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1980 Topps Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Magic Johnson - Scoring Leader, Rookie PSA Gem Mint 10....
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$427,000.00
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Description
1980 Topps Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Magic Johnson - Scoring Leader, Rookie PSA Gem Mint 10. Talk about scarcity. Utilizing the current PSA Pop Report numbers for this coveted cardboard gem, this immaculate-condition example of the famed Larry Bird/Magic Johnson 1980 Topps rookie card is indeed in ultra rare air. It is one of only 24 cards out of 16,034 submissions (as of this writing) that have earned the prestigious Gem Mint 10 ranking. That equates to just 0.15% of all graded entries. What's also interesting to note is that since 2017, the number of submissions of this card has grown exponentially to the tune of some 9,500 more submissions finding their way into PSA in just that eight-year span. That's a 59% increase in volume, of which only two more cards emerged with the elite Gem Mint 10 status.Larry vs Magic. Or Magic vs. Larry. No matter the order, their on-court rivalry, which started with the 1979 NCAA Championship Game and continued with three head-to-head showdowns in the NBA Finals, has evolved into a friendship that knows no bounds. After Magic's Michigan State Spartans defeated Larry's Indiana State Sycamores, 75-64, the two collegiate superstars quickly became saviors for the struggling National Basketball Association. Though in its 34th year of existence, the league was experiencing dwindling numbers in both attendance and fandom. But when Bird and Magic started competing for the NBA's two most decorated franchises, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively, attendance grew, and revenue took off. In their three battles for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, Magic's Lakers outlasted Larry's Celtics twice. But by winning three NBA MVP awards apiece during the '80s, these two competitors became the benchmarks by which all players were measuring themselves against.
While a television commercial shoot in 1986 for Converse got the two rivals talking, it was their joint participation on the 1992 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team, the famed "Dream Team," that cemented their friendship. By outscoring their international opponents during the 1992 Olympic Games by an average of 44 points per game, the Dream Team, led by Larry and Magic, was the topic of conversation for most watchers of the '92 Summer Games.
This iconic 1980 Topps card features Bird and Johnson flanking Julius Erving, three of the greatest players in NBA history, and is widely regarded as one of the most important basketball cards ever produced. The card is particularly significant for marking the rookie debuts of both Bird and Johnson, two players who would go on to define the NBA's golden era with their intense rivalry and combined eight NBA titles. Erving, already a legend, adds further prestige as a representative of the game's transition from the ABA to the modern NBA. The unique triple-panel design of the 1980 Topps set showcases each player's scoring prowess and contributes to the card's legendary status. Its historical importance, coupled with its scarcity in high grades due to the perforated edges and centering challenges, makes this card the centerpiece of any worthy vintage basketball card collection. Graded PSA Gem Mint 10. Of the more than 16,000 examples found in the PSA Pop Report, this is one of only 24 cards graded GEM MINT.
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Auction Info
2025 May 16 - 18 Spring Sports Catalog Auction #50077 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2025
16th-18th
Friday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 25
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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22% of the successful bid per lot.
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