In the world of sports memorabilia, the 2023 Bowman Draft Baseball set has garnered attention for a unique addition – a 1995 draft pick, none other than the NFL icon Tom Brady. While Topps promotes this card as Brady’s first official baseball card, there’s more to the story if we delve into the details.
Back in 2014, Tom Brady appeared on a baseball card issued by Topps for the first time. In the Topps Five Star Baseball release, Brady was listed among the autograph cards. These cards were included as redemptions in packs, promising collectors an autographed card from the legendary quarterback. However, almost nine years have passed, and these redemptions have yet to be fulfilled, leaving collectors eagerly waiting. Interestingly, other quarterbacks like John Elway and Dan Marino, who were also drafted by MLB teams, were part of the original checklist.
The delay in releasing the actual autographed cards can be attributed to the fact that the 2014 release marked the last season Topps held the NFL and NFLPA licenses before Panini took over the exclusive rights. With ownership of Topps now in the hands of Fanatics, which has an exclusive autograph deal with Tom Brady, the stage was set for his appearance in the Bowman Draft.
Now in 2023 and retired from football, Tom Brady features in the Bowman Draft set with a total of 81 signed cards. The set offers collectors a variety of versions, such as the Gold Refractor, limited to 50 copies, Orange Refractors, limited to 25 copies, Red Refractors, limited to 5 copies, and a one-of-one Superfractor. Some cards even come with unique inscriptions, adding a special touch to the collection.
In addition to the autographed cards, there’s also a rare unsigned version that showcases a young Tom Brady wearing a Montreal Expos uniform. This particular card is designed based on the 1995 Bowman Baseball design, reminiscent of when Brady was selected by the Montreal Expos as a catcher straight out of high school in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft. However, Brady’s path led him to choose college football, ultimately paving the way for his legendary NFL career.
Even with the excitement surrounding the 2023 Bowman Draft appearance, 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 its production status, hoping for clarity on whether the autographed cards will ever see the light of day. Any future updates on this matter will surely be eagerly shared within the collecting community.
In conclusion, while the 2023 Bowman Draft features Tom Brady’s first official baseball card, it’s important to acknowledge his previous appearance on the 2014 Topps Five Star baseball card, albeit as an unfulfilled redemption. Collectors are now eagerly collecting the various versions of Brady’s autographed cards and savoring the rare unsigned card that portrays a different chapter in his sports journey. As the collecting community eagerly awaits updates on the long-awaited redemption, the spotlight shines brightly on Tom Brady’s unique baseball card story.
