Tom Brady became the winningest quarterback in NFL post-season competition, as he led the New England Patriots to five Super Bowl Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016). Accordingly, the prices for his collectibles—such as this Brady-autographed photo—are rising.
Super Bowl LI (51) saw the New England Patriots pull off the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Down 28-3 at the half, quarterback Tom Brady orchestrated a dramatic 25 point second half to force the Super Bowl’s first-ever overtime. After winning the coin toss, he marched the Patriot’s offense down the field for a touchdown, securing the victory.
The Greatest of All Time
In doing so, Brady became the winningest quarterback in NFL post-season competition. He is the only quarterback to win five Super Bowl Championships (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016) by eclipsing the mark of four titles, a record he shared with other NFL greats, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. To be fair, long-time Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr also won five NFL Championships. However, all but one of them was played before the Super Bowl era (1966). In addition, Brady is the only player in NFL history to be named MVP of the Super Bowl four times.
Price of a Tom Brady Autograph
The prices for Brady’s autographed collectibles have gone through the stratosphere since the Patriot’s epic victory earlier this month. TRISTAR Productions, a leader in autographed collectibles is having a private signing with Brady next month. A simple, 8-inch by 10-inch photograph, name only autograph with no inscription will cost collectors between $849 to $899. Inscriptions will cost an additional $299 to $499. As an example, if you want Brady to sign his name with the inscription “4x SB MVP, 5X Super Bowl Champ” on that aforementioned 8 by 10 photograph, the total bill would be $1,547 to $1,597, depending on the NFL licensed photograph you choose.
An official Super Bowl LI with Brady’s John Hancock will set you back a cool $1,000.
Michael Jordan is the only other player, in the history of sports, to command that type of money for their signature. The timing of the TRISTAR signing, coming so quickly on the heels of Brady’s record setting accomplishments, immediately sets the market pricing for Brady’s autographed collectibles moving forward. Collectors already owning Brady-autographed memorabilia will see an increase in the value of those items as well. The reason being that “a rising tide lifts all the boats.”
Premium memorabilia items like autographed and inscribed helmets, jerseys and footballs will set modern-day records in terms of price. Authentic items without inscriptions will run between $999 for a football to $1,199 for a jersey. Add in the price of inscriptions, and some deep-pocket collectors will be paying close to $2,000 for an autographed jersey or helmet.
Collectors will pay $1,199 for a Brady-signed jersey without an inscription.
A Modern Sports Collectibles Mystery
The post-game locker room celebration created one of the sports collectibles hobby’s modern mysteries. The jersey Brady wore during Super Bowl LI was stolen from his locker. While it’s unfortunate that this personal treasure is no longer in his possession, it does pose the question what the jersey would be worth.
When dealing with truly one-of-a-kind items of this nature, determining a value can be very difficult. However, in June of 2015, Grey Flannel Auctions sold a Johnny Unitas game-used uniform circa 1961 for a record $118,230. It is the most money ever paid for a professional football player’s jersey at auction. Given Brady’s recent accomplishments wearing the now missing jersey, it’s entirely realistic to think that the jersey would sell well past Unitas’ mark.
Deep-pocket collectors will be paying close to $2,000 for an autographed helmet.
Estimates have run the gambit, even among experts. Phil Castinetti of Sportsworld has been quoted as saying the jersey is worth between a quarter and a half million dollars. Josh Evans of Lelands believes the estimate is too low saying the jersey could be worth as much as a million dollars. However, because the item is in fact stolen merchandise, the world may never now. At least for the near future, the jersey will most likely stay in the collection of the thief, or be sold underground. What happens to the jersey if it were to surface 30-40 years from now is anybody’s guess. It sure will make for interesting drama when it does.
Record Setting Play, Record Setting Prices
The initial reaction upon hearing the price of Brady autographed memorabilia may be one of shock, amazement or even disgust. It’s understandable. Sports memorabilia is big business and players know this to be true. While Brady certainly doesn’t need the money, some question how he can justify the current pricing. In all honesty, he simply needs to flash those pundits his five Super Bowl rings.
Prices for Brady rookie cards are seeing a huge spike as well. The middle card, numbered 0146 of 1,250, sold last year for $23,901.
Brady’s most valuable rookie football cards have always represented the crème-de-le-crème of modern football cards. Beckett, the hobby’s leading pricing authority recently stated that the “book value” of Brady’s 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autographed Card is $3,000. His unsigned, 2000 SP Authentic Rookie Card, currently lists for $3,500. Both of those prices are for cards in raw, ungraded condition. Gem mint condition examples have consistently sold in the $24,000 range. This was prior to this year’s Super Bowl.
What kind of price increase will these cards realize if/when sold at auction in the coming months? An increase of 25-30 percent, or more, isn’t at all out of the question. In fact, it’s already come close to happening. The exact card (numbered 0146/1,250), pictured above, sold last year for $23,901. On Feb. 6th, the day after the Super Bowl, the card sold again. This time, the price was $29,000—an increase of more than 21 percent.
With Brady’s place in football history secure as truly the greatest of all-time, there is only one direction for the price of his memorabilia to go, and that’s up.
Rob Bertrand has been an active collector of sports cards and memorabilia for more than 20 years. His involvement in the hobby community is well documented, having been the content manager for the Card Corner Club website before the company’s merger with CardboardConnection in 2011, where he is now a staff writer and multimedia content producer. Rob is also the co-host of the sports collectibles hobby’s only live and nationally broadcast radio show, Cardboard Connection Radio. He is the author of the highly respected and trafficked blog, Voice of the Collector and you can follow him on Twitter @VOTC. A dealer himself, Rob runs an online business through eBay, and is frequently asked to consign collections.
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