Rewind to the '90s with CSG-certified Kenner Starting Lineup Cards

For many years, the action figure market was superheroes and soldiers. But that all changed when a former NFL player introduced a toy line featuring top athletes and a single card to match. Hasbro recently announced the relaunch of the Starting Lineup brand in September 2022.

Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) has graded hundreds of Kenner Starting Lineup cards from the 1980s and 1990s. The accompanying figurines were about 4 inches tall in several different poses and came with a single card featuring the same player. Some of the cards are still packaged with the original figurine, while many others were opened. Starting Lineup debuted in 1988 with an MLB, NFL and NBA set. The cards are not numbered as they only came one per box.

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A few recent examples include a 1999 Hasbro Starting Lineup Peyton Manning graded CSG Gem Mint 10. The card features Peyton Manning, then in his second NFL season, prepared to throw.

A 1993 Kenner Starting Lineup Ken Griffey Jr. graded CSG Gem Mint 10 features the Seattle Mariners Hall of Famer wearing the vintage Seattle “S” baseball cap.

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A 1990 Kenner Starting Lineup Michael Jordan graded CSG 9.5 shows the basketball great in a classic white-and-red Bulls uniform.

A 1991-92 Kenner Starting Lineup Magic Johnson graded CSG 8.5 features Johnson near the rim. The card shows his name along the top with the Lakers logo in the top left corner and a second portrait of Magic in the bottom right corner.

What athlete are you hoping to see in the relaunch? Will you keep the card and figure together, or submit the card for CSG certification? Let us know at the CSG Chat Boards.