- The Washington Times - Monday, February 1, 2021

After Tom Brady earned a spot in his 10th Super Bowl, a signed rookie card for the quarterback in near-perfect condition was auctioned on eBay for $555,988.

The 2000-edition Playoff Contenders card shows Brady with the New England Patriots, long before he became the dominant force he is today. Brady has a chance to win his seventh Super Bowl on Sunday, now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady played in one game and attempted three passes during that rookie season. He’s since won three MVP awards, and he put together a regular season with Tampa Bay that included 40 touchdown passes and 4,633 yards.

While the anonymous buyer paid a hefty sum, they still had to cough up an extra $8 for shipping. The sale occurred Jan. 25, one day after Brady and the Buccaneers upended the Green Bay Packers and was run through PWCC market and sold on eBay.

This is only the latest example of a sports card garnering a large sum of money. In August 2020, for instance, an autographed Mike Trout rookie card sold for $3.93 million. That deal topped a 1909 Honus Wagner card sold for $3.12 million in 2016 as the most expensive card in history.

Last year, a buyer purchased a Lebron James rookie card for $1.8 million, and a signed Giannis Antetokounmpo rookie card sold for $1.812 million in September, making it the most expensive basketball card ever sold.

Those are still far off from the Mickey Mantle 1952 rookie card sold Jan. 14 for $5.2 million, the highest price ever for a trading card.

• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.

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