While Tom Brady is best known as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history with the New England Patriots, he was actually drafted by Major League Baseball as an 18th round pick by the Montreal Expos in 1995. Though Brady chose to pursue a career in football instead of baseball, his potential as a baseball player was such that he received Bowman baseball card issues in the late 1990s during his rise to stardom in the NFL.
Bowman was one of the leading baseball card manufacturers throughout the 20th century, known for issuing prospects and rookie cards of future Hall of Famers long before they achieved superstardom. In 1998 and 1999, during Brady’s early years with the Patriots, Bowman recognized his athletic talents and included rookie and prospect cards of him in their annual sets despite the fact that he had chosen football over baseball. These rare Tom Brady baseball cards provide a unique window into Brady’s athletic background and potential in America’s pastime before he became a household name in the NFL.
The first Tom Brady baseball card came in 1998 Bowman’s Best, issued the year after Brady was drafted by the Expos. Sporting Patriots jersey #12 but with his baseball stats and drafting details listed, the Brady card stands out amongst the sea of future MLB stars featured in the set. Brady’s card value has increased steadily over the years due to his football accomplishments and the card’s status as one of the only professional football players included in a major baseball card set of the late 90s/early 2000s. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples of the 1998 Bowman’s Best Brady card now sell for over $1000 given its uniqueness.
In 1999, Brady received an even more prominent baseball card issue from Bowman. As a rookie quarterback coming off a promising season with the Patriots, Brady was included amongst the prospects in the 1999 Bowman set. Again wearing his Patriots jersey but with his baseball bio, the 1999 Bowman Tom Brady rookie card stands out from the many future All-Stars in the set. Examples receive strong grades and have increased in value exponentially since Brady’s NFL success. PSA 10 Gem Mint versions of Brady’s scarce 1999 Bowman rookie card now sell for upwards of $5000-10000 given his legendary career and the card’s status as a true “one-of-one” in the baseball card world.
While Brady never actually played a single game in MLB, the 1998 and 1999 Bowman issues acknowledge and commemorate his baseball drafting and the significant athletic talents that led the Expos to select him despite his choosing to play football instead. As Brady has gone on to become arguably the greatest NFL quarterback ever and cement his status as a worldwide celebrity, the rarity and uniqueness of his baseball card issues from the late 90s make them enormously desirable collectibles. They serve as a reminder of the path not taken for Brady in baseball and are a fascinating historical curiosity from a time before his football greatness was fully realized.
For serious Brady and baseball card collectors, finding high grade copies of his 1998 Bowman’s Best and 1999 Bowman rookie in a PSA/BGS slab is a true prized possession. Both cards already hold significant value purely due to rarity and Brady’s achievements, and that value is all but guaranteed to keep increasing as Brady potentially adds to his NFL trophy case and cement his GOAT status before retirement. Even for casual collectors just looking for an interesting piece of sports history, Brady’s baseball cards provide a quirky conversation piece and tangible link to the other professional path the quarterback could have followed. Nearly 25 years after they were issued, Brady’s rare Bowman baseball issues continue to fascinate collectors and serve as a unique legacy from his original two-sport professional prospects.
While Tom Brady opted to exclusively focus his incredible athletic talents on football, the 1998 and 1999 Bowman baseball card issues representing his brief drafting by the Expos are remarkable historical artifacts. They represent a path not taken for Brady on the diamond and acknowledge the skills that could have made him a professional baseball player instead. As Brady has gone on to etch his name alongside Joe Montana and Jerry Rice as perhaps the greatest NFL quarterback ever, the rarity and uniqueness of his baseball cards from the late 90s make them enormously valuable collectibles. They provide a special connection to Brady’s athletic versatility and two-sport background before he became a global icon leading the Patriots dynasty. For serious sports collectors and Brady enthusiasts, finding high grade copies of these one-of-one cards remains a highly coveted prize.
