Football great Willie Roaf was not heavily recruited coming out of Pine Bluff (Arkansas) high school in the late eighties, so much so that he considered pursuing basketball instead of football at the college level. The choice to pursue a career on the gridiron was a very wise one, as Roaf became a consensus First Team All-American at Louisiana Tech and a finalist for the … [Read more...]
Bennie Blades Q & A: Seeing His First Cards, Signing Autographs, Barry Sanders’ Cleats
Defensive force Bennie Blades burst onto South Beach and helped lead the Miami Hurricanes to a National Championship in 1987. He was a key component of the famed defense, even earning the unit the moniker of "Bennie and the Jets" due to free flowing and hard hitting the style of play exhibited by the squad. His play that year also earned him the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, … [Read more...]
Scott Elarton Recalls His First Cards, Making Trades as a Youth, TTM Signing
Six-foot-seven righthander Scott Elarton was a first round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 1994. As an 18-year-old, he passed on the college experience and headed straight to the minors. In 1997 he went all the way from Single A ball the Triple A and in 1998 he made his Major League debut for the Astros. The Lamar, Colorado native spent a decade in the bigs, playing for … [Read more...]
Calvin Ridley Rookie Card Roundup and Hot List
Success in the NFL can take a couple of years for some players. Quarterbacks, especially, often need a year or two to feel totally comfortable with the speed of the game. Wide receivers tend to make their mark quickly. Such is the case in Atlanta, where Calvin Ridley rookie cards are likely to be hot commodities for some time, after a strong start to his career. Calvin's … [Read more...]
Jimmy Butler Rookie Card Picks and Current Most Watched Auctions
Not that long ago, Jimmy Butler rookie cards weren't exactly a hot commodity. Despite a long career, his autographed rookie cards were being sold for far less than those of some unproven draft picks. The Miami Heat decided he just needed a jump start. Their move to acquire the enthusiastic veteran has proven to be one of the shrewdest in recent hoop history and … [Read more...]
Bubble Breakthrough: A Jamal Murray Rookie Card Review
He's become an electrifying scorer and despite his relative youth, he's now a well-established veteran player. With a new contract and a bright future, Jamal Murray rookie cards have been getting more looks inside the booming basketball card market. To some extent, though, he's still flying a little below the radar. The Murray Memoir A Kitchener, Ontario native, … [Read more...]
Quinn Early Q&A: Seeing His Rookie Card for First Time, Steelers Fandom, Martial Arts Journey and Being a Stuntman
West Hempstead, New York's Quinn Early was a standout wide out at the University of Iowa. The college star then forged a long career as a pro. As a 12- year NFL veteran, Early suited up for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. During his decade plus in the National Football League, he caught over 500 passes for more than 6,000 yards … [Read more...]
Raising Arizona: A Kyler Murray Rookie Card Review
Before he made his choice, there were a lot of questions about whether Kyler Murray rookie cards would be found in the football listings or baseball. While some young athletes dream of having the ability to have professional talent in one sport, Murray was a top prospect in both. Having made his choice, he's now one of the NFL's most promising young players and a … [Read more...]
Hair We Go: Jacob deGrom Rookie Card Roundup and Hottest Auctions
He already has two Cy Young Awards and it's almost a lock he'll wind up with more than that before his career eventually comes to a close. "Dominant" usually precedes his name in articles. While pitchers aren't always exceedingly popular with collectors, Jacob deGrom rookie cards are an exception. The New York Mets' ace could wind up being one of the … [Read more...]
Jeff Juden Q&A: Signing Autographs in High School; Memorable MLB Debut; Collecting Cards
By the end of his senior season, big, poweful righty Jeff Juden was a high school pitching phenom in Salem, MA. He was a high school All-American and was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year. The Houston Astros snapped him up with the 12th overall pick in the 1991 MLB Draft. Juden's major league career spanned eight seasons--and eight … [Read more...]