They hadn’t won a game in 635 days. Nineteen games, nineteen losses. Then came Thursday, September 20, 2018. Since that 21-17 comeback victory that set Cleveland ablaze with hope, Baker Mayfield rookie cards have been among the hobby’s hottest.
The Baker Mayfield File
Like Brett Favre for the 1992 Green Bay Packers, it took an injury for Mayfield’s pro career to officially begin. Like Favre, there’s a little gunslinger in the Browns’ quarterback. There’s also an impressive background.
After transferring from Texas Tech to Oklahoma, Mayfield became a two-time first-team All-American who threw for 14,607 yards, a jaw-dropping 131 touchdowns and had a 175.4 passer rating. He led the Sooners to three straight Big 12 championships, won the Heisman Trophy and was the first pick in the 2018 draft. Cleveland has pledged its future to Mayfield, who led the Browns to a 5-2 record over the last seven weeks of his rookie season.
Now, with new weapons to use on offense including Odell Beckham Jr., and Jarvis Landry, it’s no wonder the once downtrodden Browns are a chic pick to finally get back to the playoffs. “The object of this thing is to surround him with as many good football players as you possibly can,” Browns General Manager John Dorsey said.
He’s not likely to disappear from the list of hottest 2018 NFL rookie cards anytime soon. Hundreds of Mayfield rookie cards have sold for $500 or more on eBay alone since he was taken with the top pick.
Most Popular Baker Mayfield Rookie Cards
Picking out the best Baker Mayfield rookie cards to own depends largely on your focus– and your budget–but it’s safe to say some stand out. So far, the clear favorites among collectors have been those found inside 2018 Panini Contenders.
With a variety of serial numbered autographed cards and a brand name with a solid history, Contenders seems to be the home of the best autographed Mayfield rookie cards. It’s certainly where most collectors have put their money but post-season high-end releases will have big ticket cards as well. Panini National Treasures has produced some potentially pricey Mayfield rookies, with several major hits listed. A rookie auto patch card from Panini’s First Off the Line boxes sold for a best offer price of $8,250. A Contenders Cracked Ice autograph numbered to 24 and graded PSA 10 sold in January via best offer for $8,000. Another Cracked Ice sold recently for $7,000. Numerous Cracked Ice parallels and variations have sold for four-figure prices since Contenders was released early in 2019, with some high-grade examples bringing over $6,000.
From standard Rookie Tickets to Championship Tickets, Ticket Stubs (# to 6), Clear Tickets and others, there are options for collectors at price levels that fluctuate greatly based on several factors including grade and popularity. Standard Rookie have attracted consistent interest since Mayfield became Cleveland’s starting quarterback but sometimes the cards with low serial numbers that aren’t as heavily collected prove to have the most upside and sales prices seem to indicate that.
Several 1/1 Mayfield cards from other products have sold for impressive figures including a Panini Playbook Auto Patch booklet ($4,599) and the Spectra Gold Vinyl Rookie NFL Shield ($4,000).
Baker Bargains
It’s clear from the number of cards that have been sold or are being offered for sale that Mayfield signed a lot of cards after his college career came to an end. There is certainly no shortage of signed rookie cards. Some of those issued just prior to the ’18 draft and picturing Mayfield in his Oklahoma uniform can still be had for under $100. Those who want a lower priced autographed card showing him in his Browns uniform can expect to pay $200-$300–at least for now.
Of course, there are numerous serial numbered memorabilia cards and inserts that can be obtained for far less but still provide a certain level of limited availability. Picking out an attractive card with a serial number under 200 is generally a pretty good play for collecting Mayfield on a budget while still providing some limited long-term growth if you’re looking at it as an investment. However, if you prefer the low-cost “penny stock” approach, there are several brands that offer a chance to collect Mayfield rookie cards on the cheap.
You can check out all of Mayfield’s rookie cards and see a live list of the most watched auctions below.
Related Stories:
Hall of Fame Rookies Lead Legendary 1957 Topps Football Set
Josh Allen Rookie Cards Poised to Take Next Step?
Luck’s Retirement Another Reminder of Prospecting Uncertainty
Hottest 2018 NFL Rookie Cards
2018 Panini Origins Football Returns This Summer
NFL’s Top Draft Picks Get Instant Cards
Antonio Brown Rookie Cards Bloom With Career
