Rookie Leatherheads: Why didn't anyone think of that?
If you’ve been over to Beckett.com this morning you probably have seen a preview gallery for Upper Deck SP Authentic football, which arrives in hobby shops early next year.
Among the inserts in the set will be Rookie Leatherheads, which feature a slice of a photo-shoot worn leather football helmet and an autograph of a few top rookies. Since the NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere began several years ago, there have been many memorabilia cards tried — remember the Fleer’s Touch Football cards in 2000? — but this one is so simple and pretty cool not to have been done before.
This one I really like — and I’m pretty sure that other collectors will agree.
No word on whether George Clooney will make a surprise appearance in the set.
Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
I believe Fleer Tradition did this in 2004 with their Throwback subset. I recall getting a Kellen Winslow leather helmet card. I don’t think they were autographed though.