Star Basketball Cards: An Interview With Hobby Expert Steve Taft

Star Basketball cards were issued from 1983 to 1986 and were the only licensed NBA basketball cards on the market until Fleer came to town in 1986-1987.

The cards were a bit of an anomaly in that they were released in polybags, either by team issue or in various subsets, and not in wax packs.

The Star company also has a checkered past. The ‘Shop At Home’ scandal involved the former owner of Star, Robert Levin, selling counterfeit cards on a home shopping channel.

Star cards were produced in relatively limited quantities; it is believed that most sets had production runs under 5000 cards, yet most collectors have dismissed the cards as second fiddle to any of the later Fleer issues. 

Thus, I made it my mission to figure out if Star cards are either:

A) an underappreciated and undervalued long-term investment  

or

B) not worthy of the time, just too confusing, too checkered a past, and too littered with counterfeits.

So, I contacted the hobby’s most renowned expert on Star Basketball Cards, Steve Taft.

Steve is royalty in the Star Basketball card world and has been dealing with Star Cards since the beginning of 1983. He once consulted with major grading companies to identify Star counterfeits.

Steve knows Star Basketball cards inside and out.

The ultimate goal of this interview is to help collectors with some of the confusion on the various issues and to help provide some more legitimacy to the cards.  

My ultimate conclusion: Star basketball cards deserve more attention and should be considered among some of the hobby’s most valuable cards.

I hope you enjoy this interview with Steve Taft. 

How did you first get involved with Star Cards?

Steve Taft: I have always been interested in basketball cards, and when I received the first order form from Star Co Basketball Cards, the 1983 All-Star Game Set, I ordered 50 sets. Thirty-seven years later, I’m still buying and selling Star Co cards.

How did you get involved as a Star authenticator for Beckett and other grading companies?

Steve Taft: That started when I was offered some of what we now refer to as “Type II Counterfeits.” I bought four cards, and there was just something uncomfortable about them right away. This was 1992, plus or minus a year. I sent one card in for grading. It came back graded a Mint 9. 

However, in the week I spent waiting for that card to return from the grading company, I immersed myself in research.  By the time the card returned, I knew it was not the original issue (despite being in a graded holder). I contacted the grading company, and they decided to no longer grade Star Co. (Editor note: Steve didn’t tell me this, but I assume this was with PSA).

Over the next few months, I continued to do research, which resulted in a meeting with NBA Attorneys and multiple discussions with the NBA’s lead investigator on the Shop at Home / NBA Licensing scandal. I think I provided some pretty solid information during these discussions, and I learned some background info from the NBA’s lawyers and investigators that really helped me piece together a timeline of Star Co.’s history.

Editor’s Note – When Taft refers to a ‘Type II Counterfeit,” these were Star cards that were likely factory rejects meant to be destroyed but ultimately stolen by a former print production employee and released to the public. This was a 100-card sheet from the 1985-1986 Star issue (2nd Series Run).  More on this later in the interview.

Other Great Resources on Star Basketball Cards

• https://www.basketballgold.com
• https://jordancards.com/
• https://starbasketballcards.com
• https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1995-04-24-9504221230-story.html
• Steve Taft’s Facebook Page

Do you still consult for third-party graders?

Steve Taft: I have not been under an official consulting contract for about ten years.  I occasionally converse with grading company representatives if I get new information, and occasionally, a question may come to me.

Why do you think Beckett is the only grader who authenticates Star cards? 

Steve Taft: I think there are three things in play now.  Previously, I think it was fear brought about by the rumor mill of lousy information.  I’ve pitched the other two major grading companies in the past about a training session, and I think they considered it but ultimately passed due to concerns coming from the old information.  

The second point, I think, is also about time.  These companies are so far behind on grading submissions that they don’t want to take the grading staff away from grading for a day to do a training session.  Perhaps the amount of Star cards out there to be graded is an issue, too.  If an unlimited amount was submitted where the monetary payoff would be more substantial, that might make a difference.  This is my perception of the three issues, though fear is the most likely, despite the evidence that has continued to come in the last 15 years to mitigate the rumor mill.

Editors Note: Beckett is no longer the only Star grader in town as PSA is now grading Star Basketball cards. I'd like to think this article with Steve helped PSA realize how much another grader was needed here. 

Would other graders, such as PSA, ever get involved again?  

Steve Taft: I wouldn’t rule it out, but I’m not optimistic. (Editor’s note—see above; PSA is now back in town, as this interview with Steve was recorded in 2020.)

Star Cards seem to have gotten a bad rap (primarily due to concerns about excess counterfeits). Is that concern justified?  

Steve Taft: There’s no debate that Star Co. counterfeits exist.  However, compared to Fleer Jordan RC counterfeits and the various fakes from so many other trading cards, the total numbers are not out of the ordinary.  It’s a pretty easy argument that Jordan #101 fakes are a fraction of the Fleer Jordan RC fakes.  

The rumor mill put so much incorrect information about Star Co. into the hobby during the 1990s, and it has taken a long time to get the correct story into the media. In the ten-plus years BGS has been grading Star Co., a lot of information has been published that I think has helped improve the knowledge base for many collectors. 

Check Out Our Michael Jordan Star and Fleer Price Guide

You’ve mentioned in other discussions that the only ‘true’ ‘reprints’ (aka the Type II Counterfeits) are from the second series of 85-86 Star (#95-172).  Is that true?  

Steve Taft: I wouldn’t call them “true reprints”; I still consider them counterfeits, but they were printed by one of the two printing contractors that Star Co. used.  This is likely a defective batch because the artwork was placed slightly off-register, i.e. misaligned.  These cards were never sold in the original team bags, and I could never find any evidence that the Star Co. owner sold them in his private auction or in follow-up sales.  The person who had these Type II counterfeits to sell told media sources he bought them from Star.  

NBA investigators told me he worked at the print shop.  So, it appears it was either a case of an illegal printing, or, more likely, defective product that was stolen. Either alternative fits into the definition of counterfeit.    How would we collectors actually verify this?  Pretty tough to do at this point….  I guess people have to decide if they believe me, or, if they have the time, money, and energy to track down the other people involved back then to try to piece together the evidence.

Do you have any tips or things for collectors to look out for when helping authenticate Star cards?

Steve Taft: There is not one rule that covers all Star Co. cards.  Here are a few key things to look out for, and remember to apply the tip only to the card(s) noted.  Authenticating a #101 MJ has nothing to do with authenticating a 117 MJ.  

1. 1985-86 Star #95 to 172, the Best of the NEW Set, and the Jordan 10-Card Set: The cards with colored borders will have some front border-color “bleed” to the back edge(s).  The bleeding can vary a lot; from tiny specs, you can only see with a magnifier to bleed, you can see very quickly.  The bleed can be on one edge or multiple edges.  Type II counterfeits do not have bleed (assuming someone isn’t adding bleed to trick potential buyers).  

2. Best of New: The Star ’86 logo is in the right corner.  Under magnification, it appears solid yellow on the original.  The Type II counterfeit Star ’86 shows a dot pattern under magnification.

3.  1985-86 Trailblazers: The border framing line appears red. The original still looks red under magnification, while the Type II counterfeit shows orange under magnification.

Type II Counterfeit Star Basketball Cards – 1985-86 Issue

#95-172 – 78 cards (this includes the #117 Jordan card and #166 Ewing XRC)Green Celtics – 8 cardsJordan 10 card set – 10 cards Best of New – 4 cards

Here is an authentic Jordan card from the 1995-96 Jordan 10 Card Set:

And here is a ‘Type II Counterfeit”.  Compare the white borders on the counterfeit below and look at how the white spills out onto the red of the card. The counterfeit cards also tend to be more glossy, whereas originals have a dull, matte finish.  Also note that Type II’s are easily identified due to their lack of rear color bleed. 

And here’s a Jordan #117 from the 95-96 Set that is a Type II Counterfeit

And here is an authentic #117 Jordan card.  Notice the white spilling out on the borders should only happen on the left, whereas on the Type II above, you can see that the border is spilling out all the way around.

Here’s an authentic Ewing XRC from the 1985-1986 Star set.  Take a close look at the white borders.  You can see no white border frame spilling out all around. 

Now, here is a Type II Counterfeit.  Can you spot the difference? 

Are there any printing plates from Star out there that could ultimately be run to reprint cards again?

Steve Taft: This is a question I get asked fairly often.  And, it’s the perfect set up to explain why the original Star Co. cards were not reprinted by the Star Co. owner.  Many readers might recall the early to mid 90’s Star Co. issues.  There were multiple “player” sets, most of which had the NBA Logo’s airbrushed out of the photos.  I was told by NBA sources Star had to pay a settlement fee to the NBA for the sets that were not airbrushed, as, the Licensing was from the individual players and not the NBA.  

The old cliche, follow the money, is very appropriate here.  If you estimate how much profit, if any, the owner of Star Co. made selling these sets, it just could not have been much.  Then, move forward to the 1997 Shop at Home situation where “new” sets were made and back-dated to 1985 / 1986.  While some of the Shop at Home sets had the same name as original Star sets, there were different years, different border colors, etc. 

Check Out The Most Watched Star Cards on eBay

A quick example, the original Miller Lite All-Star Set was dated 1985 and had dark blue borders.  The Shop at Home Miller Lite All-Star Set was dated 1986 and had white borders.  If you understand the mark-up pricing structure of TV Shopping Networks, and, the fact Star had to pay a middleman to get this product to Shop at Home, once again, while he probably made a profit (until the lawsuit), it wasn’t a life changing amount of money.  

A Miller Lite All-Star Jordan Card from the 1985 Star Basketball set. Note that ‘Shop At Home’ Miller Lite cards have a white border.

Knowing these facts about the business of Star makes it easy to surmise…..

Wouldn’t it have been much easier and cheaper to just reprint your original Star cards of Jordan (and maybe a few other key rookies) and sell a few to your dealer network each month?  

The answer is yes.  

If Star had the ability to make exact reprints of their original cards, and fool people like me and the other original Star Co. dealers, Star would have made a lot more money than what was made with the airbrushed sets and the Shop at Home fantasy counterfeits.  

We should probably consider the risk taken to do the Shop at Home cards, too. That cost the defendants in the lawsuit a $1.1 million settlement that the NBA won. There are many other factors involved in the question of whether Star reprinted the original cards, but, through my extensive research that includes a lot of discussions with NBA attorney’s and investigators, I’m convinced Star did not have the ability to make exact reproductions of the original cards like the Jordan 101, etc.  

Here’s where someone may question the black or white bordered 101 counterfeits that appear on eBay frequently.  That sure looks identical to many people except for the border color.  But, the tilt and cutting patterns do not match to the original. So, even if that had been done in the original red border color, that tilt and cut just will not match.   

A white-bordered #101 Jordan fake is often found on eBay. These are really sloppy reprints that could not have been printed from Star printing plates.

Your readers may have noticed that I’m in possession of many of the Production Transparencies used by Star Co. in the manufacturing process.  A production transparency is somewhat of a cross between a film negative and a slide. 

Ownership of these transparencies was transferred to Bill Schonsheck in 1996.  There’s approximately 500.  Bill stored them until recently when he consigned them to me.  I have a copy of the contract drawn up by Bill’s Attorney’s.  This deal also included some original artwork and office records.  I’m offering many of these transparencies for sale now.

Editor’s Note: This is quite an incredible find, and in essence a one of a kind item.  An uncut sheet featuring the #101 Jordan RC along with the transparency used to create the card is a once in a lifetime sort of opportunity.

I encourage any collectors interested in Star Cards to work with Steve Taft.  He is not only one of the most knowledgeable Star dealers in the hobby, but a super respected and reliable guy.  You can be sure that whatever it is that he sells you is a legit Star card. (Link To Steve Taft’s Collectibles on eBay)

Lastly, any thoughts on all of the trimming issues in the hobby?  

Steve Taft: Trimming and recoloring was being done on a small scale 30+ years ago.  Since 3rd party grading has come into play, and, card values have increased, the professional trimming establishment has grown significantly larger in recent years.  Some people I suspected in the last 10-20 years were “outed” in the Blowout Forums in the past year or so.  

I hoped the exposure would have sent them packing, maybe even brought an indictment and prosecution, but, so far, it appears business as usual for most, and, perhaps even more business for them.  It’s frustrating as honest buyer’s are being scammed, and, honest seller’s are having to compete with crooks. We will never get rid of all the crooks, but, we need a few prosecutions soon to help deter this problem from continuing at the pace its been on the last few years.

Why do you think the graders are missing this?  

The trimmer’s are getting better, and, the grader’s don’t have enough time per card to catch everything.  It’s a constant game between the two.  Historical knowledge of how the cards were made comes into play, too.  It’s not easy to find grader’s with extensive knowledge of a hundred year’s worth of cards.  I expect the only way to battle this effectively will be prosecutions.