Celebrity Cameos on Sports Cards: 13 Hidden Easter Eggs
A fun list of 13 sports cards with surprise celebrity cameos, plus where to look and how to check sold comps on eBay. Check the list now!
Celebrity Cameos on Sports Cards: 13 Hidden Easter Eggs
Some sports cards are famous for the player. Others are famous because a completely different person is hiding in the background.
This post is a collector-friendly list of the best celebrity cameo cards I know, with simple “where to look” notes and the fastest way to check sold comps as of January 2026.
TL;DR
- Most cameo cards are common base cards that become collectible because the background tells a second story.
- Your best skill is zooming: most cameos are easy once you know the exact corner of the photo to inspect.
- Card numbers matter because sellers mislabel them, especially inserts and photo variations.
- Price check on sold listings before you buy, then sense-check faster with the figoca extension.
- If you want a safer buying workflow, start with: How to buy sports cards on eBay (ultimate guide).
What are celebrity cameo sports cards?
Celebrity cameo sports cards are cards where a famous person appears in the photo even though they are not the featured athlete. Most are accidental background shots like courtside fans, ringside guests, or people caught in a crowd. Collectors like them because they feel like hidden trivia you can actually own.
Celebrity cameo sports cards list (quick picks)
- 1990 Classic WWF (Hulk Hogan): Donald Trump ringside (eBay search)
- 1990-91 NBA Hoops #235 (Greg Grant): Paula Abdul courtside (eBay search)
- 1990-91 NBA Hoops #128 (Larry Smith): Jack Nicholson in the crowd (eBay search)
- 1990-91 NBA Hoops #205 (Mark Jackson): Menendez brothers courtside (eBay search)
- 2007 Topps (Derek Jeter, photo variation): George W. Bush and Mickey Mantle in-image (eBay search)
A quick reference table (what to look for)
| Card | Cameo or “Easter egg” | Where to look | Why people care |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 Classic WWF – Hulk Hogan | Donald Trump | Ringside / front row during a fan interaction photo | A pure sports-entertainment pop culture crossover |
| 1990-91 NBA Hoops #235 – Greg Grant | Paula Abdul | Bottom-left courtside background | A random base card made collectible by a clear celebrity sighting |
| 2019-20 Panini NBA Hoops Action Shots – Pascal Siakam | Drake | Courtside background in the action photo | A modern cameo that gets searched by the celebrity, not the player |
| 1990-91 NBA Hoops #128 – Larry Smith | Jack Nicholson | Background crowd | The most iconic courtside celebrity hiding on a common card |
| 1990-91 NBA Hoops #205 – Mark Jackson | Menendez brothers | Lower background at MSG | A famous “zoom in” card with a true-crime footnote |
| 1994-95 Pinnacle #288 – Sylvain Turgeon | Young Patrick Kane | Along the glass with a parent | A “future legend” cameo before the fame |
| 1994 Upper Deck Rare Air #89 – Michael Jordan | Menendez brothers | Courtside background | The sequel cameo in a Jordan tribute set |
| 2016-17 Donruss Optic All-Stars (Paul George) | Drake | Lower-right background | A clean modern “celebrity courtside” cameo |
| 2018 Topps NOW #947 – Yasiel Puig | Kobe Bryant (on the back) | Reverse side of the card | A cameo that is literally on the back, plus a low print run story |
| 2007 Topps (photo variation) – Derek Jeter | George W. Bush and Mickey Mantle | Crowd area and in-image composition | A three-layer snapshot with a president and an all-time Yankees icon |
| 2019-20 Panini Chronicles #116 – Ja Morant | Young Dolph, Key Glock, Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy | Bottom corners of the photo | One card, multiple pop-culture worlds in one frame |
| 2021-22 Panini Instant #61 – Stephen Curry | Pete Davidson (pink sleeve / arm) | Edge of the image | A funny “you only notice it when someone points it out” detail |
| 2023-24 Panini NBA Hoops #67 – Joel Embiid | Ken Goldin | Bottom-right background | A hobby-insider cameo on a modern base card |
Politics and pop culture in the background
1990 Classic WWF – Hulk Hogan (Donald Trump cameo)
- What you see: Donald Trump is visible ringside / front-row in the crowd shot while Hogan is interacting with fans.
- Why it's special: It's a real sports-entertainment and pop-culture crossover, and Trump shows up on multiple cards in the set.
- Practical tip: Treat it like a set chase, not just one card. Sellers often list different photos with the same keywords.
Trump appears ringside in multiple photos from this set.
Music and courtside celebrity cards
1990-91 NBA Hoops #235 – Greg Grant (Paula Abdul cameo)
- What you see: Paula Abdul appears courtside in the bottom-left background.
- Why it's special: It's a classic "why would anyone buy this base card?" card that becomes collectible once you know the cameo exists.
Paula Abdul is the reason this card gets remembered.
2016-17 Donruss Optic (All-Stars) – Paul George (Drake cameo)
- What you see: Drake is visible in the lower-right background.
- Why it's special: It's one of the cleaner modern "celebrity courtside" cameos and an easy one to spot.
A modern courtside cameo that is easy to spot once you know the corner.
2019-20 Panini NBA Hoops Action Shots – Pascal Siakam (Drake courtside)
- What you see: Drake appears courtside in the photo used for the Action Shots card.
- Why it's special: It's a more dramatic action photo framing, and sellers often list it specifically as a Drake-feature card.
- Numbering gotcha: Listings disagree on the card number for this insert. If you want to be precise, include "Action Shots" and "Drake" in your search and verify the number from a clear scan.
Action photo framing makes this Drake cameo feel more dramatic.
2021-22 Panini Instant #61 – Stephen Curry (Pete Davidson cameo)
- What you see: Pete Davidson is barely in it, usually described as an arm with a pink sleeve on the edge of the image.
- Why it's special: It documents Curry breaking the NBA career 3-point record at MSG, with a funny background detail that only collectors talk about.
The 'cameo' is the tiniest detail: the pink sleeve at the edge.
The hobby’s most iconic courtside fan, hiding in plain sight
1990-91 NBA Hoops #128 – Larry Smith (Jack Nicholson cameo)
- What you see: Jack Nicholson appears in the background crowd.
- Why it's special: Nicholson is basically the patron saint of famous courtside fans, so spotting him on a random base card is a perfect collector "Easter egg."
The hobby's most iconic courtside celebrity, hiding on a common card.
True-crime and controversy cameos (collect with taste)
1990-91 NBA Hoops #205 – Mark Jackson (Menendez brothers cameo)
- What you see: The Menendez brothers are visible courtside at Madison Square Garden in the lower background.
- Why it's special: It's the most famous "normal card until you zoom" cameo.
- Practical note: Some marketplaces may restrict or remove listings for items framed as crime-related. If you collect it, keep your focus on the sports-photo oddity and buy from reputable sellers.
The famous 'zoom in' cameo card from 1990-91 Hoops.
1994 Upper Deck Rare Air #89 – Michael Jordan (Menendez brothers cameo, again)
- What you see: The Menendez brothers appear courtside in the background on a Jordan tribute-set card.
- Why it's special: It's basically the sequel cameo card: a Jordan card plus the same background oddity.
The cameo sequel: the same background oddity on a Jordan tribute card.
Strange sports moments that feel like a cameo
2018 Topps NOW #947 – Yasiel Puig (Kobe Bryant cameo on the back)
- What you see: Kobe Bryant is visible on the reverse side while Puig runs toward first.
- Why it's special: The cameo is on the back, and Topps NOW cards have clear "print-to-demand" runs that collectors track.
The cameo is on the back, which makes it feel like a real Easter egg.
Future legends hiding in the crowd
1994-95 Pinnacle #288 – Sylvain Turgeon (young Patrick Kane cameo)
- What you see: A kid sitting along the glass with a parent is Patrick Kane as a child.
- Why it's special: It's one of the best "accidental pre-rookie" cameos in hockey cards.
A future NHL star hiding in plain sight as a kid along the glass.
The “Yankee Stadium multiverse” variation
2007 Topps (photo variation) – Derek Jeter (George W. Bush + Mickey Mantle in-image)
- What you see: President George W. Bush is visible in the stands, and Mickey Mantle appears in the image composition.
- Why it's special: It's a three-layer card: modern Yankees star, a president, and a Yankees icon in one odd snapshot.
- Numbering gotcha: Listings disagree on the card number for this variation. Verify using a clear scan and what is printed on the card.
A modern Yankees star with a president and a Yankees icon in one frame.
The “highest cameo density” rookie card
2019-20 Panini Chronicles #116 – Ja Morant (Young Dolph + Key Glock + Touhy parents)
- What you see: Young Dolph and Key Glock appear in the bottom-right background. Collectors also point out Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy in the bottom-left.
- Why it's special: It's a rare case where one mainstream rookie card intersects multiple pop-culture stories.
One rookie card, multiple cameos across different pop-culture worlds.
When the hobby shows up on a base card
2023-24 Panini NBA Hoops #67 – Joel Embiid (Ken Goldin cameo)
- What you see: Ken Goldin is visible courtside in the bottom-right background.
- Why it's special: It's the hobby itself showing up on a mainstream card.
When the hobby itself shows up on a mainstream base card.
A simple collecting workflow that prevents regret buys
This is the same workflow I use for normal cards, just adapted for cameos:
- Confirm the exact card
- Set name, year, and card number, plus whether it is base, insert, or a photo variation.
- Verify the cameo with a clean scan
- If the cameo is the reason you are buying, do not buy off a blurry photo.
- Price check with sold comps
- Use eBay sold filters and compare multiple recent sales. If you want the full workflow, read: How to buy sports cards on eBay (ultimate guide).
- Use grading only when it makes sense
- If you are thinking about grading, learn the basics first: PSA grades explained and Should you grade that card? The EV method.
- Avoid the common traps
- This short list will save you money: 5 sports card mistakes collectors make.
FAQ
Do cameo cards count as “variations”?
Sometimes. A cameo can be just a background detail on a normal base card, but some markets treat these as named variations in listings. The safest move is to buy based on what is printed on the card, not what the listing title claims.
Why are so many cameo cards from 1990-91 NBA Hoops?
Because the photography is full of crowd shots, the print run is huge (so the cards are easy to find), and the cameos are clear once you know where to look.
Is the cameo always on the front of the card?
No. The 2018 Topps NOW Yasiel Puig card is a good example where the cameo is on the back.
Are cameo cards expensive?
Most are cheap because the card itself is common. Prices spike when the cameo is widely known, the card is a short print, or the card is a popular player on its own.
How do I verify I am buying the correct Derek Jeter photo variation?
Use the card number and a clear image. Many sellers mix standard and variation photos. If you can’t see the key background faces clearly, do not assume.
What’s the biggest mistake buyers make with cameo cards?
Buying the story without verifying the photo. Always zoom and verify the exact image before you pay extra.
Should I buy cameo cards graded?
Only if the price difference makes sense for your goal. If you just want the cameo, a clean raw copy is often enough. If you want long-term liquidity, a mainstream slab can help.
Are there fake cameo listings?
Yes. Some sellers use generic keywords or stock photos. Make sure the listing photo actually shows the cameo, and verify the details.
How do I check comps faster?
Use sold listings, then reduce tab overload with the figoca extension.
Where can I learn the hobby terms fast?
Use the figoca glossary. It’s written for collectors who want quick, plain-English definitions.
What does “comp” mean?
A comp is a comparable sold listing that helps you estimate what a card is worth today. Start here if you want a full workflow: How to buy sports cards on eBay (ultimate guide).
What makes a cameo card “good”?
A clear cameo, a fun story, and a card that is easy to identify and search. The best cameo cards are easy to explain in one sentence.
Can cameo cards be a smart gift?
Yes. They’re often inexpensive, and they feel personal if the cameo is a celebrity the person loves.
Do these cameos change the official checklist?
No. The checklist is still about the player on the card. The cameo is a collector story layered on top.
Is it worth building a full cameo collection?
If you enjoy the hunt, it’s one of the most fun “side quests” in the hobby. Keep it simple: set a budget, verify photos, and buy what you actually like.
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Sources and further reading
- CLLCT: Cards with cameos from the Menendez brothers to Drake to Trump
- figoca: How to buy sports cards on eBay (ultimate guide)
- figoca: PSA grades explained
- figoca: figoca extension: see comps directly on eBay
- figoca: Glossary
Last updated: 2026-01-04
Nico Meyer
figoca Founder
Passionate about the intersection of sports cards and technology. Building figoca to make card collecting more accessible and data-driven for everyone.