Las Vegas Raiders part-owner Tom Brady has spent a small fortune to acquire a rare rookie trading card of quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Chris Costa, a business partner of Brady, told the California Post that the undisclosed sum paid for the card was a life-altering amount of money for most people, if not all people.
Costa confirmed that the transaction set a record as the most expensive Fernando Mendoza card that has ever sold, adding that the milestone is a fact.
The collectible is a unique one-of-one item from trading card manufacturer Topps. It represents the first trading card autographed by Mendoza since he was chosen in the National Football League draft, featuring his signature alongside the handwritten inscription "My 1st NFL Auto." In sports card collecting, a one-of-one card means only a single copy was produced worldwide.
Brady won seven Super Bowls during a 23-year NFL career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before purchasing a minority ownership stake in the Raiders. Mendoza was selected by Las Vegas with the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft to serve as the team's new franchise quarterback.
Negotiations across the Southwest
As a part-owner of the franchise, Brady was eager to secure the card featuring his team's top overall draft pick. Costa recalled that Brady basically raised his hand and said, "I want that card. I need that card."
Tracking down the card's owner required several weeks of searching across the Southwest United States. Once the owner came forward, the two sides engaged in prolonged negotiations that lasted several weeks, if not close to a month, of going back and forth, according to Costa.
To complete the deal, Brady agreed to pay a hefty cash number and include an autographed football jersey. The agreement also includes a future meeting between the legendary Super Bowl champion quarterback and the seller at a CardVault By Tom Brady store location, a retail venture specializing in trading cards and collectibles.
Public debut at Fanatics Fest
The card now resides with Brady, who shared his new acquisition on social media. The transaction was finalized prior to Fanatics Fest, a major sports collectibles convention, allowing Brady to present the card publicly in front of a crowd.
"I got Fernando Mendoza's 'My 1st NFL Auto' one-of-one," Brady said as he put the collectible on display. "I know how hard he works. He's got a great family and he's coming to a great environment for success. So I figured you've got to invest in it, and it's going to hopefully bring some good luck to Las Vegas."
