Discover the Best Lacrosse Cards to Collect This Year

Discover the Best Lacrosse Cards to Collect This Year

Trading Cards Let You Relive the Greatest Moments in Lacrosse History

As a passionate lacrosse fan and card collector, few things bring me more joy than ripping open a fresh pack of cards and discovering which new pieces of the sport’s history I’ll be able to add to my collection. When I hold a trading card in my hands, it’s like I’m instantly transported back to that player’s most iconic on-field moments.

I’ll never forget the rush I felt when I first pulled a rookie card of all-time great Mikey Powell from a pack of 2001 Upper Deck. The image on the front captures him frozen in time, cradling the ball in his stick, poised to fire one of his blistering shots on goal. Every crease and scuff on that card reminds me of watching Powell dominate the field for Syracuse, torching defenders with his video game-like dodging skills en route to winning the Tewaaraton Award.

And when I flip through my collection and come across my autographed Paul Rabil card, it takes me right back to witnessing his towering two-point cannon shots or seeing him bull-dodge his way through entire opposing defenses during his MLL career. His signature on the card serves as a tangible connection to one of the biggest superstars in the modern era of the sport.

My lacrosse card collection allows me to celebrate the history of the game and gain an even greater appreciation for the talents of its greatest players. Like an old photograph or home video, each card I obtain is a window into the past, letting me relive those memorable goals, dominating performances, and championship seasons from lacrosse’s storied history. That nostalgic thrill is what makes building a collection so rewarding.

Find Rare and Valuable Cards of Lacrosse’s Biggest Stars

As a collector, one of the most exhilarating feelings is stumbling upon a rare card of one of the biggest names in lacrosse. These cards that feature iconic players are the crown jewels of any collection, and they can also be some of the most valuable.

One card I’m still chasing is the 1997 Donruss Studio card featuring lacrosse legend Jim Brown during his time with the Syracuse Orangemen. Only a handful are known to exist, and copies in mint condition have sold for over $500 at auction. As one of the most dominant athletes of all time and a true icon of the sport’s early days, Brown’s cards command a huge premium.

More recently, collectors have been trying to track down elusive autographed patch cards that include jersey relics worn by the players. A one-of-a-kind Lyle Thompson card containing a piece of his Georgia Swarm jersey and featuring his inked signature once fetched over $1,000. Only a single copy was ever printed, making it the holy grail for fans of the electrifying Thompson.

Rare parallel cards, with features like glossy foil coatings or etchings cut directly into the card, also drive up values exponentially. A Gold Mirror Foil parallel card of lacrosse great Steele Stanwick, with only 10 copies made, can sell for 20 times more than his regular rookie card.

As a collector, being able to own a scarce card from the portfolio of an all-time great player provides a connection to lacrosse history unlike anything else. And for fans looking to invest in the hobby, tracking down these rare cards can also be quite lucrative if you get your hands on one hidden in a pack.

Trading Cards Highlight Lacrosse’s Rich History and Traditions

As a lifelong lover of the sport of lacrosse, one of the aspects I enjoy most about collecting trading cards is that it allows me to gain a deeper appreciation for the game’s extensive history and origins.

Several card sets have paid tribute to lacrosse’s roots within Native American cultures. The 1994 Team Best American Indian Lacrosse Legends set contains detailed illustrations and bios highlighting legendary Native players like Aronhiates, King Hendrick, and Andrew Montour. Learning about these influential figures through their cards gives me a perspective on lacrosse I couldn’t get just from watching games.

Other sets, like the 2015 Panini Collegiate Origins, use artwork and photos to chronicle the growth of lacrosse from its early days as a Native American tribal contest to its emergence as a popular college sport in the late 1800s. As a fan, cards like these provide a visual timeline illustrating how lacrosse has evolved across different eras.

And for collectors who want to experience living history, vintage cards from the early 20th century provide a direct connection to the sport’s past. The 1935 National Lacrosse Association set gives collectors a chance to own ephemeral pieces documenting the sport’s faded New England roots. Finding cards like these at flea markets or shows is like discovering buried treasure.

The rich storytelling woven into trading cards brings lacrosse’s heritage to life. My collection gives me tangibility to the legends, tribes, colleges, and communities who built the foundation of the sport we love today.

Collect Complete Sets Across Multiple Brands and Years

As a completist at heart, one of my favorite aspects of collecting lacrosse cards is trying to acquire full sets that span different card companies and years of production. The challenge of rounding up every card to finish a set keeps the hobby fresh and exciting for me.

Right now I’m close to completing the entirety of Upper Deck’s NCAA lacrosse card offerings from 2000-2010. Tracking down every card for those years, from common base cards to prized star cards to rare inserted memorabilia cards, has become an obsession. Searching eBay, card shows, and online forums for the few cards I still need gives me a thrill whenever I can finally mark another one off my checklist.

Expanding my scope, I’ve also been assembling the 2005 Topps National Lacrosse League complete set. Trying to cobble together the 250 base cards, 50 All-Star cards, and multiple 10-card insert sets from that year into a master set provides a challenge as I try to locate them all. But the satisfaction I’ll feel upon completing this monstrous set will make the journey well worth it.

For set collectors, amassing complete checklists across every brand and year provides engaging goals to work towards. And compiling all of those cards into a binder lets you appreciate the full scope of a trading card collection in a way buying individual cards can’t replicate. It’s like capturing a complete historical record of the hobby itself.

Lacrosse Card Designs Showcase Iconic Imagery and Photography

As a designer myself, I’m always drawn to the stunning visuals featured on lacrosse trading cards. The medium allows card companies to capture some of the most impressive imagery from the sport in a captivating collectible format.

One of my favorite aspects of collecting cards is seeing the progression of designs and styles across the decades. Vintage cards from the 1970s and 80s used detailed illustrations of players in action, creating beautiful works of sports art. The 1987 Pro Set lacrosse set stands out for its painted portraits of players in dramatic poses.

In the 90s and 2000s, striking in-game photography started taking precedence. Sets like the 2007 Press Pass Lacrosse highlight reel-worthy shots like diving saves, bone-crushing hits, and acrobatic goals. The photography freezes exhilarating moments into unforgettable mementos.

And modern sets utilize sleek graphic design to augment photography. Cards like the 2016 Panini NCAA Lacrosse set integrate glossy images with team logos, uniform patterns, and other visual flair surrounding the player cutouts. This slick presentation captures the energy and excitement of the modern game.

As a collector, it’s fascinating to see how card design has progressed in parallel with the sport itself. The outstanding images and artworks featured on cards let me display my love for lacrosse in an aesthetically pleasing collection. Each new set provides a visual time capsule of the culture and style of the era.

Rookie Cards Offer Nostalgia and Potential Value for Collectors

As a longtime lacrosse card collector, I’m always most excited when I open a fresh pack and discover a rookie card of a promising new player. Rookie cards represent the beginnings of a career, and collecting them recaptures the thrill of following new talent.

Pulling a Lyle Thompson rookie card from 2014 takes me right back to witnessing the start of his legendary career at the University at Albany. Rookies also give collectors like myself a chance to predict future stars. My first Paul Rabil rookie carries that nostalgia of recognizing his talent early on and watching him live up to that potential.

Rookie cards of current collegiate players like Jared Bernhardt or Tewaaraton winners like Zed Williams give collectors a similar opportunity to project their professional potential. Finding those cards early on provides a sense of discovery.

The nostalgia factor also makes rookie cards of all-time greats a centerpiece for many collections. Owning the rookie card of legends like Jim Brown or John Grant Jr. is like grasping a tangible piece of lacrosse history and revisiting the early stages of their folklore status.

With their sentimental value and potential monetary value if players achieve stardom, rookie cards remain a highly sought-after cornerstone of the hobby. As a collector, they tap into the excitemen of uncovering rising talent and watching careers blossom over time.

Limited Edition Inserts Provide Excitement in Each Pack

While collecting complete base sets is satisfying, one of the biggest thrills for me as a collector is stumbling upon rare and limited edition insert cards randomly inserted into packs. These special cards add an element of surprise that keeps things fun.

Inserts like numbered parallels, where only a certain amount are printed like /50 or /100, offer the excitement of pulling one of the limited variants. Other inserts like printing plates and autographs also provide a rush when discovered.

One of my favorite pulls was finding a 1/1 exclusive patch card that featured a piece of game-used jersey numbered out of just a single copy in existence. The odds of ever seeing that card again are virtually zero, making it a truly unique addition to my collection.

Some inserts like ripped tag cards with pieces of team jerseys cut right from the hem are so scarce that collectors might not even be aware they exist until they luck into finding one. Pulling cards like these with infinitesimal odds gives the ultimate shot of adrenaline.

While building base sets is satisfying, pulling limited inserts adds an unpredictable factor that stimulates the risk-reward center of my collector’s brain. You never know when you might happen upon a super rare card when busting open a fresh pack, which adds an irresistible mystique to the hobby.

Autographed Cards Connect Collectors to Favorite Players

As an avid autograph collector, one of my favorite parts of the hobby is obtaining signed cards from my favorite professional lacrosse players. Nothing provides a bigger thrill than adding the Sharpie-inked signature of a star player to my collection.

I’ll never forget the jolt of adrenaline I got when I first pulled a Paul Rabil autographed card from a pack of 2012 MLL Trading Cards. The card features Rabil frozen mid-shot, with his bold signature prominently covering the image. This card felt like a tangible connection to one of the biggest superstars in the game.

Other prized autographs in my collection include legends like Gary Gait, Tom Marechek, and John Grant Jr. When displayed together, these signed cards represent a type of lacrosse hall-of-fame shrine. There’s an extra magic when your favorite historical players autograph specifically for collectors.

Obtaining a signed rookie card before a player makes the leap to stardom also provides a special memento. My autographed Lyle Thompson rookie evokes nostalgia for the early stages of his success every time I admire it.

Signed cards create a powerful link between fans and players who inspire them. When adding an autographed card to my collection, I feel the history and greatness of the sport flowing through the ink.

Relive Championship Seasons and Team Dynasties Through Cards

One aspect of collecting I find highly rewarding is curating cards that allow me to relive the greatest championship runs and dynasties across lacrosse history. Building collections around specific teams and eras lets me revisit their dominance.

I’ve assembled a sizeable collection of vintage Hopkins lacrosse cards from the late 1980s, when they captured back-to-back NCAA national titles in ’87 and ’88. Cards featuring stars like the Pastula brothers, Don Zimmerman, and goalie Quint Kessenich take me back to those glory years for one of the sport’s premier programs.

The early 2010s Maryland Terrapins also produced a formidable title dynasty, winning championships in ’10, ’11 and ’12. Collecting cards of catalysts like Grant Catalino and Joe Cummings links me right back to experiencing their scoring prowess and seeing them hoist trophy after trophy.

On the professional side, I’ve amassed cards from the Buffalo Bandits teams that dominated the NLL throughout the 1990s. Sets like 1999 Ultra Pro contain many of the franchise’s legends like former MVPs John Tavares and Tom Marechek that established their prolonged run of excellence.

Curating dynastic team sets allows collectors like myself to celebrate the greatest teams in the sport’s history through trading cards. Reliving those winning seasons and unforgettable players through my collection never gets old.

Online Trading Communities Make Completing Sets Achievable

As a modern collector, one aspect of the hobby I’ve come to appreciate is the rise of online lacrosse card trading and selling communities. These groups provide invaluable resources for set collectors like myself trying to track down needed cards.

Sites like eBay and Facebook groups such as Lacrosse Card Collector Nation offer collectors a centralized hub to buy, sell and trade cards. I can easily make “Need Lists” showcasing gaps in my sets and then leverage the broad network of fellow collectors to find potential trading partners.

These communities also provide updated price guidance to ensure I’m getting fair deals. And collectors can coordinate in-person meetups at major lacrosse events to swap cards and get evaluations. The expertise within these groups helps new collectors avoid overpaying when starting out.

Membership in these online collector ecosystems also provides camaraderie with fellow fans passionate about growing the hobby. We can share collecting war stories, get motivated to chase new sets, and strategize on the most efficient ways to fill out checklists.

Thanks to online trading groups, completing even the rarest lacrosse card sets no longer feels like a pipe dream. By tapping into the hive knowledge of fellow collectors, we can achieve more together than any one of us could alone.

Graded Cards in Pristine Condition Fetch Big Returns

One modern collecting trend I’ve embraced is having my most prized cards professionally graded and sealed to authenticate their condition and increase their value. Grading services like PSA and Beckett have changed the game for collectors.

By mailing your best cards off to grading companies, they will embed them in tamper-proof plastic cases after assessing their condition on a 1-10 scale. The highest mint grades like 9s and 10s, called “gem mint”, provide huge bonuses. A perfect PSA 10 can garner double, triple or even 10 times the value of an ungraded card.

As an example, I recently had a rare rookie card of Jim Brown graded and certified mint by PSA with a 9 rating. Having this official designation more than doubled what I could sell the card for. It protects the condition and adds immediate credibility.

For modern lacrosse cards, even ones only a few years old, sending them quickly for grading can maximize their future worth. An early Lyle Thompson card graded highly could potentially sell for thousands down the road.

By taking advantage of grading, collectors can unlock substantial value in vintage or modern cards while preserving them in immaculate shape. It provides peace of mind your collection is safeguarded for the long haul.

Lacrosse Cards Cover the Full Scope of the Sport

As a lifelong lacrosse aficionado, I appreciate that trading cards allow me to celebrate the full scope of the sport I love. From college to pro to box lacrosse, the hobby encompasses every level and variation.

NCAA lacrosse cards let me revisit the march to championships of storied college programs. Sets issued annually by Press Pass and Panini capture the latest collegiate stars like Jared Bernhardt or Chris Gray who electrify fans.

Cards from Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League allow me to collect pros I frequently watch in the rapidly improving American pro game. Stars like Tom Schreiber or Myles Jones regularly release new cards tracking their pro careers.

Up in Canada, cards for legends of the indoor NLL and CLA box lacrosse scene allow me to appreciate the different athletic talents of their fast-paced version of the game. Players like Shawn Evans or Robert Church shine in trading cards just like they do on the in-rink turf.

And with the rising popularity of women’s lacrosse, card companies are issuing more releases showcasing NWSL and college stars. This growing diversity in the hobby reflects the inclusiveness of lacrosse culture itself.

As a superfan, I cherish being able to celebrate every iteration of this great sport through collecting cards across college, professional, indoor and women’s lacrosse.

Building a Collection Deepens Your Knowledge of Lacrosse

As an avid card collector, one of the most rewarding aspects for me has been how amassing cards has deepened my overall knowledge of and appreciation for the sport of lacrosse.

Collecting forces you to learn about the history and statistics of players from prior eras that you may not have gotten to see live. My Jim Brown rookie required me to research why he was such a trailblazer. And compiling a collection of legends like Gary Gait or John Grant Jr. provided perspective on their greatness.

Trading cards also motivate you to closely follow current college and pro players that will drive the hobby for years to come. You have to know about rising young talents like Tehoka Nanticoke or Jeff Teat to evaluate their potential card value.

Staying updated on prospects, rookies and the latest crops of stars across every league and level is necessary to identify who to collect early on. My lacrosse IQ has expanded tremendously in the process.

Beyond just bolstering game knowledge, collecting also encourages learning about the hobby itself through fellow collectors. My fandom and mental catalog of lacrosse history has grown exponentially thanks to trading cards.

Card Values Fluctuate Alongside Player Careers

One intriguing aspect of collecting I’ve learned to embrace is the constantly shifting value of cards tied to the ups and downs of player careers. Predicting market trends is an engaging part of the hobby.

When a promising rookie has a breakout season, their card values will frequently spike based on increased exposure and fan excitement. I remember Zach Currier’s cards doubling in price during his MLL Rookie of the Year campaign.

However, former stars fading from relevance will cause their card prices to dip accordingly. As painful as it might be, letting go of once-premier players at the right time is key. Knowing when to sell high is a critical skill.

Figuring out whose cards to invest in long-term is also part of the fun. Players like Tom Schreiber who evolve into league MVPs or superstars like Lyle Thompson with sustained excellence maintain strong demand.

Keeping tabs on the trajectory of careers allows collectors to pivot and capitalize on the volatile cardboard stock market. While offering great nostalgia, cards also provide an investment vehicle if you track trends properly.

Ripping Packs Recaptures the Pure Joy of Collecting

As much as I enjoy chasing down cards to complete sets, trading with fellow collectors, and monitoring value fluctuations, nothing brings me more pure happiness than the simple act of opening fresh packs. That thrill never fades.

Slitting open a sealed wrapper and thumbing through a stack of cards evokes the same rush of adrenaline I felt as a kid just getting started in the hobby. The sight of each new card elicits genuine excitement and wonder.

The unknown cardstock voyages and potential jackpots hiding within each pack provides an intoxicating escapism that adult responsibilities can’t touch. Will that next card lifted reveal a precious rookie? An elusive autograph? A numbered parallel? The suspense is magical.

No matter how sophisticated or complex this hobby becomes as it grows, that innocent, nostalgic joy of cracking open pack after pack will always remain at its core. The childlike anticipation of unearthing each new card reminds me why I originally fell in love collecting.

Though my interests within the hobby continue to evolve and mature, chasing after that pure, youthful excitement of ripping wax will keep me feeling forever young at heart.