1988 Starting Lineup (SLU)

[JUrsaner]

Tried searching, but not turning up anything.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any info on 1988 Starting Lineup production? Particularly some of the less names and unreleased players.

[byronscott4ever]

https://www.beckett.com/news/1988-st...ketball-cards/

[JUrsaner]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

https://www.beckett.com/news/1988-st...ketball-cards/

Thanks for the link - read it once before, but it provides a fantastic overview of the set. Hoping to also learn more about (estimated) production numbers. I see a lot of the Jordan figurine in plastic/cardboard backing going up on eBay with Last Dance mania and just trying to gauge how many of these might be out there. Did they produce 100,000? 500,000? 1,000,000? Obviously nobody knows for certain, but any educated guesses with thought process for how to get to it are appreciated.

[jrb]

These were produced in much smaller quantities than any basketball cards during that period. Looks like 50k for the Jordan. Largest print run figures were 30-70k. Some figure as few as 3k. Source - 1991 Tuff Stuff SLU guide.

https://kennerstartinglineup.blogspo...uide-bird.html

[Jasondr91]

I went after the stars and the obscure players that first year. All unopened, and very clean. I did a post about SLUs here quite some time ago, but very little interest.

I appr I ate too that link, I hadn’t read that. I used to use a site that gave production number estimated that wasn’t on her. Let me dig.....

[Southpas2013]

Originally Posted by Jasondr91

I went after the stars and the obscure players that first year. All unopened, and very clean. I did a post about SLUs here quite some time ago, but very little interest.

I appr I ate too that link, I hadn’t read that. I used to use a site that gave production number estimated that wasn’t on her. Let me dig.....

I love the 88 SLUs, have several Jordans unopened, and bought several to take the card out and grade.

Just an awesome set.

[miscus555]

they will have a resurgence one day. The toys that made us show is a perfect spark plug for something like that if they ever made an episode. Add to that i see people looking for classic 80'/90's sports cards also because the image of a 85 mcgwire is burnt into everyone's heads

[Jasondr91]

I dug out the old link I created about SLUs....

LINK

[JUrsaner]

Originally Posted by jrb

These were produced in much smaller quantities than any basketball cards during that period. Looks like 50k for the Jordan. Largest print run figures were 30-70k. Some figure as few as 3k. Source - 1991 Tuff Stuff SLU guide.

https://kennerstartinglineup.blogspo...uide-bird.html

WOW incredible find! That is exactly what I was looking for.. THANK YOU!

[Round Mound]

Originally Posted by Jasondr91

I dug out the old link I created about SLUs....

LINK

Nice! I'll show mine in your thread!

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by miscus555

they will have a resurgence one day. The toys that made us show is a perfect spark plug for something like that if they ever made an episode. Add to that i see people looking for classic 80'/90's sports cards also because the image of a 85 mcgwire is burnt into everyone's heads

The Jordans (all years) have had a HUGE resurgence, especially the graded ones.


These are finally going for some $$$. Check ebay completed sales.

[blackbears86]

His 1988 figure is tough to find without the plastic bubble yellowing.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

[JUrsaner]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

His 1988 figure is tough to find without the plastic bubble yellowing.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

The card is going to be the most valuable part. Graded PSA 10s are going to go crazy

[YouTheManNick]

There's a really good facebook group simply called 'Kenner Starting Lineup' that's full of some serious SLU heads. They go deep.

Great place to get your questions answered and to buy figures you're looking for. Some of these dudes have insane amounts of SLUs. Like, garages full.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by YouTheManNick

There's a really good facebook group simply called 'Kenner Starting Lineup' that's full of some serious SLU heads. They go deep.

Great place to get your questions answered and to buy figures you're looking for. Some of these dudes have insane amounts of SLUs. Like, garages full.

thank you! I will look for that.

[JUrsaner]

Anyone know much about the 5 unreleased cards from 1988?

[TRLakers32]

The Facebook group mentioned above has some insanely knowledgeable guys there. Joe Curcio is an encyclopedia for SLUs.

[ghooper33]

I love Starting Lineup basketball cards! With the 1986 - 1988 Fleer cards taking off I think these will get some more love in the coming months.

I am biased though because I have the #3 1988 set and the #1 1988 unreleased sets, and the blue boarders make these super tough to find in great shape. I have opened many packages to find PSA worthy cards, and its getting harder and harder to find cards still in great shape that are still in the boxes (they can move around a lot).

1988 Kenner Set

1988 Kenner Unreleased Basketball Set

[JUrsaner]

Originally Posted by ghooper33

I love Starting Lineup basketball cards! With the 1986 - 1988 Fleer cards taking off I think these will get some more love in the coming months.

I am biased though because I have the #3 1988 set and the #1 1988 unreleased sets, and the blue boarders make these super tough to find in great shape. I have opened many packages to find PSA worthy cards, and its getting harder and harder to find cards still in great shape that are still in the boxes (they can move around a lot).

1988 Kenner Set

1988 Kenner Unreleased Basketball Set

Wow amazing completions! Any idea on the production numbers of the unreleased guys? How many did you have to go through to find those high gradeable ones

[ghooper33]

Originally Posted by JUrsaner

Wow amazing completions! Any idea on the production numbers of the unreleased guys? How many did you have to go through to find those high gradeable ones

I am not sure about the production numbers on the unreleased cards, but there is a dealer in Cincinnati who sold them to me who said these were given to card shops as promotional items to sell the figures.

Believe it or not there a ton of fake cards out there of the Jazz players, but they are easy to identify with clear scans.

[ghooper33]

Of course a thread like this needs scans!

There are three alternative rookies in the set with Pippen, Reggie, and Stockton. The most condition sensitive cards I have found in this set is the Spud Webb, Michael Adams, and Cliff Robinson.

[scott1234]

Originally Posted by ghooper33

Of course a thread like this needs scans!

There are three alternative rookies in the set with Pippen, Reggie, and Stockton. The most condition sensitive cards I have found in this set is the Spud Webb, Michael Adams, and Cliff Robinson.

Great looking cards! Never knew too much about those.

[BOOMER7]

Have a little over 20 sealed cases of 88 BULLS
along with a ton of other SLU cases from over the years sitting in my warehouse.
i remember getting the rest of the BULLS cases from Hasbro corp on closeout. I think it was 12 pieces to case (7 mj 3 pip 2 pax or close to that config) Left them in Chicago warehouse when i moved to AZ 15 year agos. I'll have to start moving them when i head back in summer.