The Story Behind Jordan’s #12 Jersey: Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops #223 Card

The Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops #223 card is one of the more notable cards in the 1990 Hopps release. Usually, this happens because the card showcases a legendary player or has a rare error/variation.

While Sam Vincent was a capable player with a respectable career Michael Jordan is … well, Michael Jordan, and the reason the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card stands out from most cards in the 1990 Hopps set.

This article shall cover everything about the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card and the #12 jersey that makes this card noteworthy.

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The 1990 Hoops Basketball card set

The 1990 Hoops Basketball set is one of the top basketball card sets from the era. This set has all the hallmarks of a memorable set. The set features 440 cards, including base cards, subsets, and special inserts.

Its design is simple yet iconic, with a bold team-colored border at the bottom, player names in large block letters at the top left, and action-packed photos.

Following the successful 1989 Hoops release, this set includes cards of iconic players from the era, such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

Its 440-card checklist is filled with many of the greatest stars of the day, rookie cards of 3 Hall of Fame players, and has exciting inserts.

Aside from featuring several legends of the game, the 1990 Hopps set contains the infamous 1990 Hoops Mark Jackson card, which features the notorious Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez.

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For obvious reasons, another standout card from the 1990 Hoops Basketball set is the 1990 Hoops #65 Michael Jordan card. In addition, the David Robinson card showcases the Hall of Famer during his early years. Despite the 1990 Hoops David Robinson card having the “Rookie of the Year” tag, this was not David Robinson’s rookie card.

He had appeared in the 1989 Hoops set the year before. The 1990 Hoops set has several interesting error cards, although they don’t hold much monetary value unless they are graded.

While the 1990 Hoops set lacks great monetary value because it’s a junk wax-era set, it has significant nostalgic value for collectors. For many, the 1990 Hoops set represents their introduction to the hobby, and these brightly colored cards bring back memories of opening packs as kids.

Sam Vincent

While Sam Vincent isn’t the primary reason the 1990-91 Hoops #223 card is so sought after, this is his card. And while Michael Jordan’s rare #12 jersey cameo may have stolen the spotlight, Sam Vincent had a respectable career in the NBA that deserves recognition in its own right.

Born May 18, 1963, James Samuel Vincent attended Michigan State University, where he won the State of Michigan “Mr. Basketball” award in 1981 and earned Sporting News All-America honors in 1985. After graduating from college, he was selected by the Boston Celtics with the twentieth pick of the 1985 NBA draft.

Vincent played two seasons for the Celtics before joining the Seattle SuperSonics, who then traded him to the Chicago Bulls for Sedale Threatt. After one-and-a-half solid seasons with the Bulls, he was selected by the Orlando Magic in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, and he finished his NBA career with the Magic in 1992.

His contributions to the teams he played for and his ability to adapt to different roles made him a valuable player. After retiring from the NBA, Vincent transitioned into coaching, including a stint as head coach of the Nigerian national team, further showcasing his deep understanding of the game.

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The Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 Card: what makes it unique?

What makes Sam Vincent’s 1990 Hoops 223 card truly special is twofold.

Michael Jordan

The first reason the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card is so highly valued is because Michael Jordan appears in front of Vincent. Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever live, and his appearance on the card helped boost its appeal immensely.

Due to his legendary career, Michael Jordan cards are amongst the most sought-after in the hobby. This influence extends beyond cards that primarily feature Michael Jordan. Even cards where he appears in the background, often called “shadow cards,” have become highly desirable among collectors.

Some collectors actively seek and build collections of these Michael Jordan shadow cards. Typically, these Michael Jordan shadow cards hold slightly more value.

Jordan wearing #12 jersey

While the reasons above might have impacted the value of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card, it’s really notable because of the number #12 jersey Jordan is wearing in the photo. Throughout his prime, Jordan wore his famed number #23 jersey.

When Jordan came out of retirement in 1995, he wore the #45 rather than his trademark #23. However, one night in Jordan’s long career, due to peculiar circumstances, Jordan wore a different number, and the moment was immortalized in the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card.

On February 14, 1990, the Chicago Bulls visited Orlando to play the Magic, and Jordan wore the #12 jersey.

This game was also a milestone in Jordan’s career as he attempted the second-most field goal attempts in a regular season game in his career (43), scoring 49 points in 47 minutes in Orlando against the Magic.

Why did Michael Jordan wear the number 12 jersey?

The story is that someone stole Jordan’s jersey from the team’s locker room on game day.

Unfortunately, the Bulls did not bring a backup jersey for Jordan. Staff members even asked the crowd if anyone had a #23 jersey that would fit Jordan. However, there was none, and Jordan had to play the game wearing a nameless #12 jersey that was available. As luck would have it, this moment was coincidently immortalized by Hoops on the Sam Vincent card.

Chris Johnson of Sports Illustrated dives extensively into the details of this entire situation in this article.

The Magic won the game 135-129, although Jordan scored an impressive 49 points. After the game, Jordan spoke about having to wear a different number.

“That has never happened to me before. It’s pretty irritating because you’re accustomed to certain things and you don’t like to have things misplaced.”

This moment, immortalized in the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card, stands out because of its intriguing backstory and the fact that this was the one time Jordan played with another number aside from the famous #23 and #45. While many other cards feature Jordan in the background, none captures such an unusual and memorable incident.

This combination of Jordan’s cameo, the #12 jersey, and the rich story behind it has made the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card hold a special place in the hearts of both basketball fans and collectors.

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PSA Population Report

The PSA Population Report provides valuable insight into how much demand the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card has. It’s the fourth most graded card in the 1990-91 Hoops set, trailing only Michael Jordan and the Mark Jackson card featuring the Menendez brothers.

As of the latest PSA data, a staggering 5,961 copies of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card have been graded. This showcases the card’s enduring appeal in the hobby.

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As seen above, most graded cards received grades in the PSA 8 and PSA 9 ranges. This isn’t strange for cards from the Junk Wax era. Only a tiny percentage have achieved a PSA 10 grade. The corrected Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card without Michael Jordan has been graded just 380 times.

The value of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card

The combination of Jordan’s appearance and the #12 jersey has ensured the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card holds a special place in the hearts of basketball fans and collectors. This created ample demand for the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card, which has, in turn, increased its value.

However, the 1990 Hoops is a junk wax-era set, and there’s a ceiling to just how much this card is worth because it was so massively overproduced. Millions of these cards were printed, ensuring numerous copies are available today.

As a result, only high-grade versions of the card, in excellent condition, are of any significant monetary value. Let’s consider the last 5 eBay sales of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card.

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Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card

According to Sports Card Pro, the average value of singles in the 1990 Hoops is $1.25. However, there are few exceptions because of their unique stories and features, and the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card is one of them.

Notwithstanding, the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card still commands a premium compared to many cards in the set.

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Despite its fame, the Sam Vincent card is only the second most interesting story in the set. The top spot is undoubtedly claimed by the Mark Jackson card, which unintentionally captured the Menendez brothers seated courtside in the background.

1990 Hoops Sam Vincent [Vincent Dribbling] #223

Following the release of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card featuring Michael Jordan in the foreground, Hoops decided to correct the card by issuing a new version. This corrected card, referred to as the “Vincent Dribbling” variation, shows Sam Vincent alone, dribbling the ball without Jordan in the frame.

While the original card remains a fan favorite due to its historical significance, the corrected version does have its own unique appeal and value. It was printed significantly less than other cards in the set.

However, this doesn’t mean much because this still amounts to hundreds of thousands of the corrected Sam Vincent cards printed. However, this limited production run has boosted the value of this other version of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card. PSA 10 versions of this card sell for as high as $100, while PSA 9 sells in the $19 – $50 range.

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Bottomline of the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card

The 1990 Hoops set, with its vibrant designs and checklist loaded with star players, remains a beloved set for fans of the era. It’s one of the more interesting basketball sets from the Junk Wax era. Its  440 checklist highlighted some of the best players of the era and, indeed, all time.

The Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card is one of such notable cards from the set. While it might not be worth much monetary, the story surrounding the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card holds a special place in the hearts of several collectors.

Additionally, the Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card is a testament to the unpredictable stories woven into trading card history.

No one could have predicted Michael Jordan’s jersey going missing on February 14, 1990, nor could anyone have foreseen that of all the photographs taken of Sam Vincent throughout the season, Hoops would choose the one featuring Jordan in the foreground wearing the #12 jersey for the 1990-91 Hoops #223 card.

Yet, these unexpected events aligned to create a card rich in basketball history. The Sam Vincent 1990 Hoops 223 card is a snapshot of a remarkable night.

Whether you’re a collector chasing Michael Jordan’s shadow cards or someone who simply appreciates the stories behind the cards, this card would make a great addition to any basketball collection.

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