Time to buy Drew Brees collectibles

DON’T PASS ME BY — As coronavirus began spreading like wildfire in February and March, Drew Brees and his wife Britany donated $5 million to help deliver meals to needy people across their home state of Louisiana. The gesture didn’t surprise his fans: Brees is one of football’s truly good guys, the type of hero who makes a worthy collecting target. And now is a good time to nose around for Brees memorabilia. He’s a future Hall of Famer whose numbers are on a par with Tom Brady but whose collectibles aren’t nearly as expensive.

Here’s a look at some relatively reasonable prices paid for “Brees-ibilia” in recent eBay auctions:

• $3,000 on 1 bid for a 2001 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket autographed card (BGS 8). An ungraded example of the same card brought $2,550 on 18 bids.

• $1,276 on 55 bids for a 2001 Upper Deck Rookie Signature “UD Graded” insert (PSA 10, #165/500).

• $1,250 on 1 bid for a 2001 Bowman Chrome Refractor (PSA 9; #528/1999).

• $1,025 on 27 bids for a 2001 Pacific Authentic Autograph card, a rare variation of his base card (PSA 10; #/1000).

• $1,025 on 34 bids for a 2001 Pacific Crown Royale signed card (PSA 10; #18/100).

• $1,002 on 49 bids for a signed full-size authentic Speed Flex on-field helmet (Beckett Authentication). Brees’ inscription referenced his Super Bowl win: “SB XLIV MVP.” Other examples of the same item auctioned for prices of $910 on 39 bids, $902 on 18 bids and $886 on 31 bids.

$1,000 on 88 bids for a 2001 Topps rookie (base) card graded PSA 10.

• $899 on 1 bid for a 2001 Upper Deck SPx autographed jersey card (ungraded; #148/250).

• $860 on 36 bids for a 2017 Topps Finest card (PSA 10; #/1000).

• $860 on 45 bids for a 2001 Bowman Chrome Xfractor (PSA 9).

• $600 on 3 bids for a signed Brees black Saints jersey (Fanatics Authentic Hologram).

Note in the above listings that a few desirable Brees items had little bidding competition. As such, you may find deals without going into a crazed bidding mode.

One other thing: We mentioned that Brees’ memorabilia prices lag behind those of Tom Brady. The former Patriot quarterback has become somewhat of a regular in this space with 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket autographed card and Upper Deck SP Authentic rookie selling for tens of thousands of dollars if in top condition.

Earlier this year, for example, we saw a BGS 9-graded specimen of a Brady Contenders Rookie Ticket fetch $33,655 on 68 bids. In late May, a PSA 10 example of Brady’s SP Authentic card brought $34,858 on 61 bids. Brees items have been quiet compared to Brady’s.

Yet compare their numbers on the gridiron:

Brady: 285 games, 6,377 completions, 63.8% completed, 74,571 yards, 541 TDs, 179 INTs

Brees: 275 games, 6,867 completions, 67.6% completed, 77,416 yards, 547 TDs, 237 INTs

One major factor in terms of memorabilia value is postseason play: Brady’s got six Super Bowl rings vs. one for Brees. But looking at Brees’ stats, it’s easy to expect the hobby to catch up at some point.

REMEMBERING JACKIE — Yes, it’s always a good time to remember Jackie Robinson and his courageous contributions to baseball. The Dodgers’ legendary infielder paved the way for minorities in Major League Baseball, proving to be indefatigable (our favorite word), irrepressible and graceful under pressure. And, as his .311 average proved, the man could play!

We’re reminded of No. 42 by continued demand for his great-looking rookie card, Leaf’s 1948 issue. In June, we saw a specimen graded PSA 7 sell for $38,988 on 69 bids. Another one graded SGC 6.5 sold for $18,656 on 67 bids. Robinson’s Leaf card was issued on the heels of his Rookie of the Year season in 1947, when he batted .296 and led the NL in sacrifices with 28 (remember the sacrifice bunt?) and steals with 29.

Robinson’s second-year card—his 1949 Bowman—is also highly sought. We saw one example graded PSA 8 sell for $14,450 on 57 bids in June.

BANKING ON MAHOMES — An eBay seller listed a 14-card lot of Patrick Mahomes II insert cards in June and watched a bidding war break out. The price of the lot, after 76 bids, reached $34,109—a big figure, yes, but reasonable when you break it down. It’s an average of $2,437 per card. Consider that since March, eight Mahomes signed patch cards have auctioned on eBay for prices between $20,000 and $36,000. Of course, the Mahomes inserts bringing those prices are his 2017 Panini Prizm, Contenders and National Treasures issues. This 14-card lot included none of those. However, the 14 cards here have the potential to push into the $1,500 to $3,000 range, if not more, in a short period of time, based on similar sales.

The lot’s 14 insert cards were all 2017 Panini issues, and all were graded 10 by PSA. Eight of the 14 cards featured both an autograph and a uniform patch. The other six had autographs but no patches.

Among the prizes were two Panini Spectra auto-patch inserts (a Neon Green and a Neon Blue); two Unparalleled signed jersey inserts (one of them a Purple variation, #10/25); and two Origins autograph cards (one of them a Red variation, #41/49).

The other eight Mahomes cards within the lot:

• A Rookie Phenom signed patch card.

• A Rookies & Stars “Dress for Success” autographed patch card with a Donruss stamp.

• A Rookies & Stars “Longevity” signed card.

• An autographed Panini Heir to the Throne card.

• A signed Certified Rookie Roll Call insert.

• Three Prizm autograph cards—a Select Rookie Signatures, a Green Scope, and a Red Wave.

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN — We’ve extended our “next 10” to 15 spots again this time, largely because we’re intrigued by the presence of Ja Morant. The Memphis Grizzlies point guard is one of the NBA’s fast-trackers. In his rookie season, 2019-20, he averaged 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and just under seven assists per game. If you weren’t paying attention, go to YouTube and search “best of Ja Morant” and enjoy the clips. You’ll get a quick feel for his ability to drive the hoop and for his composure—he showed remarkable poise for a 20-year-old.

Your fellow collectors are all over Morant, as this expanded list shows. Not only did Morant take the 10 spot below, but he also filled three of the next five spots, thus accounting for four out of the next 15. The hot Morant item is his 2019-20 Panini National Treasures auto-patch card. It drew heavy action—between 33 and 73 bids—in each of the four auction listings you’ll see below.

On to the next 15:

• $38,988 on 69 bids: 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson (PSA 7)

• $35,143 on 57 bids: 2013-14 Panini Giannis Antetokounmpo Number Auto Patch, #1/34 (BGS 9.5)

• $32,800 on 22 bids: 2003-04 Topps Chrome LeBron James Black Refractor, #11/500 (PSA 9)

• $32,099 on 62 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Zion Williamson, #4/75, auto patch (ungraded)

• $29,747 on 27 bids: 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle (PSA 7)

• $27,609 on 45 bids: 2009 Topps Chrome LeBron James Gold Refractor, #19/50 (BGS 9.5)

• $27,600 on 39 bids: 2018 Bowman Chrome Shohei Ohtani Orange Refractor, #17/25, auto patch (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

• $27,099 on 65 bids: 2003-04 Upper Deck SP LeBron James Signature Edition, auto (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

• $25,809 on 51 bids: 2004-05 Topps Chrome LeBron James Gold Refractor (BGS 9.5)

• $25,400 on 53 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Ja Morant, #85/99, auto patch (ungraded)

• $25,100 on 44 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Ja Morant, #49/99, auto patch (ungraded)

• $24,814 on 74 bids: 2017 Panini Prizm Patrick Mahomes II Camo, #/25, auto (PSA 10)

• $24,100 on 48 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (BGS 9.5)

• $22,700 on 73 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Ja Morant, #42/99, auto patch (ungraded)

• $22,500 on 33 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Ja Morant, #27/99, auto patch (ungraded)

TOP 10 CHART

6/21/20

1. $99,100 on 74 bids: 1999-00 Upper Deck Encore Kobe Bryant F/X Game Jersey, #4/8, auto patch (PSA 10)

2. $85,100 on 74 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Zion Williamson, #58/99, auto patch (ungraded)

3. $71,100 on 92 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (BGS 9.5)

T4. $65,600 on 99 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 10)

T4. $65,600 on 44 bids: 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Refractor (PSA 10)

6. $62,000 on 89 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 10)

7. $57,100 on 67 bids: 2003-04 Topps Chrome LeBron James Refractor (BGS 10)

8. $51,037 on 33 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan (PSA 10)

9. $42,000 on 55 bids: 2003-04 Topps Chrome LeBron James Refractor (PSA 10)

10. $40,100 on 39 bids: 2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Xfractor, #68/225, auto (BGS 9.5)