For nearly 20 years, a LeBron James 2003-04 Exquisite Collection Basketball Rookie Patch Autograph Parallel #08/23 had been safely stored away in a security vault. Originally acquired for just under $3,000 on eBay in November 2004, the astute owner held onto it until the 20th anniversary of the product’s release. The Upper Deck Exquisite Collection, unveiled on June 4, 2004, is hailed as one of the most significant basketball card sets ever, highlighting a stellar rookie class including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony.
LeBron’s rookie card from this collection, particularly the #78 RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph), is deemed iconic. This card comes in two versions – the /99 Level 1 and a rare parallel numbered to his jersey number, 23, with only 23 copies in existence. Since July 2020, only one other card from this series has been graded by Beckett.
Up for auction was the BGS NM+ 7.5 graded LeBron James rookie card with an Auto grade of 10, featuring impressive sub-grades of Centering 9.5, Edges 7.5, Corners 7, and Surface 7.5. The card boasts a flawless, bold autograph in blue against a white backdrop, adorned with a two-color swatch. Its “hobby fresh” appeal and significance in the basketball card community culminated in a staggering final bid of $351,029.
Another standout at the auction was the 2003 Topps Chrome #111 LeBron James rookie card, showcasing a black refractor variant. LeBron’s 2003 Topps Chrome rookie cards are renowned in NBA history for their limited print runs and various refractor editions, including the unnumbered refractor, black refractor (/500), X-Fractor (/220), and gold refractor (/50).
The black refractor card that went under the hammer, graded PSA GEM MINT 10, is exceptionally rare, with only 21 out of 500 (4% of print run) earning this top grade as per the PSA population report. The black borders on the card make any flaws more conspicuous, making a flawless grade even more challenging to attain. Numbered 326 out of 500, this card is a coveted addition for any serious LeBron James or NBA memorabilia collector and was sold for an impressive $126,725.
The remarkable sales at the Leland’s Summer Classic Auction underscore the lasting legacy and value of LeBron James’ rookie cards in the realm of sports collectibles.
