Amanda Knapp
The 1990 Hoops basketball card features Mark Jackson making a bounce pass, with the Menendez brothers sitting courtside in the background. The card has become one of the most famous basketball cards in history due to the notoriety of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who killed their parents in 1989. The brothers were arrested in March 1990, and their case became a national news story. The card's value has increased significantly, with some selling for as much as $800, and collectors sending cards to the brothers in prison to be autographed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1990 |
| Player | Mark Jackson |
| Card Series | Hoops |
| Card Number | 205 |
| Card Condition | Near Mint/Mint |
| Card Value | $600 |
| Appearance | The Menendez brothers can be seen sitting courtside in the background |
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What You'll Learn
The 1990 Mark Jackson Hoops basketball card
In 2018, it was discovered that brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of killing their parents in 1989, were visible in the background of the card. The brothers can be seen sitting in the front row, watching the game. The discovery was made by Stephen Zerance, who posted the card on Twitter. Zerance purchased the card for 10 cents, but its value has since increased due to the connection with the Menendez brothers. The card can sell for as much as $800, depending on its quality and grading. The buyers are often true crime enthusiasts rather than basketball fans.
The card gained further attention when eBay removed listings for the item due to its association with the Menendez brothers and their crimes. The removal was later revoked, and the card continues to be sold and traded by collectors. The card's value has been influenced by renewed interest in the Menendez case, such as the release of a Netflix drama series.
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The Menendez brothers' cameo
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, were convicted of killing their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, in 1989. They gained cultural icon status as their story of sexual abuse and murder in Beverly Hills, California, captivated the nation. In 2023, an old image of the brothers from 1990 resurfaced online, showing them in the background of an NBA Hoops basketball card featuring Mark Jackson. The discovery was made by a true crime fan, Zerance, who shared it on Twitter, and it soon went viral. The card now attracts high prices from true crime enthusiasts, although eBay previously removed listings due to its policy against items linked to murders.
The brothers' spending spree after the murders included basketball tickets, and they can be seen watching a game in the photograph on the card. The card shows Jackson mid-play, passing the ball with the crowd behind him. The brothers are visible in the crowd to the left of his hip. The image was taken before the brothers were arrested for the murders and during a time when they were living in condominiums in Marina del Rey, dining at expensive restaurants, and taking overseas trips.
The Menendez brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder in their second trial and were initially sentenced to life without parole. However, their sentences were later downgraded to life with the possibility of parole. In May 2023, the brothers requested a new hearing, presenting evidence that their father had allegedly abused them and molested Roy Rosselló, a former member of the band Menudo. In October 2024, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing, but his loss in the November election led to opposition from the newly elected district attorney. In May 2025, a judge resentenced the brothers, making them eligible for parole.
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The card's value increases
The value of the Mark Jackson 1990-91 NBA Hoops basketball trading card has increased over time. The card features a courtside photo of Jackson playing for the New York Knicks, with the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, visible in the background. The brothers were convicted of murdering their parents and went on a lavish spending spree, which included courtside tickets to watch the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The card's value has increased significantly since the discovery of the brothers in the background. Before this, the card was valued at pennies, but its price has since surged, with one card selling for $600. The card's newfound fame has transformed an ordinary collectible into a piece of true crime memorabilia, attracting interest from true crime fans rather than basketball fans. The release of a Netflix documentary about the brothers in 2024 further fuelled demand, with collectors expecting the card to become even more valuable.
The card's value is influenced by its condition and quality, with higher-grade cards commanding higher prices. The presence of the Menendez brothers in the background has made the card a unique piece of history, and its popularity is expected to continue, with a new documentary about the brothers set to debut in 2024. The card's value is likely to remain high as the Menendez name becomes common knowledge again, and people seek to acquire a piece of pop culture history.
The card's value is also impacted by its rarity, or lack thereof. While the 1990-91 Hoops series is not considered rare, with many collectors likely having stacks of these cards, the specific card featuring the Menendez brothers is now sought-after due to its infamy. This has resulted in higher prices for this particular card, with sellers aiming to get top dollar for the over-30-year-old collectible. The card's value is expected to continue to rise, making it a desirable addition to any collection.
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The Menendez brothers' backstory
On 20 August 1989, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez were shot to death in their Beverly Hills home. Their sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez, were found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The brothers claimed that they murdered their parents in self-defense and that unknown intruders were responsible for the murders. However, police grew suspicious due to the brothers' spending and their attempts to delete their father's will.
Lyle and Erik were star tennis players, with Erik being nationally ranked in his age bracket. Their father, José, was known for being highly competitive and pushing his children to succeed in athletics and other endeavours. This overbearing behaviour had a negative impact on Erik's self-confidence. Following the murders, the brothers went on a spending spree, which included purchasing a Porsche Carrera sports car, hiring a full-time tennis coach, and buying basketball tickets. They also dined at high-end restaurants and took overseas trips, spending a total of approximately $700,000, mostly from a $650,000 personal life insurance policy payout.
In May 2023, the brothers requested a new hearing based on an allegation that their father had raped a former Menudo member, Roy Rosselló. In October 2024, the Los Angeles District Attorney recommended resentencing, but this was opposed by the newly elected district attorney after the 2024 election. In May 2025, a judge resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.
The Menendez murders became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century, receiving extensive media coverage and inspiring numerous documentaries, dramatizations, books, and parodies. Their courtside attendance at a New York Knicks basketball game was captured in the background of a Mark Jackson trading card from 1990. This card gained attention when a true crime fan discovered the brothers in the background, and it has since been sought after by other true crime enthusiasts.
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The Netflix documentary
In 2017, the Netflix true-crime docuseries "The Menendez Murders: Erik Tells All" was released. The four-part series explores the 1989 trial of the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, for the brutal murder of their parents, the media frenzy that surrounded it, and the shocking revelations that came to light about the brothers' lives during the trial.
The series includes extensive phone interviews with Erik, as well as rare and emotional footage, never-before-seen photos, and new interviews with prosecutors, law enforcement, close family, friends, and medical experts. It also features interviews with former Los Angeles District Attorney Christopher Darden, news icon Larry King, Erik’s wife Tammi Menendez, and Associated Press trial reporter Linda Deutsch, among others, who provide their personal points of view to help unveil the real story behind the notorious case.
The Menendez brothers were convicted of murdering their parents and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The documentary re-examines the case through the lens of one of the convicted killers, with Erik providing his most in-depth interview to date. He recounts the horrible torment of his past, the brutal murder he and his older brother Lyle committed, and the series of events that led them to conceal and later confess to their crimes.
The series also includes footage of the brothers on a spending spree after the murders, which included basketball tickets. In a strange twist, it was discovered in 2024 that the brothers had appeared in the background of an NBA basketball card from 1990, featuring Mark Jackson. The card gained attention on social media and from true-crime fans, with some cards selling for as high as $US800 depending on their quality and grading.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson basketball card features the Menendez brothers sitting courtside at a New York Knicks game.
Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents in 1989 before going on a spending spree that included basketball tickets. They were arrested in March 1990.
The card's value has increased since its discovery. After being valued at pennies, one card sold for $600. A PSA 10-rated card sold for $213 in 2021, $95 on eBay in 2023, and $4,000 in 2024.
