In 1998, Playoff Corp., the company behind the birth of the Playoff Contenders set, produced the first edition of the now-famous Rookie Ticket Autos. The set was headlined by Peyton Manning, the first overall pick in that year’s NFL Draft. Rookie Ticket Autos went on to become a staple of football collecting. As with many aspects of football card collecting, quarterbacks tend to dominate interest when it comes to Rookie Ticket Autos. But this Larry Fitzgerald issue from the 2004 Playoff Contenders release stands as a hidden gem – a card for which collectors will be willing to go up in traffic to make a play this month.
This is one of only six examples of this card to earn a PSA 10 grade, with two of those also featuring a DNA autograph assessment. The service has only graded 23 total examples of this Fitz Rookie Ticket Auto – far fewer than some of the other big-ticket Rookie Ticket names over the years. One of the greatest wide receivers to run a route combined with an iconic brand and a PSA 10 grade makes for a strong play this month.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 06/03/2025.
