Fast Five: Tom Brady collecting strategies since he's retired

Fast Five is a quick list that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection or new focus -- five things that could be fun for a beginner or a new way to add something to your stash if you're a grizzled veteran.

This time? Five ways to collect Tom Brady now that he's done.

GET OUT THE TIME MACHINE -- ROOKIE CARDS
Tom Brady doesn't have a boatload of Rookie Cards from back in 2000 -- at least in terms of overall volume with hits and memorabilia included -- with just 44 RCs out of roughly 130 total cards that year. Joe Burrow, for example, also only has 44 RCs -- from just one card company, mind you -- but that's out of more than 4,000 different cards. Big, big difference. Sure, a lot of those cards are rarities you might never see even if you're a diehard infinitely deep-pocketed Burrow buyer but that makes a big difference. How? Brady just has so few cards available (even with higher volumes per most cards) that there are more people fighting over what's available in auctions. Throw in the whole grading game and the elite prices being paid for elite items aren't going to soften as he's easily an all-time great who will always be in demand no matter who shows up to rival his records over time. To collect Brady's RCs you can dabble on the cheap or chase big stuff ... but "cheap" is relative in his case. (There's a range of options.) My example? I ripped a lot of 2000 packs back in the day, mostly on the low-end of the spectrum, chasing other guys but I got rid of all but one ... a Bowman Chrome RC like what you see here. It was in a single pack of Chrome in a $9.99 random football repack I opened from a Target little over a decade ago. That one's a keeper for me. My point with this tangent? You can't go back in time and a lot of those boxes and packs are long gone now ... so if you want a Rookie Card you'll need target one that's in your budget and work to make it happen. (Unless you have a time machine.) There may be more available now ... but prices have no reason to be faltering at the moment. It's not the best time to be buying, but the question one must ask ... how much will be available later?

Keep reading for four more making up the list this time.

GET REAL -- FIND A (REAL) JERSEY CARD
One thing that is no longer going to exist is new game-used memorabilia -- and what is out there in full-jersey form won't be cheap if it becomes available to card companies -- so I think tracking down a nice, simple game-used memorabilia card is a starter project. It's not going to cost you as much as an elite Rookie Card ... but they're still not going to be that cheap, either, right now. Beware artist-created fake memorabilia cards out there in the eBay world -- there are a lot -- and always question the patch pieces, especially right now as there's big money being thrown at all his stuff. This card topped $200 on eBay sales yesterday and it's one of 999 made. That may not be the norm in the future but it's not inconceivable that there won't be more game-used jersey cards made and many will be locked away in collections. It's simply cheaper for card companies to go the player-worn route unless they want to pony up for a super-premium release ... but even that hasn't happened at times these days.

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SOMETHING NEW -- BUCS RARITIES
Brady's two seasons in Tampa Bay have been a breath of fresh air for his cardboard with new looks and team colors to make them break away from the past red, white and blue Patriots gear or the blue and yellow Michigan stuff. There are a lot of options here -- and still more to come -- as he's had nearly 4,000 different cards made in just the last two years ... and, again, there's more to come. I'd find something you like -- ultimately that's the No. 1 thing -- but perhaps on the rarer side with some flash. There's a lot of volume being made for some releases right now to answer increased demand and buyer volume so that's another reason to go there on something with a serial-number.

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GO OFF THE BEATEN PATH -- GRADED MAGAZINES (OR OTHER MEMORABILIA)
Maybe it's one of my new kicks talking, but graded magazines are making some people some good money out there if you do some looking around beyond cards ... and it has its challenges to make it fun, too, especially if you're hunting nice raw pieces. Newsstand copies of Sports Illustrated are kind of the "Prizm" go-to for a lot of collectors in the realm as subscription copies have the dreaded mailing label and can often have a lot of damage ... and that's something that you don't want a lot of in a slab. Landing top grades here? Far more difficult than, say, new Prizm cards and it's that lack of volume out there to hunt through in comparison to cards that helps the value. Want a checklist of his magazine covers? It might be compiled by somebody online for him but there's no definitive go-to source for a list and Brady is a guy who has had a lot of magazine covers beyond SI. Just like cards, older stuff in high grade (CGC is the go-to grader here for many) is in demand but I think any cover as long as it's got visual appeal and isn't some generic commemorative standalone copy from some generic magazine-maker (think championship game specials) has possibilities. I think there might be added appeal for slabbed mags that might show Brady and Gisele, too, if it exists. (Just a thought.) Also make sure they will fit in a slab if browsing ungraded stuff. Another reason I bring this one up? The retirement news should spark some more new cover appearances.

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A BIG CHALLENGE FOR NOW -- SOMETHING SIGNED
Brady's autographs are, last I checked, locked down in a Fanatics deal so that's one of your first places to look if you want an autograph on memorabilia ... on cards, he's done low-volume Panini deals in newer releases but he's also had full releases of TRISTAR autographed helmets and signed for other card companies. There's a decent chance that in retirement he may sign more and sell some stuff himself but I'd expect the prices to not get cheaper as they haven't been among the norms for most football players for a long time. There are also plenty of potential fakes out there, too, so always examine info, sources, autos and even the authentication stickers to make sure there's nothing fishy.

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What would you want to see in a future Fast Five? Let Buzz know on Twitter or email.

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