The Kelly Slater rookie card sold for $3,000. Photo: PWCC Vault
A rookie card featuring a 14-year-old Kelly Slater has sold at auction for $3,000, which, according to the trading card archival service that was holding it, makes it “the surfer’s highest-selling trading card to date.”
The 1987 Astroboyz card features a 14-year-old Slater surfing with the ESA team. It was a few years before he made his pro debut, but he’d already begun etching the first strokes of his name into the history books.
“In 1986,” the back of the card reads, the 14-year-old wonder won every ESA contest he entered, then went on to win 2-out-of-3 pro/ams, then went on to win the Sundek Classic. In addition, he just completed a successful trip to the North Shore. A successful career awaits… but not until 1991, after high school graduation.”
“A successful career awaits…” truer words were never spoken. Photo: PWCC Vault
In general, the most popular trading cards come from other sports, but the public’s interest has been shifting slightly.
“Over the past few years we have seen an increase in interest for trading cards outside the ‘big five’ of basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey,” said Jesse Craig, Vice President of Sales at PWCC Marketplace. “When it comes to competitive surfing, it should be no surprise that the latest record breaker belongs to Kelly Slater. Just like Michael Jordan, or Tom Brady, or Wayne Gretzky, this is the guy who is going to be in every discussion of greatest of all time in their sport. Combine that narrative with the fact that this is one of just five copies of this card ever graded by PSA and you have the recipe for demand greatly outweighing supply.”
The $3,000 sale is the most money anyone has ever paid for a trading card of an active surfer. According to a PWCC representative, the only other card that’s sold for more is a copy of Duke Kahanamoku’s 1933 “swimming” card.
Looking back now, the words on the back of that Kelly Slater rookie card certainly came true — although I’m not sure that “successful career” truly describes the impact Slater has had on surfing. The Professional Sports Authenticator service (PSA) graded the card a Near-Mint 7, and only two copies of the card with a higher PSA grade exist.
Also available on the PWCC Vault website is a 2012 012 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions card. Make an offer here or just straight up buy it for the asking price of $65,000.
