Is There a Real Place For Backup QBs in the Sports Card Hobby?
Mike White has 13 interceptions and 9 TDs in 14 career games over three years. He was just 1-3 in four appearances in 2021 with the New York Jets. Not impressive stats at all, even for a fifth-round draft pick with career backup expectations.
Yet his 2018 Optic Holo Raw sold 21 times for more than $33 on October 31 back in 2021 — up from its previous $1 value. That was the date of his only win that year.
It sold again four more times for more than $25 on the date of his only win in 2022. It currently sells for about $1.
Similar to White, Cooper Rush has started six games for the Dallas Cowboys in six seasons, but his cards have made major shifts when he’s under center.
Rush’s 2017 Playoff Base Raw typically sells for less than $2, but sold consistently for about $12 during his five-game stretch as a starter in 2022. His 2017 Contenders Rookie Ticket Auto Raw has consistently sold for less than $35, but sold for more than $150 during that same time period.
What do these two QBs have in common? They are just career backups. But the data clearly tells us that the market responds in a big way when they step in and win with the starter out.
This means that, technically, any QB is one injury away from hobby popularity — and you potentially turning a few underwhelming pulls into a few bucks for something else if you’re willing to sell.
Just this season alone, players like Gardner Minshew and Jake Browning stepped in for popular hobby targets like Anthony Richardson and Joe Burrow.
Mason Rudolph, Drew Lock, Tyrod Taylor, and even rookies Aiden O’Connell, Tyler Bagent and Tommy Devito have had some time under center.
It’s also conceivable that holding onto cards of backup QBs leads to more than making a few quick bucks when they win. Brock Purdy and Geno Smith have gone from backup to long-term starter — or in Purdy’s case, MVP candidate.
Even Joe Flacco’s recent run from emergency signing to a starter with a four-game win streak spiked his card values. During that run, his 2008 Topps Chrome Base Raw jumped 357% while the 2008 Topps Chrome Refractor Raw jumped 117%.
To a certain extent, it’s worth stashing any rookie cards for a QB you pull, even if they aren’t a potential star or the expected starter.
For many collectors, it’s common practice to keep cards of players with any potential to be good. This is no different.
No, stashing backup QBs probably won’t make you a ton of money. But the data tells us that enough excitement is generated when these players take the field that you could make a few extra dollars by flipping something you had sitting in a box somewhere.
You won’t get rich quick, but you might just be able to turn a few extra Gardner Minshew rookies you had laying around into a card that you do want.
