Anfernee Hardaway Rookie Cards: Values & Checklist (1993)

Best Anfernee Hardaway Rookie Cards

Topps Finest Rookie Card

1993 · Topps Finest · #189

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Topps Finest Refractor

1993 · Topps Finest · #189 · Refractor

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Fleer Ultra Rookie Card

1993 · Fleer Ultra · #5

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Values & Trends

Penny Hardaway cards sit in a unique place in the hobby: he is a 90s icon with a short prime, which creates steady nostalgia demand even without Hall of Fame status. The market revolves around the 1993-94 Topps Finest rookie and, especially, the early Refractor parallel.

The Finest benchmark: The 1993-94 Topps Finest #189 is the core rookie, and the Refractor is the trophy card. Many collectors treat it as a foundational 90s grail.
Condition drives the spread: Finest and other glossy 1993-94 issues show scratches and edge wear easily. In higher grades, prices jump sharply versus raw copies.
Culture keeps liquidity high: Penny’s “Lil’ Penny” era and Nike signature sneakers keep demand strong for both basketball collectors and crossover sneaker nostalgia buyers.

Buying Guide: How to Pick Anfernee Hardaway Rookie Cards

Prioritize NBA-licensed releases: Penny has many 1993 draft and college cards (Classic, Press Pass, etc.). They are fun and often cheap, but most long-term demand concentrates on NBA-licensed sets like Finest, Fleer Ultra, Upper Deck, Hoops, SkyBox, and Topps.
Inspect Finest carefully: The Finest surface scratches easily and some copies show discoloration over time. Clean surfaces and strong eye appeal matter a lot for grading outcomes.
Don’t overpay for off-center base: Many 1993-94 base cards are easy to find. If a raw copy is visibly off-center, it is usually better to wait for a cleaner example.
Know what you are buying: Search listings by set and card number to avoid mix-ups with inserts or later-year reprints. For Topps Finest, always include “189” in your search.
Grading matters: For glossy 90s basketball, buying graded can be safer than rolling the dice on raw. Read our grading guide to learn more.

Full Rookie Card Checklist

Card	Year	#	Details	90d Avg RAW	90d Avg PSA 9	90d Avg PSA 10	eBay
Topps Finest Rookie Card Anfernee Hardaway · Topps Finest	1993	189	—	—	—	—	eBay
Topps Finest Refractor Anfernee Hardaway · Topps Finest Refractor	1993	189		—	—	—	eBay
Fleer Ultra Rookie Card Anfernee Hardaway · Fleer Ultra	1993	5	—	—	—	—	eBay
NBA Hoops Rookie Card Anfernee Hardaway · NBA Hoops	1993	380	—	—	—	—	eBay
Upper Deck Rookie Card Anfernee Hardaway · Upper Deck	1993	382	—	—	—	—	eBay
Topps Rookie Card Anfernee Hardaway · Topps	1993	334	—	—	—	—	eBay

True RC, Autos and Serials

For Penny Hardaway, the “True RC” conversation usually centers on NBA-licensed base rookies from 1993-94 sets, with Topps Finest #189 as the headline card. Pack-pulled rookie autographs were not common in 1993, so the biggest money is typically in rare parallels (like the early Finest Refractor) and later 90s inserts rather than rookie-year autos.

Best Boxes & Sets to Pull Anfernee Hardaway Rookie Cards

Grading & Population

Grading is where the Penny market separates into tiers. The difference between a clean, well-centered copy and a scratched, off-center copy is huge once the card is slabbed.

Finest surfaces: Check for fine scratches and cloudy areas. Cleaner surfaces and strong eye appeal are the path to higher grades.
Edges and corners: Dark borders and glossy stock show chipping quickly. Zoom into listing photos before buying raw.
Centering: Many 1993-94 base issues are off-center. If you are buying to grade, centering should be a priority.

About Anfernee Hardaway

Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway became a star instantly in 1993 and helped turn the Orlando Magic into a contender alongside Shaquille O’Neal. At 6'7" with point guard skills, he was one of the most exciting players of the 90s. Even though injuries cut his prime short, Penny’s peak, his “Lil’ Penny” commercials, and his Nike signature sneakers keep his rookie cards highly collectible.

Resources & Related Guides

FAQ

What is Penny Hardaway’s best rookie card?

For most collectors, the 1993-94 Topps Finest #189 is the best rookie card to start with. The Finest Refractor version is the top-end grail and is much more expensive in high grades.

Why is the Penny Hardaway Finest Refractor so valuable?

It is an early Refractor from the first era of premium basketball cards, and the surface condition is tough. High grades are much scarcer than raw copies, so clean slabbed examples trade for strong prices.

Are Penny Hardaway college or draft cards worth buying?

They can be fun and affordable, but most long-term demand is for NBA-licensed 1993-94 rookies. If you want the mainstream hobby version, stick to Finest, Fleer Ultra, Upper Deck, Hoops, SkyBox, and Topps.

Should I grade a Penny Hardaway rookie card?

If you think the card has clean surfaces and strong centering, grading can add value, especially for Finest. If the copy has scratches or obvious centering issues, it is usually better to buy a graded card instead.