1986-87 Fleer #105 Rory Sparrow
1986-87 Fleer #105 Rory Sparrow
About Rory Sparrow
A steady 6'2" point guard out of Villanova, Rory Darnell Sparrow was a fourth-round pick (75th overall) of the New Jersey Nets in the 1980 NBA Draft and carved out a 12-year career (1980-1992) with seven teams: the Nets, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers. His longest and best stretch came in New York (1983-87), the team pictured on this card, where he was the Knicks' starting floor general. Sparrow finished with career averages of 9.0 points and 5.0 assists per game (7,557 points, 4,192 assists), a dependable distributor rather than a headline scorer, and never made an All-Star team. His signature honor was off the court: in 1985-86 he and the Lakers' Michael Cooper were named co-winners of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, the only time it was shared, recognizing his Rory F. Sparrow Foundation work for underprivileged children in the New York area. In 1988 he scored the first field goal in Miami Heat history. This is his official rookie card in the set.
Sources: Wikipedia · Basketball-Reference
About this card
The 1986-87 Fleer Rory Sparrow is card #105 in Fleer's landmark 'Premier' issue - the first nationally-distributed NBA set since 1981-82 Topps and, for many collectors, the start of the modern era of basketball cards. Because of the multi-year gap, it is the recognized Rookie Card for Rory Sparrow. He is pictured with the New York Knicks.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 1-6 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 2,811 | 220 | 1,026 | 1,034 | 309 | 222 | 0 |
| SGC | 159 | 11 | 48 | 61 | 20 | 18 | 1 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1986-87 Fleer Rory Sparrow card?
It is card #105 of 132 in the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball set - Fleer's 'Premier' issue and the first nationally-distributed NBA set since 1981-82 Topps. It pictures the New York Knicks Rory Sparrow, and is his recognized rookie card.
Is the 1986-87 Fleer Rory Sparrow his rookie card?
Yes - the hobby treats 1986-87 Fleer as the Rookie Card for any player whose first nationally-distributed (pack-issued) card it is. Rory Sparrow had no Topps card before the set, so this is his recognized RC. (Limited-distribution Star Company cards from 1983-86 are classed as Extended Rookie Cards.)
Is the 1986-87 Fleer Rory Sparrow valuable?
Value depends heavily on grade and centering. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Basketball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.