1998-99 RC Question: More Iconic Chrome or SPA

[gregpaa]

Trying to figure out what the more iconic RC for 1998-99 (Dirk, VC, Pierce, etc).
My question isn’t in regards to value, but which card is more iconic. I’ll use this analogy to try to help ask my question better: If a RC was to be displayed at the HOF for any of these players, which one would it be, SP Authentic, Topps Chrome, or other?

Seems like this year is a coin flip, where other years it’s pretty easy to pick the iconic card for that year.


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[MavsRChamps]

I think it’s easily SP Authentic. I think they were the 1st serial numbered rookies ever vs. the 3rd year of chrome.

[scotthenrichs]

SPA for Vince (that card was huge back in the day), SPA for value since they're much rarer, but Chrome for "iconic" rating for everyone except Vince.

[tjforce]

Base vs Base... Give me the SP Authentic.


Base vs Refractor... I'll take the refractor.

[Tallboy]

Originally Posted by gregpaa

Trying to figure out what the more iconic RC for 1998-99 (Dirk, VC, Pierce, etc).
My question isn’t in regards to value, but which card is more iconic. I’ll use this analogy to try to help ask my question better: If a RC was to be displayed at the HOF for any of these players, which one would it be, SP Authentic, Topps Chrome, or other?

Seems like this year is a coin flip, where other years it’s pretty easy to pick the iconic card for that year.


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My perspective, granted as someone who left the hobby before 1998 and only came back recently:

1. SP Authentic was THE card from '98-99.
2. The '98-99 SP Authentic design became the foundation of nearly all super high-end designs afterward. (When it doubt, keep it clean & white.)
3. The Topps/TC designs from '98-99 through '02-03 are just plain dull, uninspired, and undeserving of any veneration but...
4. Clearly even bad Topps designs are resonating with 2020-style investment.

I'm not sure what that means for the future, but what I'd say is that it's basically a question in how much you believe in Topps-supremacy going forward.

If you think Topps is just going to win everything, I'd say the answer here is TC.

If you think original hobby victory will win out, more limited production will win out, or superior design will win out, then SPA.

[gregpaa]

Again, not looking at value or future value, just which one is the more iconic. Like 100 years from now which one will be displayed as the RC. Similar to 52 Topps Mantle, is recognized as the Mantle RC, but everyone forgets about 51 Bowman.


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[Chris P]

Originally Posted by MavsRChamps

I think it’s easily SP Authentic. I think they were the 1st serial numbered rookies ever vs. the 3rd year of chrome.

I think technically the SPXFinite came first as far as serial numbered rookies..but they were inserted in two card packs in UD Series 2..but its still considered part of the spxfinite set and classified as a rc

[Dnic]

Imo topps chrome refractor, yes SP authentic was the first year they made serial numbered rookies but the dunk pose and actually finding a centered with no scratches on the surface for the topps chrome will be hard.

[k13]

It was always sp authentic till the base idiots showed up.

[gmunay]

Originally Posted by Tallboy

My perspective, granted as someone who left the hobby before 1998 and only came back recently:

1. SP Authentic was THE card from '98-99.
2. The '98-99 SP Authentic design became the foundation of nearly all super high-end designs afterward. (When it doubt, keep it clean & white.)
3. The Topps/TC designs from '98-99 through '02-03 are just plain dull, uninspired, and undeserving of any veneration but...
4. Clearly even bad Topps designs are resonating with 2020-style investment.

I'm not sure what that means for the future, but what I'd say is that it's basically a question in how much you believe in Topps-supremacy going forward.

If you think Topps is just going to win everything, I'd say the answer here is TC.

If you think original hobby victory will win out, more limited production will win out, or superior design will win out, then SPA.

Agree on all points. The SP Authentic cards were hands down THE best cards at the time. The limited production of the rookies should continue to make them the best card going forward.

Although I've never considered the TC designs as great, I will say that both the Vince Carter and Paul Pierce RC photos are far better on the TC which might make a difference to some collectors.

[RookieAddict]

SP Authentic hands down.

[Tallboy]

Originally Posted by gregpaa

Again, not looking at value or future value, just which one is the more iconic. Like 100 years from now which one will be displayed as the RC. Similar to 52 Topps Mantle, is recognized as the Mantle RC, but everyone forgets about 51 Bowman.


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I hear ya, but the reality is that the answer to those two questions will be identical. This isn't an Exquisite vs Chrome situation where one is so drastically rare it's going to be in its own category.

If in the end people want the TC card because it's TC, the fact that SPA is limited to "only" 3500 copies isn't going to make the difference in the long term.

Not saying the 3500 is irrelevant because it had everything to do with establishing the SPA in the first place, but it's not limited enough to force it to always be the more iconic card if all people card about is the Topps brand.

Here's what I'll also say:

Part of the issue here is that none of the '98 draft class are top tier icons the way Kobe and LeBron are. Those top tier icons are proving to have a "trickle out" effect on the years surrounding their rookie seasons.

Because the TC Kobe & LeBron's are so iconic, that's helping all the other TC's now in a way that arguably the SPA Vince Carter once did, but as good as Dirk Nowitzki was, he's not an icon the way Kobe/LeBron are.

I will say that the SPA brand is probably always going to be a pretty big deal, and that may be enough to allow it to remain the most iconic card, but in the 2020s, nothing seems to be out of reach of the Topps-as-Coca-Cola craze, so we'll just have to see what happens.

[Asian62150]

Just talking "iconic" it's SPA easily.

The Vince Carter SPA was by far the HOTTEST card in the entire industry after he won the dunk contest.

[gregpaa]

Originally Posted by Tallboy

I hear ya, but the reality is that the answer to those two questions will be identical. This isn't an Exquisite vs Chrome situation where one is so drastically rare it's going to be in its own category.

If in the end people want the TC card because it's TC, the fact that SPA is limited to "only" 3500 copies isn't going to make the difference in the long term.

Not saying the 3500 is irrelevant because it had everything to do with establishing the SPA in the first place, but it's not limited enough to force it to always be the more iconic card if all people card about is the Topps brand.

Here's what I'll also say:

Part of the issue here is that none of the '98 draft class are top tier icons the way Kobe and LeBron are. Those top tier icons are proving to have a "trickle out" effect on the years surrounding their rookie seasons.

Because the TC Kobe & LeBron's are so iconic, that's helping all the other TC's now in a way that arguably the SPA Vince Carter once did, but as good as Dirk Nowitzki was, he's not an icon the way Kobe/LeBron are.

I will say that the SPA brand is probably always going to be a pretty big deal, and that may be enough to allow it to remain the most iconic card, but in the 2020s, nothing seems to be out of reach of the Topps-as-Coca-Cola craze, so we'll just have to see what happens.

“I will say that the SPA brand is probably always going to be a pretty big deal, and that may be enough to allow it to remain the most iconic card, but in the 2020s, nothing seems to be out of reach of the Topps-as-Coca-Cola craze, so we'll just have to see what happens”

I’m not sure people view SPA as a big deal. The 97 SP RCs are extremely undervalued compared to base Topps, let alone TC.


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[Tallboy]

Originally Posted by gregpaa

“I will say that the SPA brand is probably always going to be a pretty big deal, and that may be enough to allow it to remain the most iconic card, but in the 2020s, nothing seems to be out of reach of the Topps-as-Coca-Cola craze, so we'll just have to see what happens”

I’m not sure people view SPA as a big deal. The 97 SP RCs are extremely undervalued compared to base Topps, let alone TC.


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Tell that to SPx, who was a) also Upper Deck, b) more expensive to produce, c) more limited in quantity, and d) at present the Dirk SPx RC lists at less than 1/6th the value of the SPA.

[Deadshot]

SPA 100%

[Asian62150]

Originally Posted by Tallboy

Tell that to SPx, who was a) also Upper Deck, b) more expensive to produce, c) more limited in quantity, and d) at present the Dirk SPx RC lists at less than 1/6th the value of the SPA.

Do you mean SPx Finite? I believe that was the first serially numbered base set produced.

The rookies were in box topper packs in Upper Deck Series 2 MJ Access boxes. And the Vince is from draft night, a la LeBron #221 (it all comes together!)

It's a sweet set with incredible photography (except for the rookies) and also one of the most condition sensitive sets of all time.

Doesn't get the love it should, IMO.

[gregpaa]

Originally Posted by Tallboy

Tell that to SPx, who was a) also Upper Deck, b) more expensive to produce, c) more limited in quantity, and d) at present the Dirk SPx RC lists at less than 1/6th the value of the SPA.

SPx are also forgotten, don’t get it.


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[gregpaa]

Originally Posted by Asian62150

Do you mean SPx Finite? I believe that was the first serially numbered base set produced.

The rookies were in box topper packs in Upper Deck Series 2 MJ Access boxes. And the Vince is from draft night, a la LeBron #221 (it all comes together!)

It's a sweet set with incredible photography (except for the rookies) and also one of the most condition sensitive sets of all time.

Doesn't get the love it should, IMO.

All the condition sensitive sets are very underrated IMO. High grade 96 Sp is better than 96 base Topps.


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[tamparican]

SPA as those were the top RC cards to get back in late 90s other than Finest or TC..