2002 Pacific Heads Update Tom Brady Rookie Jersey Game Used NFL Shield Patch

[HalfNipponese]

So my buddy told me that he thinks he saw the NFL shield from Tom Brady's rookie season away jersey sold on Ebay about a year ago for $4k. From his memory, it was a raw 2002 Pacific Heads Update gold patch card. This pic is the only thing I could find with a patch. Can anyone confirm the card exists? Thanks

[BostonNut]

Yes the NFL Shield's exist. They are part of the Gold /25 set. I pulled the Peyton Manning!

[HalfNipponese]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Yes the NFL Shield's exist. They are part of the Gold /25 set. I pulled the Peyton Manning!

That's cool. Can you post a picture of if? I'm just curious what it would potentially look like. I just picked up a sealed box for $100 shipped. With 2 patch cards per box and the small check list, I like my odds of finding something decent. Fingers crossed.

[BostonNut]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

That's cool. Can you post a picture of if? I'm just curious what it would potentially look like. I just picked up a sealed box for $100 shipped. With 2 patch cards per box and the small check list, I like my odds of finding something decent. Fingers crossed.

I posted on here when I pulled it. The search feature is broken and I can’t find the post.

I’ve opened about six cases of it. Be prepared for multiples of the same patch. Coalition was not great. I got four Christian Faurias in one case.

[Grid]

To add, those early 2000's releases were jam packed with fake patches.

Before the "Player Worn" era, and every release having Sick Logo patches in it. Pulling a patch was hard. Pulling a logo patch, even harder.

And since the 1/1 shield card didn't come out until 2003 Leaf Certified, people would cut the NFL shield off a hat or random retail jersey, and stuff it in those deep patch windows.

That was Big Business 20 years ago. And most of those that got faked then, are still trading hands now.

[BostonNut]

Originally Posted by Grid

To add, those early 2000's releases were jam packed with fake patches.

Before the "Player Worn" era, and every release having Sick Logo patches in it. Pulling a patch was hard. Pulling a logo patch, even harder.

And since the 1/1 shield card didn't come out until 2003 Leaf Certified, people would cut the NFL shield off a hat or random retail jersey, and stuff it in those deep patch windows.

That was Big Business 20 years ago. And most of those that got faked then, are still trading hands now.

Are you saying Pacific put in fake patches? Or are you saying that once pulled the patches were faked?

[JohnnyAppleseed]

Originally Posted by Grid

To add, those early 2000's releases were jam packed with fake patches.

Before the "Player Worn" era, and every release having Sick Logo patches in it. Pulling a patch was hard. Pulling a logo patch, even harder.

And since the 1/1 shield card didn't come out until 2003 Leaf Certified, people would cut the NFL shield off a hat or random retail jersey, and stuff it in those deep patch windows.

That was Big Business 20 years ago. And most of those that got faked then, are still trading hands now.

Thing is you can usually tell. If it's dead centered of a sick looking logo piece or the shield, it's likely faked.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22504746631...p2047675.l2557
vs.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26468291943...EAAOSw7BBegOEA

[HalfNipponese]

This is good info to know. I'll stick with the cheap sealed boxes for now.

[Onepocketj]

Yeah, I had all the Brady's as well at one point. I posted at the end of 2018 in the box breaking section when I was buying these boxes all the time for $30. There are a few different Brady's in the set as well which is a bonus when opening them.

[jgb1219]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

So my buddy told me that he thinks he saw the NFL shield from Tom Brady's rookie season away jersey sold on Ebay about a year ago for $4k. From his memory, it was a raw 2002 Pacific Heads Update gold patch card. This pic is the only thing I could find with a patch. Can anyone confirm the card exists? Thanks

Attachment 525405

Not sure if this is the card your buddy is thinking of, but I won a "2002 Private Stock Reserve Tom Brady GU NFL SHIELD Logo Patch (22/101)" off Probstein in Nov 21 for ~$4,300. Sent it immediately to PSA, who refused to slab and essentially said it was fake.

To their credit, Probstein accepted the return without question. Was still out the grading fees though. Disappointed it was fake since the card looked pretty cool.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Are you saying Pacific put in fake patches? Or are you saying that once pulled the patches were faked?

I am saying people swapped out legit patches, with fakes. Not that Pacific did so directly.

[Grid]

Originally Posted by JohnnyAppleseed

Thing is you can usually tell. If it's dead centered of a sick looking logo piece or the shield, it's likely faked.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22504746631...p2047675.l2557
vs.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26468291943...EAAOSw7BBegOEA

For sure at least seeing part of the neckline would help assert its real. And most of these dummies that faked the patches, did drop them in to see most of the shield. And that kept you from seeing that the shield was taken from anything but an actual jersey.

[HalfNipponese]

Originally Posted by jgb1219

Not sure if this is the card your buddy is thinking of, but I won a "2002 Private Stock Reserve Tom Brady GU NFL SHIELD Logo Patch (22/101)" off Probstein in Nov 21 for ~$4,300. Sent it immediately to PSA, who refused to slab and essentially said it was fake.

To their credit, Probstein accepted the return without question. Was still out the grading fees though. Disappointed it was fake since the card looked pretty cool.

Oh man that sucks. It may have been your card my friend was referring to. It just came up in conversation when we were talking about NBA logo cards. I'll be sure to record my box opening in case I have something worth grading.

[bear0555]

Originally Posted by jgb1219

Not sure if this is the card your buddy is thinking of, but I won a "2002 Private Stock Reserve Tom Brady GU NFL SHIELD Logo Patch (22/101)" off Probstein in Nov 21 for ~$4,300. Sent it immediately to PSA, who refused to slab and essentially said it was fake.

To their credit, Probstein accepted the return without question. Was still out the grading fees though. Disappointed it was fake since the card looked pretty cool.

I understand why PSA declined to slab it, but at the same time, they don't really know. Mike Cramer has stated in a recent podcast that there are legit centered NFL logo patches that they produced. Too bad they didn't know to label them as such at the time.

[HalfNipponese]

I didn't hit a Brady but I'll take these 3 color patches for Fred Taylor and Randy Moss all day long. I only got one crappy Brady with Kurt Warner on the card.

[mallowciraptor]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

I didn't hit a Brady but I'll take these 3 color patches for Fred Taylor and Randy Moss all day long. I only got one crappy Brady with Kurt Warner on the card.

Attachment 525463

I also have a Freddy from this set. I've seen some great looking patches on some of the cards from this set.

[Onepocketj]

Originally Posted by mallowciraptor

I also have a Freddy from this set. I've seen some great looking patches on some of the cards from this set.

The last box I opened had a Mark Brunell and the patch was the Jaguars head. One of the coolest cards I've opened. Think I got $2 for it.

[HalfNipponese]

I don't know why they decided to include a full size bobble head in every hobby box but I'm glad they did. A second box is on its way. Fun rip for anyone on a budget.

[cfern023]

Originally Posted by jgb1219

Not sure if this is the card your buddy is thinking of, but I won a "2002 Private Stock Reserve Tom Brady GU NFL SHIELD Logo Patch (22/101)" off Probstein in Nov 21 for ~$4,300. Sent it immediately to PSA, who refused to slab and essentially said it was fake.

To their credit, Probstein accepted the return without question. Was still out the grading fees though. Disappointed it was fake since the card looked pretty cool.

Here's the fun part, were you subsequently blocked from purchasing from Probstein after that? I was.

[HalfNipponese]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

I posted on here when I pulled it. The search feature is broken and I can’t find the post.

I’ve opened about six cases of it. Be prepared for multiples of the same patch. Coalition was not great. I got four Christian Faurias in one case.

Do you happen to remember how common the Brady cards were? I'm curious if it's worth picking up a whole case.

[jgb1219]

Originally Posted by cfern023

Here's the fun part, were you subsequently blocked from purchasing from Probstein after that? I was.

Luckily wasn't blocked, just went through automated eBay returns and no issues. Hopefully was resolved for you too!

[jgb1219]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

Oh man that sucks. It may have been your card my friend was referring to. It just came up in conversation when we were talking about NBA logo cards. I'll be sure to record my box opening in case I have something worth grading.

Yeah, for sure. Was for my PC too so not like a quick flip or something. Here's a picture for your reference in case curious.

FWIW, since that time, some different industry veterans gave me feedback that having an NFL Shield on a randomly numbered card - in this case 22 of 101 - was a big hint as to authenticity. Apparently, even back then NFL Shields would have almost always been included on low numbered cards (/25) and / or the first or last number of the print run (1/25). Sharing in case it helps others avoid the costly mistake I made (since the grading, shipping, etc weren't refunded).

[jgb1219]

Originally Posted by bear0555

I understand why PSA declined to slab it, but at the same time, they don't really know. Mike Cramer has stated in a recent podcast that there are legit centered NFL logo patches that they produced. Too bad they didn't know to label them as such at the time.

For sure - would have been great if they had been labelled as such so we could appreciate the authentic ones (and would have an easier time identifying the fakes).

[Grid]

Originally Posted by jgb1219

Yeah, for sure. Was for my PC too so not like a quick flip or something. Here's a picture for your reference in case curious.

FWIW, since that time, some different industry veterans gave me feedback that having an NFL Shield on a randomly numbered card - in this case 22 of 101 - was a big hint as to authenticity. Apparently, even back then NFL Shields would have almost always been included on low numbered cards (/25) and / or the first or last number of the print run (1/25). Sharing in case it helps others avoid the costly mistake I made (since the grading, shipping, etc weren't refunded).

Typically, back then, you had 2 piles when you cut up a jersey. Patch, and no patch. I agree, that a logo patch would most likely fall into a low numbered card. As those cards were low numbered, because they typically were the patch variant.

I cant see when they fell being an indicator, as it was just swatches from the patch bag. Shouldn't matter if it was number 1/101, 51/101 or 101/101.

But just looking at your patch, thats what us Old Heads called "The Bean" Look at the football, its much more of a bean shape then football shaped. The laces are way too sloppy. As are the stars. The biggest indicator it did not come off an NFL gamer, is the batting behind the design.

It should be plush, tightly woven and a bit shiny. Look at how the stars stand out on a real one. And look at how perfect and clean the lines are in the NFL.

The cheap way to make a logo, is an inline stitch. Which is what this Brady has. That is to say, insert different colored thread to make different colored images. In a real NFL logo back then, everything would have been layered and added. Which gives it a much cleaner look, and a 3D type raise due to the process.

We used to have a good time with these logos back on the Beckeett forms 20 years ago. And there was a great tutorial on what to look for.

the logo on the Brady, is off a hat, shirt or maybe a replica jersey. And it didn't matter who made the gamers for the teams. Addias, Reebok, Nike, Puma ETC. They all were (and still are) made in Rippon WI, and used the exact same shield per NFL specs.





Also adding, the typical tell with a fake patch, as noted prior, beyond the patch itself. Is placement. When its perfecting in there, to hide all edges and signs it wasnt cut from a gamer. That too is a red flag.

[HalfNipponese]

Looking at old Pacific cards, it looks like 2001 Atomic has all the best Brady patches from his rookie jersey. I would think the shield would have been one of the first pieces cut out.