In the world of sports memorabilia, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball set has caused quite a stir with a unique card featuring a familiar face – NFL icon Tom Brady. Promoted by Topps as Brady’s first official baseball card, this claim holds true if we only consider fully completed cards distributed in packs. However, it is worth noting that this isn’t the first time Brady has appeared on a baseball card issued by Topps.
The first instance of Brady’s appearance on a Topps baseball card goes back to the 2014 Topps Five Star Baseball release. Brady was listed among the autograph cards in this set. These cards were included as redemptions in packs, but for the past nine years, collectors have eagerly awaited the fulfillment of these redemptions. It is interesting to note that other quarterbacks like John Elway and Dan Marino, who were also drafted by MLB teams, were included in the original checklist.
The 2014 release was particularly significant as it marked the last season Topps held the NFL and NFLPA licenses before Panini acquired the exclusive rights. This shift in licensing may explain the delay in releasing the actual autographed cards to collectors. However, for collectors who have been patiently waiting, the reasons behind the delay provide little consolation.
Now, in 2023, Tom Brady, retired from football and with an exclusive autograph deal with Fanatics (the current owner of Topps), finds himself in the spotlight once again in the Bowman Draft. This set includes a total of 81 signed Brady cards, each with its own unique version. Collectors can find cards like the Gold Refractor, limited to 50 copies, Orange Refractors, limited to 25 copies, Red Refractors, limited to 5 copies, and the highly coveted one-of-a-kind Superfractor. Some cards even come with special inscriptions, adding an extra layer of uniqueness to Brady’s baseball card collection.
What makes the Bowman Draft even more intriguing is the rare unsigned version of the card, featuring a young Tom Brady in a Montreal Expos uniform. This design is based on the 1995 Bowman Baseball cards and pays homage to the time when Montreal selected Brady as a catcher straight out of high school in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft. However, Brady ultimately chose college football, paving the way for his legendary NFL career.
While collectors eagerly snatch up the new Brady cards from the Bowman Draft, there is still ongoing curiosity about the fate of the 2014 Topps Five Star Tom Brady redemption cards. Inquiries have been made to Topps representatives regarding the production status of these cards, and collectors around the world are eagerly awaiting any updates. The collecting community is hopeful that these long-awaited autographed cards will finally make their way into the hands of passionate collectors who have been patiently waiting for nearly a decade.
As the buzz around Tom Brady’s first official baseball card continues to grow, the collecting world is embarking on an exciting journey. With each new release, fans and collectors are capturing a piece of sports history, preserving the legacy of one of the greatest athletes of all time – both on the football field and now on the baseball diamond. The anticipation and excitement for the fulfillment of the 2014 Topps Five Star redemption cards only add to the mystique surrounding Tom Brady’s baseball card collection.
