From David Thompson to Russell Wilson: Are these the most valuable NC State athlete trading cards ever produced?

As a kid, I was always into collecting baseball and basketball cards. I was also a subscriber to the monthly pricing guide, Beckett.

Every Christmas I’d ask Santa for a box of cards, and every Christmas I’d get one. So yeah, I had a ton of cards growing up.

Now, I’m a parent, and I’m introducing my son to card collecting, which is why this past weekend I was up in my parents’ attic, dusting off some old boxes of those cards. And as I started sorting through them, my son, he asked me where all my Wolfpack cards were.

That’s when it dawned on me. I don’t think I have any ‘Wolfpack cards.’

And I don’t have many because, sadly, during my card collecting era, there weren’t all that many stars who graduated from NC State and were good enough in the pros to have cards worth collecting.

This got me curious…

What the most valuable former NC State player cards were and how much they were going for? Maybe I could pick a few up to add to my collection.

This led me to do a little research, and here is what I think are the Top-5 most valuable trading cards of NC State athletes.

1. David Thompson – 1975 Topps Rookie Card (#255)

No former Wolfpack athlete has a more iconic trading card than David Thompson.

Fresh off leading NC State to the 1974 national championship, Thompson entered the NBA as one of basketball’s biggest stars. His 1975 Topps rookie card has since become one of the most sought-after basketball cards of the decade.

Finding one isn’t difficult. Finding one in perfect condition is.

A PSA 10 copy has been valued in the $20,000-$30,000 range, thanks largely to its rarity. Even cards in lower grades can still fetch hundreds or even several thousand dollars depending on their condition.

2. Russell Wilson – 2012 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph

Russell Wilson’s NFL career helped turn several of his rookie cards into sought-after collectables, but none is more popular than his 2012 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autograph.

Limited in production and featuring both an autograph and a game-worn patch, it’s considered one of the premier football cards from Wilson’s rookie season.

Today, high-grade examples typically sell between $12,000 and $25,000, while one even went for $50,000 during the sports card boom a few years ago.

3. Trea Turner – 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor Autograph

Before becoming an All-Star shortstop and World Series champion, Trea Turner was one of the nation’s best players at NC State.

His holy grail card is the 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor Autograph, a true one-of-one that every serious Turner (or NC State) collector would love to own.

Since only one copy exists, it’s pretty impossible to get,  but collectors estimate its value in the $15,000-$30,000 range, if not higher. More common Bowman Chrome autograph cards remain popular as well, though they’re far more attainable.

4. Philip Rivers – 2004 Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph

No quarterback in college football history is more closely associated with NC State than Philip Rivers.

His ‘must-have’ trading card is the 2004 Exquisite Collection Rookie Patch Autograph, a card limited to just 99 copies.

Depending on the condition, autograph quality, and the patch featured in the card, collectors regularly pay $3,000 to $8,000 for top examples. Rare one-of-one versions can command significantly more.

5. Torry Holt – 1999 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph

Torry Holt’s Hall of Fame career has kept demand for his rookie cards strong, especially his 1999 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph.

Gem Mint copies have sold in the $2,000-$5,000 range, making it one of the most valuable football cards featuring a former Wolfpack player.

Honorable Mention: Roman Gabriel

Roman Gabriel starred at NC State long before the modern trading card boom, but collectors still chase his 1962 Topps rookie card.

High-grade copies have sold between $2,500 and $5,000, with pristine examples becoming increasingly difficult to find more than six decades after they were printed.

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Thompson, Rivers, Wilson, Turner, Holt and Gabriel. There really weren’t any surprises, but with all of these cards costing in the $1,000+ range, I’ll probably just look for some common NC State cards on eBay and pay $20-$50 for something like this.