Kareem Abdul Jabbar Collectors Updated 7-6-15 with new additions

JBrules · February 13, 2015 3:36AM

I have been working on putting together a run of Alcindor/Jabbar cards. I have picked up the first 5 years and wow what a struggle to find nicely centered cards. Here is what I have so far. Anyone else out there collect Jabbar and if so any insight into which cards will be the most challenging for me to find centered as I plod along? Thanks for looking.

LarkinCollector · February 13, 2015 3:43AM

I'm not sure if you're doing just base Topps or all cards featuring him, but some of the 71-72T Leaders with Kareem and others are probably tougher than his base card that year. At least it seemed that way when I was working on that set a few years back.

vintagefun · February 13, 2015 3:44AM

Indeed. Almost done with basic set. Great start you've got here!

All the best.
Jim

Dboneesq · February 13, 2015 3:45AM

Not a collector of Kareem, but just wanted to say those cards present VERY well. LOVE the centering on that Rookie ... hard to find them like that!

JBrules · February 13, 2015 3:59AM

The plan is to just his basic card set. I was very pleased to pick up the PSA 6 rookie and was able to sell my PSA 7 which did not look as good. Thanks everyone for the comments so far.

CDsNuts · February 13, 2015 4:03AM

My dad says he doesn't really work that hard on defense and that he only really tries during the playoffs.

Joey

LarkinCollector · February 13, 2015 4:04AM

<< My dad says he doesn't really work that hard on defense and that he only really tries during the playoffs.

Joey >>

Too funny, I was going to ask if there are any Airplane cards.

eagles33 · February 13, 2015 5:21AM

Do you have any interest in his 1968 Mira card? I don't have one.. I was just curious if you wanted for the collection. If so I would look for a raw one which usually sell for about 50 bucks. Graded ones go for quite a bit more

taka · February 13, 2015 5:28AM

He's at the Adidas NYC store right now signing autographs. he announced on his twitter earlier.

JBrules · February 13, 2015 5:32AM

<< Do you have any interest in his 1968 Mira card? I don't have one.. I was just curious if you wanted for the collection. If so I would look for a raw one which usually sell for about 50 bucks. Graded ones go for quite a bit more >>

I might add it at some point. Good idea to buy it raw. The few I have seen graded are very expensive so I have not seriously considered. I will keep any eye out for a raw one. Thanks.

itzagoner · February 13, 2015 5:38AM

tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

DanBessette · February 13, 2015 7:57AM

What a great start to a player collection of an icon!

RookieWax · February 13, 2015 8:04AM

Good luck with the 1974 Topps. That card is tough even in a 7 or 8.

PSASAP · February 13, 2015 8:26AM

Kareem signs through the mail for $100. Here's the result:

Dboneesq · February 13, 2015 8:47AM

When I first started sending TTMs back in 2009 I sent two to Kareem. He signed them both at NO CHARGE. From the time I mailed them from Long Island until I received them back from California, it took only 10 days! I guess those days are gone forever. BTW, that '69 looks real nice with that sig.

Largentcollector · February 13, 2015 9:08AM

Great cards! The 69 rookie looks great. I also have a 6 it's my favorite card in my collection.

JBrules · February 13, 2015 9:49AM

<< When I first started sending TTMs back in 2009 I sent two to Kareem. He signed them both at NO CHARGE. From the time I mailed them from Long Island until I received them back from California, it took only 10 days! I guess those days are gone forever. BTW, that '69 looks real nice with that sig. >>

Nice to see all the responses for this all-time great. Very cool that he signed both at no charge and a quick send back. Kareem always seemed to be well-grounded (I base this on very limited knowledge). I can remember reading a couple of articles he wrote that had nothing to do with sports and was surprised at how well thought out it was. Has anyone actually met Kareem? Any stories etc...?

itzagoner · February 13, 2015 10:07AM

<< Has anyone actually met Kareem? Any stories etc...? >>

yeah, several years ago we had a brief encounter at the LAX terminal while waiting for separate flights to the Hawaiian Islands. he wasn't feeling very talkative as it was quite early in the morning and Starbucks was closed.

slum22 · February 13, 2015 11:51AM

Now this is my kind of thread! Sweet cards. Congrats on finding some nice eye appeal cards. Love that hoops is getting some love on here. Hard to believe but the NBA's all time leading scorer may also be its most underrated player. He almost never gets mentioned in the same breath as MJ or Russell but if you look at the resume it is pretty great. Keep us updated on the future of your collection.

jmoran19 · February 13, 2015 11:58AM

<< 

<< My dad says he doesn't really work that hard on defense and that he only really tries during the playoffs.

Joey >>

Too funny, I was going to ask if there are any Airplane cards. >>

Shouldn't that be posted in a Rodger Murdock thread?

Dboneesq · February 13, 2015 12:14PM

<< My dad says he doesn't really work that hard on defense and that he only really tries during the playoffs. Joey >>

Watch here.

Largentcollector · February 13, 2015 2:01PM

Here is a scan of my baby.

Timbuk3 · February 13, 2015 2:12PM

Great !!! :-)

pauldrolkees · February 13, 2015 2:45PM

Here is my PSA 9 (OC top-bottom). Thinking getting it reslabbed, you think i can get straight 8 with no qualifier?

JasonM32 · February 13, 2015 3:57PM

I collect Abdul-Jabbar but at this stage I'm really only going after his later on issues when he was with the Lakers. Sorry I can't be of much help but I think your cards look great.

cardbender · February 13, 2015 8:13PM

That's a nice Alcindor/Abdul-Jabbar collection you have going.

Your next card up, the '74-75 regular issue card # 1, is one of his toughest cards to
find centered, not tilted, and without print defects. In '74 Topps used some pretty rotten
paper stock for that year's basketball cards. I think the '74 Kareem card is his toughest
card to find in high grade condition. Just my opinion.

I collect his cards too, here's my raw RC from my set:

JBrules · February 14, 2015 4:11AM

<< That's a nice Alcindor/Abdul-Jabbar collection you have going.

Your next card up, the '74-75 regular issue card # 1, is one of his toughest cards to
find centered, not tilted, and without print defects. In '74 Topps used some pretty rotten
paper stock for that year's basketball cards. I think the '74 Kareem card is his toughest
card to find in high grade condition. Just my opinion.

I collect his cards too, here's my raw RC from my set:

>>

Thanks for the info. on the 74-75 card #1. I had started doing a few searches for that card and was amazed at the limited number of graded cards. Even some PSA 8's were not close to the centering I like. I was not aware of the paper stock. Good info. to know so if I do find a good I will pull the trigger even if it is above avg. price. Thanks everyone for the input and great picts you have posted.

DanBessette · February 14, 2015 4:15AM

Keep 'Em coming fellas! This is shaping up to be an all time great thread!

gregmo32 · February 14, 2015 5:35AM

Kareem was NBA MVP a record six times, NBA World Champion six times, a three time NCAA Player of the Year (freshmen were not eligible back then), the NBA All Time leading scorer, and one of the best players in the history of sports.

I did meet him once in 1990, and he was very friendly, appreciative of my kind words, and extremely-large-handed.

He has also written a lot of thought provoking articles and books, on subjects other than sports.

A true legend, and sadly underrated.

cardbender · February 14, 2015 7:47AM

<< 

Thanks for the info. on the 74-75 card #1. I had started doing a few searches for that card and was amazed at the limited number of graded cards. Even some PSA 8's were not close to the centering I like. I was not aware of the paper stock. Good info. to know so if I do find a good I will pull the trigger even if it is above avg. price. Thanks everyone for the input and great picts you have posted. >>

Topps used inferior stock on the 1973-74 and 1974-75 Basketball sets.

That '74 Kareem card could be found in PSA 8 for $40-50 several years ago.
Then there was quite an uptick on prices. Four out of the last five sales of that card
have sold for between $107-115 range. A couple of those examples that sold were pretty sharp.

So you might be able to find a weaker 8 for $60-75, but expect to pay slightly north of $100 for
a sharp example. There's only one sale recorded on VCP of a PSA 9 and that was nine years ago,
that card sold for $500. I seem to recall another 9 selling in the past couple of years for around $400,
but I could be wrong about that.

Good luck hunting one down and with your Abdul-Jabbar card quest.

Dboneesq · February 14, 2015 7:56AM

Wow guys ... many of you have great looking rookies! Enjoy them.

JBrules · February 15, 2015 11:24PM

Here is a short video clip of Kareem. Thought it would be appropriate. Hope you enjoy.

Kareem

BeRoyalKC · February 16, 2015 1:11AM

<< 

<< My dad says he doesn't really work that hard on defense and that he only really tries during the playoffs. Joey >>

Watch here. >>

Surely you can't be serious!

ergoism · February 16, 2015 1:41AM

I guess it's time to share mine:

(the mark on the top right is the holder)

DanBessette · February 16, 2015 1:43AM

OK, Evan wins, lol. Does anybody know the Pop of that card?

thunderdan · February 16, 2015 1:49AM

It's a pop 1.

DanBessette · February 16, 2015 1:57AM

<< It's a pop 1. >>

Hot damn.

JBrules · February 16, 2015 2:10AM

Thanks for posting the PSA 10 rookie. Wow!!!!!!!! Let the drooling begin.

PSASAP · February 16, 2015 2:11AM

The 7-10 split:

Largentcollector · February 16, 2015 4:26AM

<< I guess it's time to share mine:

(the mark on the top right is the holder) >>

A thing of beauty!!!

taka · February 16, 2015 5:18AM

KAJ will be at Vroman's/Pasadena on 2/27 for a book signing.

gregmo32 · February 16, 2015 7:31AM

It is a POP 1, but for $500,000, I bet it could be yours!

cardbender · February 16, 2015 1:37PM

<< I guess it's time to share mine:

(the mark on the top right is the holder) >>

WOW, that's a stunning Alcindor RC. Best I've ever seen.

Also, that PSA 7 isn't too shabby either.

JBrules · April 10, 2015 5:10AM

I am pretty happy to have added these two additions to my Jabbar collection. Anyone else out there add any to your collection? If so post them for all to see. Thanks for looking.

vintagefun · April 10, 2015 5:56AM

Beauties. Great looking 8 on that 86 Fleer.

DanBessette · April 10, 2015 6:13AM

Love the 76!

JBrules · April 10, 2015 6:23AM

<< Beauties. Great looking 8 on that 86 Fleer. >>

I was looking to get it in a 9 but when I saw this 8 it looked as good as a lot of 9's and had better centering than most of the 9's. A year ago I would have bought the holder (PSA 9) and not even considered a PSA 8. Thanks for noticing.

JasonM32 · April 11, 2015 2:07AM

The 1976 card is one of my favorites. In my opinion this is his first true Lakers card because the 1975 Topps is a photo of him as a Milwaukee Buck painted to look like he's wearing a Lakers jersey.

I was fortunate to see Kareem play in person when I was young in either 1988 or 1989. They let me stand near the tunnel where the players come out to the court and Kareem walked right by me. He looked like a giant. That was a pretty big thrill for me. Also, he did a book signing in my area in February and I was able to meet him briefly so that was pretty cool. I would have missed it if I didn't follow him on Twitter, lol.

ledsters · April 11, 2015 8:15AM

If any of you Abdul Jabbar collectors are interested in this signed program please PM me. I am looking for $80 delivered on it.

Thank you,

Kevin

[URL=http://s203.photobucket.com/user/ledsters/media/AbdulJabbar.jpg.html]

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[URL=http://s203.photobucket.com/user/ledsters/media/Abdul Jabbar close up.jpg.html]

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JBrules · May 30, 2015 5:34AM

Here is my latest addition to my Jabbar collection. Very please to find this one for a very good Best Offer price on Ebay. Hard to find this one centered.

DanBessette · May 30, 2015 6:08AM

Sweet!

Kareem Abdul Jabbar Collectors Updated 7-6-15 with new additions

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