Interview: Nationals First Round Pick Brady House Talks Cards and His Growing Collection
House is on the fast track to the league after a July 7 (2024) call up to Triple-A Rochester (NY). Working with the Washington Nationals 26-man roster during spring training in Palm Beaches (Fla.), the slugging third baseman took time out of his schedule to answer questions about the upcoming season and his sports card hobby collection.
After leaving the University of Tennessee in 2021 for the draft, House started getting serious about collecting cards.
“I have been collecting heavily since 2022,” House said. “I’ve always kind of been – my family has always collected baseball cards, but I really started collecting seriously in 2022.”
Asked which sports he collects, baseball, football, and/or basketball, House shared, “I collect all three but my main, my PC (personal collection) right now is full of basketball. I like basketball and football. I’d say baseball, I know a lot about it and the baseball card market but because I am at the field so much, football and basketball is my get away.”
There’s joy and pride in one’s voice when talking about the top cards in their possession, that came through in House detailing some of his personal favorites.
“I had a Luka (Dončić) 2018 Prizm, which is his rookie year,” House stated. “I had a blue jersey match. I traded that and a (Victor) Wembanyama Blue Ice and I got a Luka Blue Ice 2018, that’s his rookie. That is my favorite and biggest card. I also have a Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) Flawless four-color patch rookie auto.”
Building the collection, House shares the same goals as the rest of us.
“I want the iconic cards,” House said. “I have a Michael Jordan (1986-87) Fleer (RC), but it is a color added type of thing; it is not a serious one. I just needed that card. In the long run, I’m hoping to get a ’51 (Mickey) Mantle (RC). I want all of the iconic cards. I had a Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs); I’d chase stuff like that.”
The anticipation and excitement generated by opening a pack of cards remains with House.
“I love ripping packs – what am I going to get in it,” House shared. “That’s the part I enjoy about it. I also buy singles. I will buy things that are already slabbed. With me being in Rochester for Triple-A, they have a card shop there. I go there to buy boxes. Whenever I rip packs, I like ripping Contenders football and basketball.”
Another common theme: sending in raw cards to be graded or already buying them in slabs further makes House personable to enthusiasts?
“It is not that often that I send them in myself,” House shared. “I’m not the best at evaluating the card – the surface, corners, and all that stuff. Whenever I get a card, I usually hold onto it unless someone tells me it is worth grading. If I buy it, it is usually already slabbed up. I don’t usually buy cards raw.”
House isn’t the only Washington Nationals player who loves the hobby.
Asked about swapping autographs on cards with other professionals, House replied, “From the baseball standpoint, yes, but I’ve never got to the point with football and basketball where I am able to do that yet. A lot of baseball dudes, we like to do that.
“Drew Millas is big into it. He’s big into Pokémon too. Millas and I have been doing cards together for the last two years. Dylan Crews is getting into baseball. I think he is trying to collect the rainbow of himself – trying to get all of the colors. I’d say Millas is the No. 1 guy that I talk to about it.”
The 2021 Bowman Draft 1st Chrome #BDC-186 Brady House release was a milestone moment.
“It was super awesome,” House exclaimed.” When my first card came out, it was like, “oh, I can rip myself out of a pack.” That was pretty cool. It was super exciting.”
Asked if he searches for his own cards to save as mementos of his career, that is for other family members “in-House.”
“My dad and my brother do,” House said. “I don’t really collect myself, but if my dad or brother runs across someone who has one, they’ll grab it.”
In 2023, House was selected for the All-Star Futures Game after hitting .317 with High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. House was called up to Double-A Harrisburg after the All-Star break. The Nationals started House during the 2024 season at Harrisburg, playing in 75 games, before receiving his Triple-A Red Wings promotion. House was again selected for the All-Star Futures Game in 2024.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, House shared, “My goal is to stay healthy and whatever I am doing making sure that I am getting better at it. Like when I am going into a game, making sure I left everything at practice, and I prepared the best that I could for the game.”
For the Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth League, and high school players that have professional aspirations, House gave some advice.
“Enjoy it. Never lose the love for the game,” House said. “There are times where you don’t want to go practice, you’d rather go do something else; (laughs) I was in high school too. You want to go do other things sometimes, but you just have to put your head down and focus on what you want your future to look like. Keep grinding and have fun while you are doing it.”
House was on fire throughout spring training hitting .364.
