2b77&size=original (https://www.comc.com/Cards/Basketball/1996-97/SPx_-_Base/18/Latrell_Sprewell/1459842/Ungraded/COMC/G-VG-EX)
1996-97 SPx - [Base] #18 - Latrell Sprewell [Good to VG‑EX]
Courtesy of COMC.com (https://www.comc.com)

[rats60]

Greatest Set - 1996/97 Topps Chrome
Greatest Insert Set - 1997/98 EX2001 Jambalaya
Greatest Parallel Set - 1997/98 Skybox Metal PMG

[chiefs]

I had a classmate in junior high school who stole thousands of dollars from his dad (he had some sort of business) and would just be boxes and boxes of e/x skybox looking for 45 Jordans. Like every day I would see him opening boxes in band class



Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[maconithappen]

No love for SPX? I remember when I was in grade school, holograms were all the rave and seeing them on basketball cards were breaking new ground.

Upper Deck had some of the best base cards with the SPX hologram and the photography in general. In 1996 paying $4-5 for a pack and just getting 1 card was insane!

I'm a fan of SPx Finite.

First set with every single card being serially numbered. Simple parallels (Radiance with the gold plating and Spectrum with the holofoil).

Photography is amazing.

Downside is all the chipping on edges/corners.

I'm actually looking into getting a lot of the Finite Radiances and starting a little side project. The radiance has the gold foil and aren't really much more at all than the bronze. So, if anyone has a large amount of these that are willing to part with, holler at me. I remember opening a box of these when I was a kid. I put them in a binder and since I was nowhere close to completing the set, I'm guessing I sold/gave most away. If I can land an unopened box of these for a decent price, I will probably jump on it even though it will still be a lot.

[frisbeesteve]

So many absolutely amazing sets mentioned and talked about in here – the E-Motion and E-X sets, Flair Showcase, SPx, etc. I did notice one mention for 1996-97 Upper Deck, and I would like to +1 for that, and mention several other appealing aspects besides the stunning photography:

* Game dated photography for most of the non-subset base cards, usually including some of the featured player’s stats from that game. I wish more sets had employed this!

* Etched foil team and UD logos, and embossed “basketball texture” left edge

* Great second photo on back, along with plenty of stats and more player information

[duron]

So many absolutely amazing sets mentioned and talked about in here – the E-Motion and E-X sets, Flair Showcase, SPx, etc. I did notice one mention for 1996-97 Upper Deck, and I would like to +1 for that, and mention several other appealing aspects besides the stunning photography:

* Game dated photography for most of the non-subset base cards, usually including some of the featured player’s stats from that game. I wish more sets had employed this!

* Etched foil team and UD logos, and embossed “basketball texture” left edge

* Great second photo on back, along with plenty of stats and more player information

Definitely great photography in 96-97 UD with a bunch of aerial shots above or near the backboard. My favorite cards from that whole run aren’t even the autos, it’s the TV Cel versions of the Predictors.

[Starman101]

96 SPx, 97 SPx, EX-2000, EX-2001 are my personal favorites

[Asian62150]

Upper Deck had some of the best base cards with the SPX hologram and the photography in general. In 1996 paying $4-5 for a pack and just getting 1 card was insane!



I'm actually looking into getting a lot of the Finite Radiances and starting a little side project. The radiance has the gold foil and aren't really much more at all than the bronze. So, if anyone has a large amount of these that are willing to part with, holler at me. I remember opening a box of these when I was a kid. I put them in a binder and since I was nowhere close to completing the set, I'm guessing I sold/gave most away. If I can land an unopened box of these for a decent price, I will probably jump on it even though it will still be a lot.

I put together a full Radiance set and have some spares. Let me know what you're missing. Happy to help out a fellow Finite collector.

[frisbeesteve]

Definitely great photography in 96-97 UD with a bunch of aerial shots above or near the backboard. My favorite cards from that whole run aren’t even the autos, it’s the TV Cel versions of the Predictors.

Ohhhhhh mama... I would pay DEARLY for the David Robinson TV Cel card!!!

[SHoCKBiZZLE]

If we're talking about the total package--base, parallels, inserts--I would have to go with 97 E-X2001. Otherwise 91 Skybox.

greatest set all time, imo

[chiefroc]

so many great cards produced in the 90ties!
A lot of iconic steps:
first pack inserted autographs
first jersey and patch cards
forst serial numbered parallel and insert cards.
Awesomae action photographs used, like in Ultra, Stadium Club and Upper Deck.

so this is for sure the most important decade for the hobby! this making it hard to decide which is the best set. but for sure there were some outstanding sets:

If i would need to make a decision it would look as follows

Base: 97/98 E-X
Parallel: 97/98 Skybox Premium Star Rubies
Insert: 93/94 Ultra Scoring Kings, 97/98 UD Game Jerseys

[jplarson]

Topps Finest was the first ever Chrome product and REFRACTORS!

90's simply the best.

My personal favorite of the era is 1997-98 Finest. I feel like the color tone could have been a bit brighter instead of the dark orange and brown tone but overall it’s probably my favorite.

Definitely my favorite overall year of Finest because of the silver embossed refractors. Gold embossed are great too obviously.

Tossup for favorite base design between 93-94 and 94-95 Finest.

Got some smart people around here. Here's my picks for non-Finest cards, since those cannot be topped.


https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2323/2323-10Fr.jpg
Best base set: 1995-96 Skybox E-XL. The matte frame and bright colors does a work of good. Honorable mention goes to 1996 SPx for having both holograms and die cut tech.


https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/62681/62681-121Fr.jpg
Best parallel set: 1994-95 Topps Embossed Golden Idols. I love condition sensitive goooolldddd! The smell of it. The taste of it, the texture. I love gold so much that I even have a BGS 7.5 copy due to an unfortunate chipping incident.


https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Cards/Basketball/2351/2351-4Fr.jpg
Best insert set: 1995-96 Fleer Flair Hardwood Leader. I ripped so many packs looking for this card. This set felt premium in hand, especially compared to the base cards in the pack. Honorable mention for 1995-96 Upper Deck Collector's Choice/SP/SP Championship/flagship The Jordan Collection.

[jmmintz]

1998 SP Authentic

Second. I absolutely loved this set back in the day, and this is one of my favorite cards I own:

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/0ic0iax3x450.jpg

[duron]

[IMG]Best insert set: 1995-96 Fleer Flair Hardwood Leader. I ripped so many packs looking for this card. This set felt premium in hand, especially compared to the base cards in the pack. Honorable mention for 1995-96 Upper Deck Collector's Choice/SP/SP Championship/flagship The Jordan Collection.

This was one of the coolest parts about ripping a lot of product back then. I mean I guess it still applies now with certain sets, so it’s not exclusive to any era, but I’ll never forget something like seeing a Rock Stars Refractor lumped in with all that white border Topps paper base.

[Stackfan]

For base set ....It's 96 Chrome ... plenty of other great sets from the 90's but none are close in legacy/value.