3 Sneaky Cards With Value, Part 3: Bobby Wagner Blue Wave, Dion Dawkins and the Sam Vincent Jordan #12 Card

Sneaky Cards With Value is a series where I share cards that look like nothing special but turn out to have a story, or some value. Each part covers three of them. You can find every part on the Sneaky Cards With Value page.

Here are three more sneaky cards that don't appear valuable but have value. Keep your eyes peeled for these the next time you're digging in value boxes. My name is Chris, and I'm a low end card seller with over 37,000 transactions on eBay and 100% positive feedback. You can watch the video above or read the breakdown below.

Which cards in this part have sneaky value? The short answer

• 2012 Topps Chrome Bobby Wagner Blue Wave Refractor rookie. Around $65.
• 2018 Panini Unparalleled Dion Dawkins. Technically his rookie card, since it's his first card. The base went for around $65, and a numbered /200 went for $200.
• 1990-91 NBA Hoops Sam Vincent. It shows Michael Jordan wearing #12. Usually $5 to $10.

A quick note on prices: the values below are what these cards were going for when I filmed the video, based on eBay sold comps. Prices move, so always check recent sold listings before you buy or sell.

What is the 2012 Topps Chrome Blue Wave Refractor Bobby Wagner?

First is a Bobby Wagner rookie from 2012 Topps Chrome. It's the Blue Wave Refractor. In 2012 the Blue Wave Refractors were redemptions. They came in bonus packs sent out with redeemed autograph redemptions, and that set included rookies who weren't in the base set. The Bobby Wagner goes for around $65.

Shout out Alfred Morris from around this time too. Alfred Morris didn't have many rookies, and he was kind of a latecomer. In 2012 his only Topps Chrome rookie is a Blue Wave, and his only rookie auto in Chrome is also Blue Wave. They've since come down in price, but back in the day they were really expensive. The auto still does around $15 to $20.

Why is the 2018 Unparalleled Dion Dawkins card valuable?

Next up is Dion Dawkins in 2018 Panini Unparalleled. It isn't from his rookie year, since he came into the league in 2017, but as far as I know it's his first card, so it's technically his rookie card. When I filmed this, the base went for around $65, and a numbered one out of 200 had just gone for $200.

Unparalleled is always a sneaky set to look out for. When you're in your value boxes, if you come across Unparalleled, keep a heads up for any of the offensive linemen or players you might not have seen cards of before. A lot of the unique players in this set hold value.

Why does the Sam Vincent card show Michael Jordan in #12?

The third one might be a little obvious to people who have been collecting for a while, but for some of the newcomers: it's the 1990-91 NBA Hoops Sam Vincent. It's valuable because it has Jordan in the photo, and not only that, it has Jordan wearing the #12 jersey.

For those who don't know, on February 14, 1990, in a game down in Orlando, Jordan's jersey got stolen, so he had to wear a different number. He wore #12, and this card actually pictures him in that jersey. That makes it significant in terms of capturing a moment in history, which is pretty cool. You can usually get $5 to $10 for this one. Hoops later corrected the card, so look for the version with Jordan in the background.

Part 3 sneaky cards at a glance

Why I keep an eye out for sneaky cards

Knowledge is king when you're digging through value boxes, dime boxes and collections. Most of what you pull is going to be commons, but cards like these look just like the rest of the stack. If you know what to look for, you can pull them out instead of passing them by. If you're just getting into digging, here's how I'd start flipping sports cards from value boxes at card shows.

Sneaky cards Part 3 FAQ

What is a 2012 Topps Chrome Blue Wave Refractor?

A rookie refractor set that came in bonus packs sent with redeemed autograph redemptions. It included rookies like Bobby Wagner and Alfred Morris.

Why does the Sam Vincent card have Michael Jordan wearing #12?

Jordan's #23 jersey was stolen before a game in Orlando on February 14, 1990, so he wore #12. The 1990-91 Hoops Sam Vincent card shows him in it.

How much is the Sam Vincent Jordan #12 card worth?

Usually $5 to $10.

Why look for 2018 Panini Unparalleled?

It's a sneaky set. Offensive linemen and players you haven't seen many cards of can hold value.

Is the 2018 Unparalleled Dion Dawkins a rookie card?

Technically, yes. It isn't from his rookie year, since he came into the league in 2017, but as far as I know it's his first card, which makes it technically his rookie card.

Quick takeaways

• 2012 Topps Chrome Blue Wave Refractors were redemption-only, and the Bobby Wagner rookie goes for around $65.
• Alfred Morris's only Chrome rookie auto is a Blue Wave and still does $15 to $20.
• 2018 Unparalleled is a sneaky set for linemen and lesser-known players, and it's technically Dion Dawkins's rookie card since it's his first card.
• The 1990-91 Hoops Sam Vincent shows Jordan in #12 and goes for $5 to $10.

Do you have any other favorites? Let me know on Instagram or TikTok, and keep an eye out for the next Sneaky Cards With Value.

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