Tom Brady
Ball from Tom Brady’s ‘final’ TD pass back on auction block after previous sale voided
When Tom Brady announced his retirement last February, Leland Auctions listed for auction the football the legendary quarterback used to throw what was at the time his final NFL touchdown pass.
Brady, of course, decided to unretire and return for one more season. Following his announcement, Lelands had to void the sale of the ball, which had been sold to Miami real estate broker Ron Firman for $518,628.
With Brady set to start his 23rd NFL season, the ball from the Tampa Bucs’ Jan. 23, 2022 playoff loss to the Rams is back on the auction block, highlighting Lelands’ 2022 Summer Classic Auction, which runs through Sept. 17. It has a current bid of $28,940.
The ball is photo-matched to the game and consigned by the original owner, who caught the ball after Bucs receiver Mike Evans tossed it into the stands following his 55-yard touchdown reception.
After Brady announced his decision to return for one more season, Lelands decided to void the sale after both the buyer and seller agreed. Firman vowed, however, that he would bid on the ball again if it ever returned to auction.
“I’m going to be bidding on that ball again,” Firman told Sports Illustrated, adding that he planned to place the ball in a museum.
With the ball losing part of its historical significance following Brady’s return, he could wind up winning the ball for much less than his original bid.
Leland’s summer auction also features several other significant cards and pieces of sports memorabilia, including a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card that was signed by Mantle at a fantasy baseball camp. It is graded Authentic by PSA.
Also up for bid are the boxing gloves Evander Holyfield wore during his infamous 1997 fight when Mike Tyson bit a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear. Referred to as the “Bite Fight,” Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield twice during the bout. Lelands refers to the gloves as “a knockout piece of pugilistic history.”
Also See: Bill Russell HOF ring up for bid at SCP
Other auction highlights include:
• A 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket #144 Tom Brady Autograph card, graded SGC 9.5/Auto 10.
• The earliest known World Series program from Game 4 of the 1886 World Series between the Chicago White Stockings and the St. Louis Browns.
• The original artwork from Willie Mays’ 1953 Topps card.
• A Joe Burrow 2021 Bengals game-worn, “unwashed,” photo-matched jersey.
• Peyton Manning’s 2014 Broncos game-worn jersey when he became just the second quarterback ever to surpass 65,000 passing yards and beat all 32 teams.
• Two 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie cards, one graded PSA 10 and the other graded SGC 10.
• A 1999 UD Athlete of the Century Michael Jordan POP 1 Autograph card, numbered to /23 and graded PSA 10.
• A Bill Russell 1964-65 Celtics game-used warmup jersey from one of his MVP seasons.
• A Babe Ruth PSA 8 single-signed baseball.
• A Wilt Chamberlain 1968-73 Lakers game-worn warmup jacket.
• The only known signed ticket from Muhammad Ali’s 1964 fight (as Cassius Clay) vs. Sonny Liston.
• A Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali autograph card featuring strands of Ruth’s hair.
• Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig 1/1 cut autograph cards.
• A 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card, graded by PSA 8.
• A signed game-used ball from Don Larsen’s 1956 World Series perfect game.
• Tickets from Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 100-point game.
Jeff Owens is the editor of SCD.
