If there is any item in the field of sports collectibles that
needs no embellishment, it is this historic piece: the final touchdown ball of
Tom Brady’s career. The historic event took place just recently in the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers’ home playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Raymond James Stadium
in Tampa, Florida, on January 23, 2002. Brady’s 55-yard touchdown pass was
caught by wide receiver Mike Evans, which cut the Rams’ lead to 27-20 with 3:20
left to play in the fourth quarter. As is his habit when he scores, Evans
tossed the ball into the stands, where it was caught by our consignor. Obviously,
with the game not yet decided, and Tom Brady having given no formal indication
that he was retiring at the conclusion of the Buccaneers’ season, no one could
have realized the ball’s historical significance at the time. It was only after
the loss, and Brady’s stunning announcement a week later, that the true value
of the piece became apparent. Unlike other items used in the commission of a famous
last event, this ball has dual significance because it was also used to establish
Tom Brady’s record of 86 career playoff touchdowns. To put that number in its
proper perspective, the player in second place, Joe Montana, has a total of 45.
Like most of Brady’s passing records, it is a mark that will almost certainly stand
the test of time
As we mentioned earlier, this ball has been consigned directly
from the fan who caught it after Evans tossed it into the stands. That impeccable
provenance notwithstanding, the ball has also been conclusively photo matched. The
Wilson Official NFL football features a large NFL logo on side panel, below
which, on a separate panel is a silver oval bearing the Buccaneers’ team logo
and the number “435.” Additionally, that same panel displays numerous small
white “specks” that are a byproduct of its game use. Both the number “435” and
the “specks” can be clearly seen in two closeup Getty Images (1237945845 and
1366493887) of Evans as he makes his fourth-quarter touchdown catch.
It is only through an incredible stroke of luck that this ball is
available to private collectors. If Evans had not tossed it into the stands, it
would still be in the possession of the Buccaneers and would never be offered
publicly. Lelands too has experienced a second stroke of good fortune. It was less
than a year ago that we offered Tom Brady’s first career touchdown ball (Lot 5;
2021 Mid-Spring Classic; realized $428,841). Ironically, Brady’s first
touchdown ball, like his last, was also tossed into the stands by the receiver
who caught it (Terry Glenn), therefore depriving the NFL Football Hall of Fame
of what would be two of its most important artifacts. Which of the two Brady
touchdown balls is the most significant, his first or last? That, of course, is
for the collectors and historians to debate, but one thing is certain: the opportunity to obtain a piece of football history of this magnitude may never present
itself again.
Comes with full letter of authenticity and photo-match by MeiGray.