Charles Barkley was a legendary basketball player in the NBA. Starring primarily at the power forward position for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets over a 16-year career.
He possessed an impressive combination of quickness, power, and versatility. And this helped make him a devastating offensive threat from almost everywhere on the court and a dominant rebounder.
As iconic as Barkley was during his playing days. His post-career as a basketball analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA show has been widely successful as well.
As one would expect, the highly lucrative sports card market has been very kind to Barkley as well. Reflecting his incredibly successful career in the NBA and broadcasting.
Below are the top 10 picks for Charles Barkley basketball cards on the market today. As well as some additional memorabilia items.
10. 2019-2020 Panini Crown Royale Kaboom! #6
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $1,200
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $400
The Panini Crown Royale Kaboom card expertly employs a cartoonish, comic-book design style throughout the entire product. Making it the most creative card on this list.
Both the front and back of the card picture Barkley in a cartoon caricature format. Which is a welcome change from many of the traditional in-game photos that categorize most sports cards in the market today.
The background of the card’s front is comprised of a shiny, silvery background with several different rainbow colors outlined in star shapes. The word Kaboom is written on the front and back of the card in a bolded thick-style font.
9. 1987-1988 Fleer Sticker Card #6
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $2,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $100
As all vintage sports card collectors know, old sticker cards can very valuable. They’re sometimes more valuable, than the normal base version of the card in the set.
The 1987-1988 Fleer Sticker version of Barkley is no exception, commanding a very high price tag in PSA 10 condition.
The sticker front contains a red, white, and blue border and pictures Barkley going up for a dunk in the classic mid-80s Sixers jersey. Barkley’s name, team, position, and the word Fleer are listed in a yellow strip on the left side of the card’s front.
While the card’s back contains a very lengthy bio with his career accomplishments to date.
8. 1987-1988 Fleer Card #9
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $2,500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $125
A year after his iconic Fleer rookie card. The 1987-1988 Fleer #9 Barkley card is still a highly sought-after card with a high value in top condition.
The card is a step-down in design quality from the iconic 1986-1987 set. And contains a relatively plain color scheme largely comprised of gray and white.
The picture of Barkley isn’t the best action shot either, showing him walking in a game without the ball. However, the red and blue 76ers lettering on the top right of the card is a nice design on an otherwise blah card.
The lion’s share of value in the card itself is simply the fact that it is only the 2nd year Barkley was featured on a mainstream basketball card brand.
7. 1985-1986 Star Card #2
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $3,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $300
The earliest cards featuring Barkley were produced by Star from 1984 to 1986.
Many collectors do not consider any of the Star cards featuring Barkley as true rookie cards. This is because they were only available through direct order or hobby dealers. And not through a standard basketball set.
Further complicating the standing of Stars cards in the market, is that up until this year, PSA stopped grading them. Their reason for this is that Star cards had a lower design quality and were easy to counterfeit or reprint.
Either way, the early Star cards featuring Barkley are still highly valuable. The 1985-1986 version features a great photo of Barkley blocking a layup attempt by Nets shooting guard Otis Birdsong.
6. 2018-2019 Panini Select Signatures Gold Prizm Card #SG-CBK
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $3,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $1,000
It wouldn’t be a sports card top-picks list without at least one Panini specialty version. And the 2018-2019 Select Signatures Gold Prizm card is an absolutely beautiful card.
The front of the card features a shiny, gold-tiled background. With a picture of Barkley going up for a dunk in his Phoenix Suns jersey on the card’s right side.
The left side of the card, next to the picture of Barkley, contains in descending order the Suns’ logo, Barkley’s name, and his signature.
5. 1985 Star Gatorade, Charles Barkley – No Card Number
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $3,500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $350
The 1985 Star Gatorade card was a part of a 9-card set given out to attendees of the 1985 All-Star Banquet in Indianapolis. Featuring the 9 participants in the upcoming slam dunk contest.
Because Barkley dropped out of the slam dunk contest at the last minute, his cards were not distributed with the original set. But they would later leak out in the marketplace.
The card contains a green background on both the front and back. With the Gatorade logo contained in the bottom left of the card’s front.
The picture of Barkley on the front of the card shows him dunking the basketball with two hands. While the back of the card contains a brief player bio with an emphasis on his potential dunking abilities.
4. 1984-1985 Star Rookie Card #202
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $5,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $500
The 1984-1985 Star #202 card is the first basketball card to ever feature Charles Barkley.
Although many collectors do not consider any of the Star cards featuring Barkley rookie cards. While others consider them all rookie cards. It is probably most accurate to designate the 1984-1985 Star #202 card, and only this Star card, as a rookie card.
This card has the potential to skyrocket in value, as PSA has just begun to grade them again. Giving them more relevance in the memorabilia world.
The front of the card features a great photo of Barkley shooting a jumper near the basket.
3. 1985-1986 Rookie Card JMS #4
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $7,500
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $750
The JMS card series featured 27 players from the top 3 teams in the NBA, the Lakers, Celtics, and 76ers.
Originally, included in a single-page format with 8 other Sixers player cards. The Charles Barkley rookie card, along with the other cards contained perforated edges. It was meant to be torn or cut from the page to form an individual card. As a result, in addition to being rare, these cards are extremely difficult to find in good condition.
The card features a close-up shot of Barkley’s smiling face, in a yearbook-style format. Both the front and the back of the card contain Barkley’s 1984-1985 stats. A rarity among most sports cards, which nearly always contain stats exclusively on the back of the card.
Although it is a non-traditional sports card, it is probably most accurate to identify this card as a rookie card. Since it features Barkley’s first year in the league.
2. 1986-1987 Fleer Rookie Card #7
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $10,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $875
The 1986-1987 Fleer #7 Charles Barkley rookie card is one of the most legendary rookie cards in one of the most legendary basketball card sets.
It is the most highly desirable Barkley card, and the most expensive non-specialty card featuring his likeness.
The card showcases the beautiful ’86-87 Fleer red, white, and blue design. Along with a great action shot of Barkley dunking the basketball with two hands on the front.
The back of the card lists his player stats from the 1984-1985 and 1985-1986 seasons.
1. 2018-2019 Panini Immaculate Collection Dual Autographs Barkley/Bryant, Card #DA-KC
Approximate PSA 10 Value – $50,000
Approximate PSA 9 Value – $15,000
Although the final card on this list is technically not a sole-Charles Barkley card. It was simply too special to not include in this article.
The 2018-2019 Panini Immaculate Collection included many specialty cards. Including a set of dual autographed cards featuring some of the best players, past and present, in the NBA.
A limited 10-card set containing the autographs and images of both Charles Barkley and the late great Kobe Bryant. Making this an incredible basketball card with a high sentimental and nostalgic value.
The card has a horizontal layout, with Bryant’s picture and autograph on the top half of the card, and Barkley’s picture and autograph on the bottom half of the card.
It is very difficult to obtain, with only 1 version of this card currently available on eBay.
Bonus Memorabilia Items
Charles Barkley also has plenty of other valuable sports memorabilia other than basketball cards, much of it on sportsmemorabilia.com.
One of the most unique options available is an autographed electric guitar. Which can be purchased in three different colors/styles, each retailing for $1,453.99.
As would be expected for a legendary basketball player, several different signed basketballs are available for purchase. The most desirable basketball memorabilia option by far is the NBA 75th Anniversary Team basketball autographed by Barkley, selling for $1,817.99.
The best item available, which would be the crown jewel of any memorabilia collection, is a 1992 USA Olympic jersey signed by Barkley. The leading scorer of the legendary Dream Team, retailing for $5,759.99.
Several different signed photos can also be purchased. Including a very colorful autographed 8″ by 10″ photo of Barkley posing in the classic late 90s pinstripe Houston Rockets jersey. This has a modest asking price of $217.99.
He's a hobby writer and collector who helps us out at SportsWorldCards by sharing his many years of experience.
Rob has a large card collection and has bought and sold quite a few over the years. Along the way he's netted a healthy profit that gets reinvested back into his collecting budget (with a bit held back for beer of course!).
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