Amanda Knapp
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. They were spotted in the background of an NBA Hoops basketball card from 1990, featuring Mark Jackson. The brothers were sitting courtside at a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, which they attended during the period between the murders and their arrest, using their parents' insurance money. The card has become a sought-after item for collectors of murder memorabilia, with sales and prices increasing after the release of a Netflix series about the brothers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1990-91 |
| Player | Mark Jackson |
| Team | New York Knicks |
| Card Number | #205 |
| Grade | PSA 8, 9, and 10 |
| Price | $15, $20, $23, $27.84, $19, $23.99, $21.99, $190,000, $3,000, $2,400 |
| Number of Cards Graded | 7,077 |
| Percentage of Population Graded | 10% |
| Card Features | The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, sitting in the front row |
| Card Backstory | The brothers used their parents' insurance money to buy courtside tickets to the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden after murdering them |
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What You'll Learn
The Menendez brothers' appearance on a 1990-91 Mark Jackson basketball card
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, appear in the background of the 1990-91 Mark Jackson basketball card. The card, which is part of the Hoops series, features an image of Jackson playing for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The brothers can be seen sitting in the front row, watching the game.
At the time the photo was taken, the brothers had already murdered their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, but had not yet been arrested. They were later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the killings, which they claimed were a result of years of sexual abuse by their father, which their mother allegedly helped cover up.
Following the murders in August 1989, the brothers went on a lavish spending spree with their parents' insurance money, including buying courtside tickets to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This is likely how they ended up in the background of the Mark Jackson basketball card.
The card gained attention in 2018 when it was discovered by Stephen Zerance, who shared his findings on Twitter and Reddit. The card is considered a collectible oddity, with some collectors of murder memorabilia expressing interest in owning it. The card's value has increased since its initial discovery, with some collectors reporting small jumps in price.
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The brothers' spending spree after killing their parents
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, were convicted of killing their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, in 1989. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996. However, they were resentenced in 2025 to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.
In the days following the murders, the brothers went on a spending spree, raising suspicions among the police. They spent approximately $700,000, most of which came from a $650,000 personal life insurance policy payout. They left their Beverly Hills mansion and lived in adjoining condominiums in Marina del Rey. They dined at expensive restaurants and travelled overseas to the Caribbean and London. They were also captured in the background of a Mark Jackson basketball trading card while attending a New York Knicks game.
The brothers' extravagant spending, along with their attempt to delete their father's recently updated will, led the police to suspect them as potential suspects in the murder of their parents. Family members, however, disputed any connection between their spending habits and the killings, stating that there were no noticeable changes.
During this time, Lyle made a sudden trip back home from Princeton to destroy something in the family computer, which was later revealed to be Jose's new will. Lyle's friend, Glenn Stevens, also testified that Lyle had told him about erasing the will. Additionally, they hired a computer expert to ensure the deletion of the will, which may have reduced the inheritance for his sons.
The spending spree and subsequent actions by the brothers contributed to the investigation and eventual conviction in the highly publicized Menendez brothers case.
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eBay bans the sale of the card
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Between the murders and their arrests, the brothers went on a lavish spending spree, buying courtside tickets to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, among other things. It was later discovered that the brothers were captured in the background of an NBA trading card, taken during the aforementioned basketball game.
The card in question is Mark Jackson's 1990-91 Hoops basketball trading card. After the discovery was made public, eBay sellers attempted to sell the card for top dollar, with one seller seeking $1,500. However, eBay soon banned the sale of the card under their prohibition of the sale of anything "affiliated with murders or serial killers".
Despite the ban, several cards are currently listed on eBay, with sellers specifically mentioning the presence of the Menendez brothers. The demand for such macabre collectibles may not be very high, but there are undoubtedly collectors of murder memorabilia who would be delighted to own this card.
While eBay has not consistently enforced its ban, it is important to note that the sale of items related to murder or serial killers is prohibited on the platform. The initial removal of the card listings in late 2018 and early 2019 demonstrates eBay's commitment to enforcing its policies and ensuring that the platform is not used to glorify or profit from such crimes.
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The card gains popularity on social media
The story of the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, who killed their parents and bought courtside tickets to a Knicks game with their parents' money, is a well-known one. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced in 1996, following a lengthy legal process. In 2018, a Reddit user noticed the brothers in the background of a 1990 Mark Jackson Hoops basketball card and shared the discovery on the platform. The post made its way to Twitter and gained some traction, but it wasn't until a few months later that it really took off.
In December 2023, a social media account called Morbid Knowledge shared an image of the card on Twitter, along with a close-up shot of the brothers. The post went viral, with many people expressing shock and outrage that the brothers could be seen in the background of a basketball card. The card showed the athlete mid-play, passing the ball with the crowd behind him, and the brothers could be seen sitting in the front row. The image sparked a lot of conversation and debate, with some people calling the brothers ""perverted weirdos".
The card's popularity continued to grow, and it even caught the attention of eBay, who initially banned the sale of the card under their policy prohibiting the sale of items affiliated with murderers. However, the ban was eventually lifted, and sales of the card thrived. The card's backstory, involving the brothers' lavish spending spree with their parents' insurance money, only added to its intrigue. The card's popularity was further boosted by a 2024 Netflix series about the brothers, which caused a stark increase in sales volume and price. The card's value increased by 70.5% and 110% for PSA 8 and PSA 9 copies, respectively, in the two weeks leading up to the show's release.
The Mark Jackson Hoops basketball card from 1990, featuring the Menendez brothers in the background, has become a sought-after collectible for those interested in true crime and oddities. Its popularity on social media has only added to its notoriety, and it has become far more synonymous with the brothers than with Jackson himself.
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The card's impact on the basketball card collecting market
The 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson basketball card has gained notoriety for featuring the Menendez brothers sitting courtside in the background. The card has become far more synonymous with the brothers than with Jackson, and its value has increased significantly as a result.
Before the Menendez brothers were spotted in the image, the card was considered a common collectible. However, after a Reddit user noticed the brothers in the summer of 2018 and shared the finding on Twitter, the card gained attention from collectors and true-crime enthusiasts. The card's backstory, featuring the brothers attending a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden with their parents' money after murdering them, has only added to its intrigue.
The impact of the Menendez brothers' presence on the card can be seen in the sales data. In the year leading up to the release of a Netflix series about the brothers, there was a stark increase in sales volume and price for the card. PSA 8, 9, and 10 grades saw increases of 52.5%, 41.6%, and 96.9%, respectively. The PSA 10s, in particular, accounted for nearly 30% of the entire population, with 63 cards sold during that time.
The Netflix series further boosted sales for the card, with price increases of 70.5% and 110% for PSA 8 and 9 copies, respectively, in the two weeks surrounding its release. While the show's impact may be short-lived, it demonstrates how pop culture can influence collecting choices and create demand for memorabilia.
Overall, the impact of the Menendez brothers' cameo on the Mark Jackson basketball card has been significant. The card has gone from a common collectible to a sought-after oddity, with its value increasing alongside public interest in the brothers' story. This showcases how unexpected connections and cultural phenomena can shape the basketball card collecting market.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Lyle and Erik Menendez can be seen in the background of an NBA basketball card featuring Mark Jackson. The card is from the 1990-91 Hoops set.
The card was released after the brothers had killed their parents but before their arrests. The brothers were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murders of their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
The basketball card was previously banned from being sold on eBay due to its association with the Menendez brothers, who are "affiliated with murders or serial killers". However, the ban has since been revoked, and the card can now be purchased on eBay.
