Tom Brady
Rare, undervalued Tom Brady auto rookie card highlights PWCC auction
Did NFL legend Tom Brady play his final game when his Tampa Bay Bucs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night?
Brady, 45, is not saying. The seven-time Super Bowl winner and most decorated quarterback in NFL history could re-sign with the Bucs, sign with another team for the 2023 season or retire — again.
Whatever Brady decides, his trading cards will continue to maintain high demand and strong value. And if he does retire, those values are sure to soar.
Brady’s most valuable cards are his autographed rookie cards from 2000, especially those in his New England Patriots uniform. The most valuable card is his 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket parallel, which includes just 100 copies and has sold for as much as $3 million in top condition.
But the iconic card is not the most rare of the 2000 Brady rookies. That honor goes to an autographed 2000 Playoff Contenders card that doesn’t even feature Brady on the front.
The 2000 Playoff Contenders Round Numbers Gold Marc Bulger/Tom Brady Dual Autographed Rookie Card features Bulger, the Saints rookie, on the front and Brady, in his No. 12 Patriots jersey, on the back.
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The card, with only 60 copies ever made, highlights Brady as the 11th-round, 199th pick of the 2000 draft. Bulger, meanwhile, was the 168th pick.
A copy of the card, graded PSA 8, is featured in the January Premier Auction at PWCC Marketplace.
Because Bulger is featured on the front, the Brady card is often overlooked and generally much more affordable than other Brady autographed rookie cards. The PWCC auction may set the standard for what the card is really worth.
“No offense to Pro Bowl QB Marc Bulger, but yes, his presence on this card does make it a more affordable Tom Brady rookie offering,” said Jesse Craig, vice president of sales at PWCC. “That said, this is unquestionably a trading card to be featured in the Premier Auction as it remains the lowest numbered card among those very limited Brady rookie autos.”
The rare card is also intriguing because of the backstory. Bulger wound up with the St. Louis Rams, where he played for eight seasons, passing for more than 22,814 yards and 122 touchdowns, while Brady, of course, became the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
“The story here is important,” Craig said. “It is a really fun card that sparks the discussion of just how great Brady is. Tom Brady is the only active player remaining from the 2000 NFL draft. Seeing this card brings a smile to people’s faces. And to be fair to Marc Bulger, this would have happened to anyone sharing a card with a legend.”
The card, which is graded PSA 8 with only seven copies graded higher, is up for bid in PWCC’s January Premier Auction until Jan. 19, when Extended Bidding begins at 10 p.m. ET.
