In January 2002, Tom Brady made his first appearance on the postseason stage of the NFL. Brady and the Patriots hosted the Oakland Raiders in snow-covered Gillette Stadium, and the 24-year-old quarterback proved pivotal in the 16-13 overtime victory, scrambling for a decisive rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. The game also led to the controversial “tuck rule” play, which has continued to be scrutinized two decades later. Brady and the Pats won the Super Bowl that year, opening a dynasty that would lead to six titles.
At the other end of the calendar in December 2002, Topps hopped on the popularity of grading and found a way to incorporate the concept of graded cards within a regular release. With the introduction of Topps Pristine, the company included encased, uncirculated cards in every box in addition to traditional raw cards. The Gold Refractor parallel mimicked the raw set, and an example was inserted once per box. The cards were distinguishable by die-cutting along all four borders, and the set was numbered to /79. In this week’s auction is Brady’s Gold Refractor, which has been assessed as a 7.5 by BGS. The play that brought about the tuck rule will be remembered for years to come, and while the Pristine line was released for three more years, this example of Brady’s Gold Refractor will always be remembered as the first.
