Grading in the sports card industry has taken a familiar turn reminiscent of the infamous Junk Wax Era, and at the heart of this revival stands Victor Wembanyama. According to the 2024 data from PSA, the basketball sensation has dominated the grading scene, with six of his cards ranking in the top 10 most graded cards of the year. However, one card stands out among the rest, shattering records in its wake.
The 2023 Prizm Victor Wembanyama RC Base card has become a sensation with a staggering PSA 10 population count exceeding 24,400 and steadily climbing. This unprecedented number has propelled Wembanyama’s card to claim the title of the highest PSA 10 population card in history, a feat previously deemed unachievable in the modern card hobby.
Wembanyama’s meteoric rise in the grading world evokes memories of the Luka Dončić frenzy that gripped collectors in recent years. Just as Dončić’s 2018 Prizm rookie card surpassed the 20,000 PSA 10 mark, Wembanyama has shattered that milestone in a fraction of the time. The Wembanyama Prizm rookie card now stands alongside elite cards with 20,000+ PSA 10 populations, such as Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto.
Adding more fuel to the grading craze, Panini teamed up with Monopoly to create a special Prizm card set featuring Wembanyama, further solidifying his rookie year dominance. The combined numbers from the base Prizm rookie card and its Monopoly counterpart are nothing short of astounding, with over 40,000 total graded cards and a gem rate exceeding 60%, leading to the creation of over 24,000 PSA 10s.
While the current figures are impressive, they fall short of the legendary Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie card dominance during the late ’80s. Griffey’s iconic 1989 Upper Deck rookie card holds the record with over 116,000 graded copies, followed by his 1989 Topps Traded card with 88,000+ graded and his 1989 Fleer rookie card with over 66,000 graded.
The overwhelming numbers associated with Wembanyama’s cards may trigger memories of the overproduction era of the Junk Wax Era, when an abundance of cards flooded the market, diminishing scarcity but raising availability. However, the contemporary twist lies in Panini’s production capabilities and collectors’ reliance on grading companies, leading to submission volumes and gem rates that were unattainable in the ’90s.
With over 40,000 cards graded in just a year, Wembanyama seems poised to challenge Griffey’s all-time numbers, provided Panini’s production capacity supports such growth. While his 2023 Prizm rookie card has already solidified its status as a hobby legend, collectors are left to ponder the implications of this swift ascent in the grading world.
Wembanyama’s surge in the grading realm signifies both excitement and caution for collectors. While his cards reflect the escalating popularity of basketball and the global allure of budding stars, the sheer volume of graded cards raises concerns about long-term value, prompting discussions about the emergence of a modern Junk Wax Era.
In conclusion, the significance of rarity and condition remains paramount for collectors, even as Wembanyama leaves an enduring mark on the grading history of the hobby, solidifying his place as a rookie phenom.
