In the world of sports memorabilia, collectors are always on the lookout for unique and special items. One such item that has recently grabbed attention is Tom Brady’s first “official” baseball card, featured in the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball set. Topps, the famous trading card company, is promoting this card as Brady’s inaugural appearance on a baseball card. However, this claim holds true only when considering fully completed cards distributed in packs. In reality, Brady has made an appearance on a baseball card before.
The first instance of Tom Brady appearing on a baseball card dates back to the 2014 Topps Five Star Baseball release. In this set, Brady was listed among the autograph cards. These autographed cards were included as redemptions in packs, but, unfortunately, nine years have passed, and these redemptions have yet to be fulfilled. This delay has left collectors eagerly anticipating the moment they can finally add this elusive card to their collection. It is worth noting that other notable quarterbacks, such as John Elway and Dan Marino, who were also drafted by MLB teams, were part of the original checklist for the 2014 release.
The 2014 release carried significance as it marked the last season in which Topps held the licenses for the NFL and NFLPA before Panini acquired exclusive rights. This licensing shift may explain the delay in releasing the actual autographed cards. However, for collectors who have been patiently waiting for almost a decade, the reasons behind the delay are likely of little consolation.
As we fast forward to 2023, Tom Brady, now retired from football and with an exclusive autograph deal with Fanatics, the current owner of Topps, finally features in the Bowman Draft Baseball set. The set includes a total of 81 signed cards featuring Brady’s autograph. Some of these cards come in different versions, such as the Gold Refractor (limited to 50 copies), Orange Refractors (limited to 25 copies), Red Refractors (limited to 5 copies), and an extremely rare one-of-one Superfractor. Furthermore, some of these cards even come with unique inscriptions, adding an extra layer of uniqueness for collectors.
In addition to the signed versions, there is also a rare unsigned card that showcases a young Tom Brady wearing a Montreal Expos uniform. This card pays homage to the time when Brady was selected as a catcher by the Montreal Expos right out of high school in the 1995 MLB Draft. However, as we all know, Brady chose the path of college football, leading him to a legendary career in the NFL.
Despite the excitement surrounding Tom Brady’s appearance on the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball cards, there is still ongoing curiosity about the fate of the 2014 Topps Five Star Tom Brady redemption. Collectors have made inquiries to Topps representatives regarding the production status of this card, but as of now, no concrete updates have been provided. The collecting community eagerly awaits any future announcements or developments regarding the long-awaited redemption card.
In conclusion, Tom Brady’s first “official” baseball card in the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball set has caught the attention of collectors and sports memorabilia enthusiasts. While this may be the first fully completed card featuring Brady distributed in packs, it is essential not to overlook Brady’s appearance on the 2014 Topps Five Star Baseball set as a redemption card. The ongoing curiosity and anticipation surrounding the fulfillment of this redemption card continue, and collectors eagerly await any updates that may shed light on its long-awaited release.
