Rob Gronkowski, the former tight end for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is returning to his childhood hobby of collecting trading cards. Gronkowski described the current market for sports cards as being at its "super peak," a significant increase from its earlier popularity.
"That’s when collecting trading cards was huge," Gronkowski told FOX Business. "That was at its peak and then it kind of dipped a little bit, and now it’s at its super peak."
During his playing days, Gronkowski’s primary collecting interests were baseball and NHL cards. He noted that a friend amassed over 100 of his playing cards purchased through eBay throughout his career. This friend recently revealed the collection, sharing that the cards are now worth significantly more than when they were acquired.
Gronkowski is partnering with eBay Live for a new series titled “Gronk Geeks Out.” The program will document his re-engagement with the collecting world and his exploration of its intricacies. He has stated that if he were to pull a rare Michael Jordan card, such as a one-of-one or a numbered edition like a one-of-10, it would be an "absolutely legendary" find.
The surge in the trading card market has seen increased interest and value, with collectors actively seeking rare and significant cards across various sports. Platforms like eBay have become central hubs for buying, selling, and auctioning these collectibles.