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Star Company basketball cards were the only cards licensed by the NBA and the NBA Players Association from 1983 to 1986. However, PSA does not grade Star basketball cards, and this has been a source of frustration and confusion for collectors. Some collectors have speculated that this is because there are so many good fakes that it is impossible to tell the difference between real and counterfeit cards. However, others have suggested that PSA does not have an expert on staff with sufficient knowledge about Star cards and that they do not want to hire one. In 2011, Beckett Grading Services announced that it would begin grading Star basketball cards, and it appears that BGS has been grading them since 2008.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grading company | Beckett Grading Services (BGS) |
| Grading date | December 1, 2008 |
| Card type | '83–'86 Star Company basketball cards |
| Card characteristics | Rare due to poor quality control, tough centering and tough edges |
| Card distribution | Non-traditional; distributed through hobby shops, mail order, arena promotions, etc. |
| Expertise required | Yes; PSA stopped grading due to lack of expertise and difficulty distinguishing originals from reprints |
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What You'll Learn
Beckett Grading Services grades Star Basketball cards
Beckett Grading Services (BGS) offers grading services for sports cards, including basketball cards. In 2008, BGS expanded its services to include '83-'86 Star Company basketball cards. This expansion was in response to a request from The Schonco Sports Collection to grade their inventory of Star Co. basketball cards before releasing them to the market.
BGS worked with Star Co. basketball card expert Steve Taft to authenticate, grade, and slab the collection. The graded cards are labelled as part of The Schonco Sports Collection inventory. BGS did not previously offer grading services for Star Co. basketball cards as many in the industry believed that many existing cards on the market were counterfeit or reprinted long after their original runs.
Star Co. was the exclusive licensed distributor of NBA cards in the early 1980s, and their limited-edition sets feature some of the earliest and most valuable Michael Jordan rookie cards. The Schonco Sports Collection cards include rare Jordan cards and key team sets like the 1984 Boston, Dallas, Detroit, and Philadelphia sets. With high demand from long-time Star collectors, these cards are expected to sell quickly once available.
BGS provides four subgrades that are commonly used for card grading: centering, corners, edges, and surface. Cards with high subgrades in all four categories receive a high grade on a 10-point scale, while cards with low subgrades receive a lower numerical grade. BGS reviews both the front and back of all cards in these four categories.
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PSA does not grade Star Basketball cards
There are a few theories as to why PSA does not grade Star cards. One is that there are so many "good" fakes that it is impossible to tell the difference between a real card and a reprint. Another theory is that PSA does not have an expert on staff with sufficient knowledge of Star cards, and they do not want to hire one.
It is worth noting that other grading companies, such as Beckett Grading Services (BGS), do grade Star Basketball cards. BGS supposedly received guidance on how to grade the original Star cards, as not every card was reprinted. However, for issues with high amounts of reprints, BGS needs some sort of set pedigree.
The lack of PSA grading for Star cards has created a perception issue, with some collectors refusing to buy Star cards because of this. However, this perception is changing as more people become educated about the cards and BGS has begun grading them.
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BGS grades Star Basketball cards
Beckett Grading Services (BGS) has been grading sports cards, gaming cards, and non-sports cards since the early 1990s. In 2008, BGS expanded its services to include the grading of Star Company basketball cards from 1983 to 1986. This decision was made in response to a request from The Schonco Sports Collection, which wanted BGS to grade their inventory of Star Co. basketball cards before releasing them onto the market.
BGS worked with Star Co. basketball card expert Steve Taft to authenticate, grade, and slab the collection. The graded cards carry a label designating them as part of The Schonco Sports Collection inventory. BGS did not previously offer grading services for Star Co. basketball cards as many in the industry believed that many existing cards on the market were counterfeit or reprinted long after their original runs.
Star Co. was the exclusive licensed distributor of NBA cards in the early 1980s, and their limited-edition sets feature some of the earliest and most valuable Michael Jordan rookie cards. The Schonco Sports Collection cards include rare Jordan cards as well as key rarer team sets like the 1984 Boston, Dallas, Detroit, and Philadelphia teams.
BGS grades submitted cards based on several factors, including centering, card stock, and cutting techniques. The company provides a color-coded label based on the grade, with metallic labels giving a premium look to the collection. The overall numerical grade and four category subgrades appear on the front of the label, along with a card description for full transparency. The graded cards are then sealed in a safe, stackable, and tamper-proof case to protect the card from damage and ensure its clarity.
BGS's decision to grade Star Basketball cards was well-received by collectors, with many expressing excitement over the opportunity to have their cards graded by a reputable company.
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$244.99
Star Basketball cards were the only cards licensed by the NBA from 1983-1986
Star Company Basketball Cards were the only licensed NBA cards produced between 1983 and 1986. The Star Company filled a gap in the market left by Topps, which ended its relationship with the NBA in 1982. Star's first basketball issue was the 1983 All-Star Game Set, which included the first basketball card issue for Pistons great Isiah Thomas.
Star Company produced cards in limited quantities, with most production runs at or below 5,000 cards. The cards were sold in hobby shops by team in sealed, transparent plastic bags, known as "polybags". Cards were made available nationally through a small network of distributors, although some parts of the US received little attention. Many cards were initially purchased in response to ads in sports card magazines and even at various sporting events.
Star cards were unlike any cards previously produced for the NBA. They were colourful and included rare series due to poor quality control, making the mint and gem mint cards all the more valuable. The cards were not hugely popular in the early years, and Star's three-year adventure was a money-losing proposition. However, as Michael Jordan rose to fame, his 24 Star cards continued to increase in value.
In 1997, Star founder Robert Levin was caught selling counterfeit cards on the Shop at Home Network. He claimed that the cards were unearthed from the initial Star run from 1983-1986, but they were newly printed and backdated to look older. The NBA sued Levin and several associates, and Star was out of business soon after.
Beckett Grading Services began grading Star Basketball cards in 2008, and the cards are now highly sought-after by collectors.
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Grading Star Basketball cards is difficult due to reprints and counterfeits
Grading Star Basketball cards is a challenging task due to the presence of reprints and counterfeits in the market. The situation is further complicated by the fact that PSA, a leading grading company, has chosen not to grade Star Basketball cards, leaving collectors and enthusiasts with limited options for authentication.
PSA's decision not to grade Star Basketball cards has been a topic of discussion among collectors. Some speculate that it is due to the existence of "'good' fakes", making it challenging to distinguish between originals and counterfeits. Others suggest that PSA does not have the necessary expertise or staff with sufficient knowledge about Star cards to undertake the grading process accurately. There are also mentions of PSA grading some counterfeits in the past and subsequently deciding to discontinue grading Star cards to avoid such risks.
The Star Company, which produced Star Basketball cards, has a history of counterfeiting and reprinting practices. In the early 1990s, they reprinted and re-released Star cards using the original printing plates, selling them on the Shop at Home Network. These reprints are nearly indistinguishable from the originals, causing confusion among collectors. Additionally, there are different types of counterfeits, such as Type II counterfeits, which were factory rejects stolen and released by former Star employees, and ""Shop at Home" counterfeits, which were printed later but backdated to resemble original issues.
Despite the challenges, there are grading companies that have ventured into grading Star Basketball cards. Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is one of the prominent companies that have taken on the task. BGS has been grading Star Co. cards for over ten years and has gained expertise in distinguishing originals from reprints and counterfeits. They received guidance on grading originals and can differentiate between issues with high amounts of reprints by using set pedigrees. Additionally, in 2022, PSA announced that they would start grading Star cards, joining BGS in offering authentication services for Star Company basketball cards.
In conclusion, grading Star Basketball cards is indeed difficult due to the presence of reprints and counterfeits. However, with specialized knowledge and experience, grading companies like BGS have been able to navigate these challenges and provide authentication services for collectors. The recent decision by PSA to start grading Star cards also brings new opportunities for collectors to have their cards graded and authenticated by multiple reputable sources.
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Frequently asked questions
PSA does not grade Star basketball cards because they do not have an expert on staff with sufficient knowledge of the cards.
Yes, Beckett Grading Services (BGS) grades Star basketball cards.
BGS started grading Star basketball cards on December 1, 2008.
PSA is brutal on the grading, so cards that receive a high grade from PSA are more valuable.
BGS grades Star Company basketball cards from the 1980s.
