A Tom Brady rookie card sold for a record $1.32 million on Thursday on PWCC Marketplace, an online auction house and repository for cards.
The autographed 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket card was graded an eight with a 10 grading on the signature. It was purchased by James Park, a known card collector and noted Brady fan.
"I lived in Boston for 10 years, so I've been a huge Brady fan, Patriots fan. Now you have to separate the two, but still a Patriots fan and still a fan of Brady's," Park told ESPN. "That's the origin of the interest. Everyone's talked about this, but what he's accomplished in his whole career and then most recently, it's superhuman. That's really what sparked my interest in the card."
The $1.32 million is believed to be the highest price paid for a football card, eclipsing the previous record by nearly $500,000. As the card marketplace continues to rise in interest and value, this sale soared past a recent Patrick Mahomes card that sold for $861,000 in the beginning of February.
The 2017 National Treasures autographed Mahomes card was graded a nine and was one of only five of that specific card. That sale broke the previous record, which was held by another Brady card that sold for $555,988 in January.
"I'm more of a Brady fan if I had to pick somebody, but Mahomes is, in my opinion, the successor to Brady at some point," Park told ESPN. "Phenomenal talent, and leading up to the Super Bowl, I thought it would be interesting. It came up for auction, so it was actually more opportunistic than anything. It's a great card, it's one of five that was printed, so it was a really beautiful card.
"I think the ceiling on that one is going to be pretty amazing."
This most recent record might be short-lived given the way the industry is headed and considering there is already a similar card being sold at Lelands auction house. The same Brady card is up for auction, but it's graded an 8.5 with the signature graded a nine.
The card at Lelands had a bid at $707,565 with 29 days still remaining in the lot.
Another Brady rookie card from the 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket collection, graded a Mint 9 with a 10 grading on the autograph, sold for $400,100 just two years ago. At the time, it was the highest auction price in history for a football card.