Tony Gonzalez Collection Tautology

[MeteoriteGuy]

1325 receptions for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns. A 6-time AP First-Team All-Pro and a 14-time Pro Bowler, he holds the NFL all-time tight end records for receptions, catches and touchdowns. He did not just rewrite the record book, he added an extra volume.

Yes, I am referring to Tony Gonzalez.


Hello Everyone.

Outside of a few card sabbaticals, I have been collecting Tony Gonzalez cards since around 2009. The first card I picked up was his 2008 Topps Chrome Superfractor for $50, and the collection quickly grew from there. After about a month or so I noticed I had 6-7 1/1s and thought, maybe I could acquire 88 1/1s, his jersey number. For a couple years, his cards seemed to have little market demand and sold for basically common price, so besides picking up the majority of the nicer cards I could find, I also picked up extra lots of refractors and numbered cards. Now with the Falcons, Gonzalez denied father time and continued to be a top 3 player at his position. No longer could I get his cards at common prices, but that's alright, I'm not angry...much...™™™™™™™s.

Six years later and I am closing in on 200 1/1s and have filled a number of boxes with cards that always tend to be the way.


Tony Gonzalez card releases span 1994 to 2015, and cover a period of sports trading cards that changed drastically. This is the second round for my Gonzalez thread. Retired, his card career is now for the most part over and I can now see what all has been released and thereby keep a better direction to the thread and show the cards better. I am going to start with his latest cards, talk a little about some issues, working my way back, and perhaps, 100-200 or so postings later, find myself posting about his college cards. Life, like football, can be any given Sunday, so we will see how I take this.





The only 2015 Gonzo release I have found is a Topps buyback. I like these cards and have a small box full, but this is the only Gonzalez to surface I am aware of.

2015 Topps 60th Anniversary Buybacks, 2012 Topps #375 Tony Gonzalez Blue

[MeteoriteGuy]

[B]I was really happy to find Gonzalez in 2014 Triple Threads. There wasn't much new in 2014 for me in packs. These cards have been out over a year now and I am doing pretty good on the low numbered versions. Could be a little more aggressive on the higher numbered ones.

In the Beckett listing of Tony Gonzalez it has the 2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Sapphire #54 as his last card, I personally list the Onyx, listing the series by number rather then parallel name, but I have all three of the Sapphires and the Onyx, which is a nice end cap to the card collection.

2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic #TTR-52 Tony Gonzalez 36/36, Relic Purple 16/27, Relic Purple 17/27 and Relic Purple 23/27


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Emerald #TTR-52 Tony Gonzalez 03/18, Relic Gold 6/9 and Relic Gold 7/9


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Emerald #TTR-53 Tony Gonzalez 09/18, Relic Gold 2/9, Relic Gold 9/9, and Relic Sapphire 2/3 and Relic Onyx 1/1


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Onyx #TTR-53 Tony Gonzalez 1/1


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic #TTR-54 Tony Gonzalez 33/36, Relic 36/36, Relic Purple 01/27, Relic Emerald 09/18


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Gold 1/9, Relic Gold 5/9, and Relic Gold 9/9


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Sapphire #TTR-54 Tony Gonzalez 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3


2014 Topps Triple Threads Triple Threads Relic Onyx #TTR-54 Tony Gonzalez 1/1

[MeteoriteGuy]

2014 Topps Museum Collection was released March 7, 2015, while Triple Threads was issued Halloween, October 31, 2014, so Museum actually has the honors of having the last issued Gonzalez cards (buybacks aside).

There are several versions of the Jumbo and Quad cards which I am currently missing, but I am happy with the cards I have picked up. Included is the only Gonzalez Nike crest shield card.

2014 Topps Museum Collection Laundry Tag Relic #LTR-TG Tony Gonzalez 1/1
2014 Topps Museum Collection NFL Shield Relic #NFLS-TG Tony Gonzalez 1/1


In the 2014 Pro Bowl, the last game Gonzalez played in, stars along the top of the jersey nameplate recognized the number of Pro Bowl selections of the player. With this game, Gonzalez tied Reggie White's 14 Pro Bowl appearance record. (The two have since been joined by Peyton Manning, with his 14th appearance at the 2015 Pro Bowl. I thought Peyton would get the record 15 this year, but it didn't happen.)






2014 Topps Museum Collection Pro Bowl Jumbo Relics #PBJR-TG Tony Gonzalez 048/150, 056/150, 109/150 and 136/150. These four card have name plate swatches from the jersey shown above, I somehow managed to pick up cards that line up together. Two make up a letterman, and above the letterman, is the last three stars, including the record 14 star.





2014 Topps Museum Collection Pro Bowl Quad Relic #PRQR-TG Tony Gonzalez Gold 07/10

[MeteoriteGuy]

It looked like Gonzalez was going to go without a base card in 2014, and while he does not have a player card, he did find his way onto the Falcons team card. If not for this card, one could argue all 2014 Gonzalez issues, are post-career, since he retired in 2013. However, card tradition grandfathers in the year after base cards and since most of the other 2014 Gonzo issues relate to the 2014 Pro Bowl, I think most would agree, 2014 is his final year for cardboard.


2014 Topps #314 Atlanta Falcons Team Card (Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez) with No-Foil Error Card

The 1/1 platinum aside, I am still missing the purple version which came in special retail blasters. Some blasters came with a rookie relic, and others with purple "retail hanger" cards. Most went for the rc relic and hence, I am missing the purple. But at least I found a factory set orange, and an error card.


2014 Topps #314 Atlanta Falcons Team Card Gold 1219/2014, BCA Pink 084/399, Camo 071/399, Orange 63/96 Black 39/59 and Printing Plate Magenta 1/1.


[/SIZE][/B]

[rickysigai]

glad to see its still gone- just in a new thread

[MeteoriteGuy]

2014 Hallmark Keepsake Football Legend Tony Gonzalez Chiefs & Falcons Ornaments. Released in October 2014 as part of Hallmark's Football Legend series, (which started in 1995 with Joe Montana), at a retail of $17.95, they now sell for under $10 shipped on eBay.




Panini's only 2014 Gonzalez release was a (/49) relic card in the Elite Throwback Threads insert set. This is actually a cool set as it is all veterans and many of the cards I have seen have logo swatches. Gonzalez however is not one of those cards, as almost all of the "Prime" swatches I have seen are single color. Chiefs don't have a lot of color on their jersey and it is a Chiefs card, so I can't really complain.

2014 Elite Throwback Threads #52 Tony Gonzalez 04/49

[rickysigai]

[QUOTE=MeteoriteGuy;14077472]It looked like Gonzalez was going to go without a base card in 2014, and while he does not have a player card, he did find his way onto the Falcons team card. If not for this card, one could argue all 2014 Gonzalez issues, are post-career, since he retired in 2013. However, card tradition grandfathers in the year after base cards and since most of the other 2014 Gonzo issues relate to the 2014 Pro Bowl, I think most would agree, 2014 is his final year for cardboard -
.
He`ll be in a hall of fame sets { when it happens, legends sets, ect... it will be slow for a while but there will be new ones

[MeteoriteGuy]

2013 Topps Supreme features four cards in a box with one base card, two parallel base cards, and one "hit" that is an auto card, a relic card, or an auto relic card. Boxes were originally in the $125 range and have settled around the $100 mark since release. It can be a pretty rough break with just one hit, but, I like the cards and I am a fan of all the high end products. Just a bigger fan of being on the single buying side then the box breaking side.


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez Rainbow. Includes Base /170, Blue /112, Violet /99, Sepia /75, Green /50 and Red 1/1.



2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez /170 Lot (Includes 001/170)


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez 001/170. This card is interesting being an "eBay 1/1" and that the card numbering was struck into the foil accidentally. Also, Burbank has "borrowed" this card image and is using it as a file imagine photo to sell other versions of the card.


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez Blue /112 Lot


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez Violet /99 Lot (Includes 01/99 and 99/99)


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez Sepia /75 Lot


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez Green /50 Lot


2013 Topps Supreme #58 Tony Gonzalez Printing Plate Black 1/1


2013 Topps Supreme Jumbo Supreme Patches #JSP-TG Tony Gonzalez 1/1




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2013 Topps Archives #165 Tony Gonzalez Base Card and Printing Plates Black 1/1




2013 Topps Magic finds that once again, the Gonzalez base card is a shortprint. I have always wondered if a short print Topps Magic card, also has short print mini cards, and once again this year, there is a bunch of mini versions. I am missing the blue mini and have not seen one since release. I submit this as evidence The Secret, doesn't really work.

2013 Topps Magic #258 Tony Gonzalez SP


2013 Topps Magic #258 Tony Gonzalez Mini, Mini Black Border, Mini Green Border and Mini Orange Border


2013 Topps Magic #258 Tony Gonzalez Mini Red Border 24/50, Mini Red Border 25/50 and Mini Red Border 45/50

[MeteoriteGuy]

Topps chose a pretty good photo for its last Gonzalez base card. Picturing a photo from the 2012 Falcons vs. Saints game, it shows Gonzo shorting after dunking the football over the goalpost, and pays homage to his 1997 Topps rookie card. Just a couple months after Gonzalez retired, the NFL banned this celebration move.


2013 Topps #350 Tony Gonzalez Base Card Lot

I got lucky and found the Platinum 1/1 shortly after release, but I have not been able to find a Pink /399. They were in rack packs and hobby packs so they are not crazy rare. I even have two blacks, two factory set oranges, and two camos....but no pink. I think its the card gods testing me.


2013 Topps #350 Tony Gonzalez Gold /2013, Camo /399, Orange /82, Black /58 and Platinum Parallel 1/1.

2013 Topps #350 Tony Gonzalez Printing Plate Black 1/1 and Printing Plate Yellow 1/1.


2013 Topps #350 Tony Gonzalez Topps Vault Blank Back 1/1


Not counting parallels, it's unusual for Gonzalez to have multiple inserts in a product. 2014 Topps found Gonzo with four including the "All-Pro Team Commemorative Relic" and In The Name Relics Lettermen 1/1s. The relic is a piece of metal and the card is thick and heavy. I imagine it is easy to spot in the pack, but inserted at 1 in 3,310 hobby packs, they are likely so rare it doesn't matter.

2013 Topps 1959 Mini #6 Tony Gonzalez
2013 Topps All-Pro Team Commemorative Relic #APT-TG Tony Gonzalez 44/99
2013 Topps In The Name Relics Tony Gonzalez 1/1
2013 Topps Legends In The Making #LMTG Tony Gonzalez




2013 Topps Mini was an online exclusive with one relic or autograph in each box. The mini cards measure 2 1/4" by 3 1/8 and came with three parallels, black numbered to 5, gold numbered to 58 and 1/1 printing plates. Also, the Topps Vault, the eBay store (and now COMC store) of Topps, sold BGS slabbed blank backs labeled 1/1.

2013 Topps Mini #350 Tony Gonzalez Base Card, Black 5/5, Gold 02/58 and Gold 13/58.


The flagship 2013 Topps set included mini cards with a 1959 Topps design. 2013 Topps Mini included a mini of the mini. I have the two scanned here inside penny sleeves for a size reference.


2013 Topps Mini #350 Tony Gonzalez Topps Vault Blank Back 1/1 (BGS Slabbed) and Printing Plate Yellow 1/1.




2013 Topps Chrome beat me, but not without a fight. I took on the search for the Superfractor, which is perhaps illogical being a 1/1 and it not a big money card, but I started with Tony Gonzalez in a 25 case break on blowout, then Falcons in a 10 case, and just continued through the breaks for a couple months. Trading for the Falcons in group breaks was pretty easy, no auto rc for Atlanta in 2013 Chrome, But that also meant no chance at rookie autos for me. I imagine I spent 6-7 times what the card is worth in the hunt, but I tried. Final score, 2013 Topps Chrome ~$600-700 Mark 0. Hopefully, it finds itself to me someday. If I would have found the Superfractor early, I would have really went after these cards, so maybe it is better I didn't.

I have about 30 base, 2-3 X-Fractors, and few refractors not shown, but I am going to wait till I get more before I update my scans.


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Rainbow (-Minus Superfractor)


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Refractor Parallel


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Orange Refractor


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez X-Fractor PSA 10


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez X-Fractor


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Blue Wave Refractor


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Military-Bordered Refractor /499


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Purple Refractor /499


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez BCA-Bordered Refractor Parallel /399


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Black Refractor /299


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Prism Refractor Parallel /260


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Blue-Bordered Refractor Parallel /199


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Sepia-Tone Refractor Parallel /99


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Gold-Bordered Refractor Parallel /50


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Red Refractor /25


2013 Topps Chrome #117 Tony Gonzalez Printing Plates 1/1

[MeteoriteGuy]

The last Certified brand set Gonzalez card is a dual relic with fellow tight end Jermaine Gresham. There is a prime /25 version of this card I need to pick up someday.
2013 Totally Certified Stitches in Time #30 Jermaine Gresham-Tony Gonzalez 107/299




Love the photograph used on the 2013 Score card making great use of a horizontal card...common in score this year. The photo was taken from the same game as the Topps card.

2013 Score #12 Tony Gonzalez Scorecard and Showcase 90/99
2013 Score #12 Tony Gonzalez Gold Zone 23/50 and Gold Zone 23/50


2013 Score #12 Tony Gonzalez Artist Proof 12/32 and Artist Proof 15/32
2013 Score #12 Tony Gonzalez Red Zone 13/30 and Red Zone 23/30


2013 Score #12 Tony Gonzalez End Zone 1/6, End Zone 2/6 and End Zone 6/6
2013 Score #12 Tony Gonzalez Printing Plate 1/1




2013 Panini Spectra #6 Tony Gonzalez Partial Rainbow.
Includes Base Card, Blue 58/99, Red 19/25, Gold 07/10, Green 3/5, and Embossed Pink. Missing Black Atomic 1/1, Embossed Green and Embossed Orange. The embossed cards were unannounced SSP inserts. It has been suggested about 25 of each were produced.