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My Epic Battle With A 2004 Leaf Rookies And Stars Brock Lesnar GAI Gem Mint....

Being a lifelong wrestling fan I was blown away when Brock Lesnar debuted in the WWE in 2002.

I remember vividly calling my dad who was traveling at the time and saying there is this guy Brock Lesnar that is an absolute monster and he is going to be the champ.

Brock went on to have a very fast rise to the top and quit right after signing a 7 year deal for $35 million dollars and an unheard of move in wrestling.

When word started circulating that he was going to make a run in MMA I was extremely excited and began telling anyone who would listen that he was going to be the next heavyweight champ.

What brought me back into the card collecting hobby was Brock Lesnar. I knew he had tried out for pro football and so I began searching to see if he ever appeared on any cards. He had indeed.

I started buying all of the cards I could find of his from both football and wrestling and remember thinking spending $50 or so on one was a lot. image

This is how I stumbled upon the Wrestling All Stars after randomly searching for Hulk Hogan.

One of the cards I purchased was a GAI Gem Mint 2004 Leaf Rookies and Stars.

Today I decided to crack open the card and put it in a card saver. It looked similar to the SGC slab and I thought it would be a walk in the park.

Boy was I wrong. The GAI slab is the heavyweight champion. There is no slab more difficult to crack open. The slab is not flat on the back and trust me these are very dangerous to crack. I had to snip off five different spots on the card and pieces were flying everywhere and I thought for sure I was going to damage the card.

GAI may be an irrelevant grading company at this point but one thing they did well is build a tough slab. Fortunately I got the card out safely and here it is.






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Comments

  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭✭
    Looks like he also has the 2004 Upper Deck Sweet Spot.

    I had no idea he played football!
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes Brock has a number of other football cards. Here are the scans of the one's I have.




    This is one of the insert cards that is numbered to 75.




    image










    image










    image









    image








    image








    This is the silver version numbered to 100.






    image








    This issue has a lower print run and the base card is numbered to 425.




    image
  • Goodsport40Goodsport40 Posts: 1,010 ✭✭
    Nice cards David.

    Any thoughts on getting them autographed? Is he a difficult autograph?


    Robert
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think these would be awesome autographed!

    I do not know how tough he is to track down. Rob The Wrestling Card King has one signed in his collection and perhaps he can weigh in.

    Brock Lesnar has proven to be a total specimen and I think his attempt at the NFL proves what a true elite athlete he is.

    He had never played organized football at all and made the final cut. Very impressive in my book.

  • Did a quick google search of "brock lesnar ttm" saw that a couple people had scans/youtube videos with autos ttm from him, but couldn't find an address. Didn't search too hard though
  • Goodsport40Goodsport40 Posts: 1,010 ✭✭
    Just my opinion but I think you should go for getting at least one or two autoed if possible. Those would be some sweet and unique cards!

    Robert
  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭
    I'll try to get a scan of my signed Brock rookie tonight on here.....
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable


  • << <i>He had never played organized football at all and made the final cut. Very impressive in my book. >>



    After playing in the preseason, Lesnar ended up being a late cut from Wikipedia

    Given his background I always wondered why he made a run at the NFL instead of the Olympics
  • vladguerrerovladguerrero Posts: 4,077 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>He had never played organized football at all and made the final cut. Very impressive in my book. >>



    After playing in the preseason, Lesnar ended up being a late cut from Wikipedia

    Given his background I always wondered why he made a run at the NFL instead of the Olympics >>




    uhhhhh.... drug testing?
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I am sure there have been times Brock has been clean but there is no doubt he was on roids at some point. I will scan a few of his wrestling cards and you will see a physique that is just simply insane.

    He went from a big 265 to nearly 320 in two years. That takes help.




  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image





    In the pic you can see he is just a total beast.






    image






    Picking up the Undertaker like a sack of potatoes.







    image





    Brock and The Rock







    image






  • initialDinitialD Posts: 1,624 ✭✭✭
    Cool cards to get signed...

    Looks like he is picking up DDP, Diamond Dallas Page not the Undertaker in that second card
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yep upon closer review it is indeed Diamond Dallas Page. LOL



  • << <i>uhhhhh.... drug testing? >>



    NCAA and NFL have drug testing

    In UFC he would cut weight to 265, so more like 285. College and heavyweights go up to 285, doubt the national champions are giving up any weight to their opponents. Gaining weight after forcing yourself to stay in a weightclass doesn't come with much difficulty, with or without drugs
  • CooptownCooptown Posts: 397 ✭✭✭
    While not that many attempts, he has a very poot TTM rate on SCN.
  • Mdube16Mdube16 Posts: 744 ✭✭


    << <i>uhhhhh.... drug testing? >>



    WWE has testing as well. They suspend stars all the time for it. It is a result of the lawsuits so its legit.
  • Current WWE drug policy was not implemented until 2006. So pro wrestling would be the career path that would allow him to abuse all the drugs he missed out on college. He also should have known his chance of making the NFL was slim -- and the chance of ever seeing the playing field even slimmer, so the football tryout wouldn't be much of a drag on his drug use

    Then like so many of us, once he was older, he wanted to put all that stuff behind him, stop abusing his body with chemicals and live clean. Which is why it took until he was in his 30s to move into the UFC

    Obviously all speculation, but it almost all fits together too perfectly. If there is any truth, wish him the best overcoming his past
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,220 ✭✭
    I looked on StarTiger for you. The two addys they list are C/O "WWE" and "UFC". HOWEVER, there are ZERO successes recorded.
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭
    Stephen Neal never played college football and was signed by the New England Patriots while having a successful career as an offensive lineman. Interestingly enough, during Brock's junior year in college he lost to Stephen Neal in the NCAA finals. Yes, I was there!
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would certainly pay for a few signatures from Lesnar but not interested in sending any in the mail.

    I do not know him personally obviously, but I know enough about him to know he is not going to take the time to sign the cards you send him and to put them back in the mail.

    This guy lives in a remote area of MINN and has a large farm. In between spending time with his smoking hot wife Sable (Rena Lesnar) he trains and also operates his farm and lives a very simple life.

    Brock is a generational athlete and you just don't see someone with his athleticism pop up very often.

    Check out this link and you will see something crazy. He is actually able to finish the match which is absolutely insane.



    Brock Lesnar
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting to see Brock's football cards going up some in value. I have never sent any of these in due to the thickness of a few but will now that the holder can handle it.

    I am curious to see how some of these grade.
  • burke23burke23 Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Interesting to see Brock's football cards going up some in value. I have never sent any of these in due to the thickness of a few but will now that the holder can handle it.

    I am curious to see how some of these grade. >>



    I had (and subbed) some of these same cards but for Jared Allen (as it was his rookie year as well). The foil is veeeery tough. I popped a few 10's, but I cherry picked the hell out of what I subbed.
    Looking for rare Randy Moss rookies and autos, as well as '97 PMG Red Football cards for my set.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I sent in my Brock Lesnar football cards with my recent submission.

    Within a short period of time I will know what my best Sweet Spot example graded. I was wondering why I never see these on EBAY in graded form and I tracked down the pop total a few moments ago and there has only been one copy graded.

    I will post a scan once it is graded.

  • halosfanhalosfan Posts: 2,611 ✭✭✭✭
    such condition sensitive sets right out of the pack
    Looking for a Glen Rice Inkredible and Alex Rodriguez cards
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>such condition sensitive sets right out of the pack >>




    Thanks for that info.


    2004 Playoff Honors


    I just snagged this one. I only have one copy and it is a little beat up and I didn't submit it. It is the 425 version and when I was searching for his cards at the time they seemed to never surface.


    This one looks nice and I will send it in soon.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Double Post


  • << <i>He had never played organized football at all and made the final cut. Very impressive in my book. >>



    Not true, if you count high school.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>He had never played organized football at all and made the final cut. Very impressive in my book. >>



    Not true, if you count high school. >>




    Lesnar


    He did play high school so you have a point.

    I admittedly didn't realize he had even played high school.

    Either way it is still extremely impressive.
  • A quick Lesnar story.....I was in Orlando on business and staying on IDrive at one of the nicer hotels. I was walking in from dinner and talking to a friend of mine when this beautiful woman comes walking off the hotel. As I am trying to stuff the eye balls back into my head I see Brock Lesnar come out of the same elevator clearly catching me checking out this woman. I immediately recognize him and he comes up to me and asks me if I was checking out his wife! As I am gasping for words he starts laughing and says he got me and says its cool! We proceeded to talk for 20 minutes in the lobby of the hotel. He was MMA at this time, and was incredibly personable and down to earth.
    Matt
    I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>A quick Lesnar story.....I was in Orlando on business and staying on IDrive at one of the nicer hotels. I was walking in from dinner and talking to a friend of mine when this beautiful woman comes walking off the hotel. As I am trying to stuff the eye balls back into my head I see Brock Lesnar come out of the same elevator clearly catching me checking out this woman. I immediately recognize him and he comes up to me and asks me if I was checking out his wife! As I am gasping for words he starts laughing and says he got me and says its cool! We proceeded to talk for 20 minutes in the lobby of the hotel. He was MMA at this time, and was incredibly personable and down to earth. >>




    WOW


    Love the story!!!!


  • << <i>Either way it is still extremely impressive. >>



    Absolutely!
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    2004 Playoff Honors



    I purchased this box this morning.


    Can any football collectors confirm that this is the correct box that the Brock Lesnar might be found in?


    I looked at the checklists this morning and it appeared to me that he has two cards in this set with one being numbered to 100 and the other to 425. I will have a copy of each once the one I purchased arrives.


    There are so many sub sets that is why I ask.


    Thanks.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Brock article


    I have read in two articles that the Lesnar is only available in retail packs.



    Anyone know how to tell the difference?


  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Retail packs


    I found this.


    I need to do some more searching before I bust the box I bought when it comes.



  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    2004 Playoff Honors


    Here is a hobby box and I can see it says 6 and 12 on the front.


    They don't show a photo of the retail but it does say 24 packs which is the kind I bought.


    It will be ripped for sure!
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    DP
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    TP
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    From the story linked above. It is a good thing for Brock's sake that social media didn't exist in 2004. Quite frankly I am surprised that someone hasn't made a stink out of these comments.


    The cute and curvy blonde 20-something had no idea what she was getting herself into. In her barely-there halter-top and her glossy red lipstick, she slithered into the giant's arms, set her chin on his chest, looked up into his eyes and delivered the message she had been sent to ask.

    "My friend Shawn thinks you're kinda cute," she said.



    Brock Lesnar was a bigger-than-life star of professional wrestling, ...Not Shawna. Not Shana.

    Shawn.

    The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Goliath, the guy who benches 475 pounds, squats 695 pounds, steamed.

    "Yeah?" the former pro wrestler said, his voice growing louder, his eyes getting bigger. "Well you tell that ..."

    To print what Brock Lesnar said might make even John Rocker blush. But after his curse-laden outburst, he turned to a nearby reporter and explained, "I don't like gays. Write that down in your little notebook. I don't like gays."

  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Struck out on the box. There doesn't seem to be much action in this set in general. It was nice to see the cards out of the pack to gauge potential condition issues.


    Here is the Brock I got in the mail today. I am very pleased with this card. My other copy with the higher print run has a good deal of corner wear and this one is sharp. The two bottom corners are just barely touched but otherwise the card is great.


    If any of Brock's cards will ever be valuable it is clearly the football cards.


    Here are the scans.



    image








    image
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My Brock Sweet Spot graded a PSA 9 Mint.

    I couldn't recall if it was the Silver numbered to 100 or the base example numbered to 999 and checked the population report this morning and it is the 999.

    In my collectors club special submission I have two others so hopefully those do well.

  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This card looks great in a slab.


    image
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I was very pleased to see the grade for the 2004 Playoff Honors Brock Lesnar pop today. Nailed a Gem Mint 10. image


  • AricAric Posts: 757 ✭✭
    Awesome hit on the Honors. I missed your update in September when you bought the retail box. I would have told you to stay very far away from retail of this product. I got a great deal on a huge vending type box of 2004 retail honors at the National a couple years back. Thought it would be a fun break for the price and hopefully pull some rookies and inserts. Out of over 200 packs...not one rookie and only one measly parallel.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here is the scan.


    image
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Man what a bummer. I have never seen this card in over five and a half years of searching for Brock Lesnar cards. I have the other two versions.

    I emailed the seller twice to get more info on the corners since they are cropped out with no response. I put in my final bid of $151 and thought I had it and someone else came in higher. I would have gone higher if they had responded back that they were sharp. These cards easily show corner wear.


    2004 Gold
  • RookieHOFersRookieHOFers Posts: 733 ✭✭✭
    Bummer David, I saw your FB post on it last night. I think you can take some solace in the fact that the seller didn't get back to you regarding the corners. I would take that to mean that they were probably blemished to some regard. Happy Hunting! You planning on coming to CHI with Michelle this summer for the National?
    Matt
    I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Bummer David, I saw your FB post on it last night. I think you can take some solace in the fact that the seller didn't get back to you regarding the corners. I would take that to mean that they were probably blemished to some regard. Happy Hunting! You planning on coming to CHI with Michelle this summer for the National? >>




    I hope you are right! Perhaps the realized sale price will bring out another copy or two. It always fascinates me to think how many of these numbered cards are still in packs and may never surface if people continue to hold un opened material for the long term.

    We might head out to Chicago this year. I mentioned it to Michelle after reading your post and she would be game. If we do go I want to have a day where I can spend a little more time at the show. She got bored pretty quick. image

  • The nice thing about Chicago is there is a HUGE mall about 20 mins from the show's location. Have her drop you off at the show and she can go shop at the mall. That's what I would do.
    Shayne A Sherman
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Brock news


    Brock is staying in WWE. Good move on his part I think.

    I for one am thrilled. Brock is my favorite by far.

  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here is Brock's wrestling rookie card from 2002. I self submitted the first two of these. I remember it like yesterday calling my dad when this guy walked out and said the new champ has arrived. Brock just had a different build and athleticism then any other wrestler up to that point.


    image

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