Pete Maravich has just 53 game-used memorabilia cards and none since 2009-10. Panini America announced Monday that it will be making more mem cards of the legend in its future products.

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By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor

“Pistol Pete” will be a hit once again.

Panini America will be creating its first game-used memorabilia cards for former LSU and Atlanta Hawks star Pete Maravich in NBA brands coming later this year, the company announced on Monday.

“We have obtained a Pete Maravich jersey that will be appearing in product,” said brand manager Keith Hower in a company box break video released Monday. “We’ve got to plan it out and schedule where it’s going to appear, but Pete Maravich memorabilia is coming to Panini basketball.”

Maravich, known for his eccentric style of play and floppy socks, still holds the NCAA scoring record with an average of 44.2 points a game for his entire three-year LSU career along with other marks. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987 and named to the NBA at 50 team in 1996.

Maravich, who appears on just 410 cards valued at more than $11,000 (click here for a checklist and Online Price Guide), previously appeared on 53 different game-used cards made through the years. He had 30 game-used cards released by Upper Deck, 19 by Topps and three from Fleer.

The first game-used card for Maravich was a 2001-02 Upper Deck Legends Legendary Floor card, which typically sells for $60 or less. His most-recent cards were in 2009-10 products from Topps and Upper Deck. Of all Maravich memorabilia cards that have announced print runs, none have more than 199 serial-numbered copies. (Click here to see how Maravich is selling on eBay.)

Maravich’s true rarity in the hobby is his certified autograph as he died unexpectedly at age 40 in 1988. He has just 15 certified autographs — all cuts — with six of those being 1/1 cards.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Basketball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Basketball Editor

Quality control ain’t what it used to be, and for one long-time dealer a surprise in that area in a recent retro purchase might pay off well.

Cicero Gamez, a dealer and collector for 20 years who is based in Delaware, found a few examples of that on some key cards from the 1980s — the 1986-87 Fleer basketball stickers — and on a few key cards.

Notably? Michael Jordan (rookie sitcker), Magic Johnson and Dominique Wilkins (also a rookie) — and each of the cards has an overprinted card back for a baseball sticker from that same year.

Each of the cards has been examined for tampering and deemed to be authentic by Beckett Grading Services and has been encapsulated for protection.

So, what was his reaction to seeing the cards?

“Surprised,” said Gamez of the cards, which were included in a collection he bought. Of course, his next step is to test the open market and see if some of those rabid Jordan collectors will pay top dollar for a potential one-of-a-kind misprint card like they have for some other graded and rare cards for MJ as of late.

Mark Anderson, the director of BGS, said misprints are actually not an uncommonly graded/authenticated area.

“We see misprinted cards come through Beckett Grading Services on a daily basis, but usually these are far more common mistakes: blank backs, blank fronts, missing foil, missing serial number, other examples missing part of the printing process,” he said. “But to see a card that mixes two different sports products onto one card is truly rare.

“In all likelihood, it is a unique piece,” Anderson said. “After all, in over 25 years it is the first example to surface.”

How much does Gamez think the Jordan might it go for?

“Not sure,” he said.

Doesn’t matter — that will be left to the interested bidders once the cards hit the open market.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Basketball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.