Plaxico Burress
Wide Receiver · Pittsburgh Steelers
Fleer Ultra #Not visible
Year & Era
2000 — Early Modern Era
Card Type
Base Rookie Card
Grade
Raw — appears Very Good to Excellent (VG-EX) due to notable corner and edge wear
Rarity
Common base rookie card from a mass-produced early 2000s product; high print run with many copies existing in raw condition.
Overall Assessment
A nostalgic and affordable rookie card of a memorable wide receiver, ideal for a casual Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Giants fan, though limited in monetary value due to visible wear.
Condition Grade
Raw — appears Very Good to Excellent (VG-EX) due to notable corner and edge wear
Centering Assessment
Front appears slightly heavy on the left side, with a wider right border. Back cannot be seen from the image provided.
Surface Condition
Moderate surface wear with possible minor scratches visible under direct light; typical for raw cards of this era stored loosely.
Corner Condition
All four corners show noticeable softening and rounding, with the bottom left and top left appearing particularly impacted.
Edge Condition
Edges show minor chipping and whitening along the borders, typical of older paper stock stored without protection.
Print Quality
Standard Fleer Ultra gloss and photography for the 2000 season, featuring crisp action photography but prone to chipping along dark borders.
Estimated Value
$1 - $5 raw, as graded copies in higher tiers command slightly more but low-grade copies are common and inexpensive.
Comparison to Known Examples
This copy shows more corner wear and edge chipping than typical well-preserved or graded (PSA 9/10) examples in the population report.
Authentication Tips
Look for authentic Fleer Ultra foil stamping in the upper right corner and proper card stock weight. Counterfeits for common base rookies of this era are extremely rare.
Grading Recommendation
Not recommended for professional grading (PSA/BGS/SGC), as the grading fees would far exceed the market value of the card in its current condition.
Red Flags
No significant red flags for counterfeiting, though visible wear indicates it has been handled loosely or stored improperly.
Provenance Notes
Typically pulled from 2000 Fleer Ultra hobby or retail packs during the height of the early modern football card boom.
Historical Context
Plaxico Burress was a first-round draft pick (8th overall) in 2000 by the Steelers and notably caught the game-winning touchdown for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Market Trends
Stable to slightly declining market for common modern base rookie cards, with demand primarily driven by nostalgic player collectors.
Investment Potential
Low investment potential for this specific copy due to condition issues and high overall supply, best suited for personal collections.
Similar Cards
2000 Topps Chrome Plaxico Burress Rookie, 2000 Bowman Plaxico Burress Rookie, and other key rookies from the legendary 2000 NFL Draft class.
Display & Preservation
Should be placed immediately in a penny sleeve and rigid top-loader or semi-rigid holder to prevent further degradation of the corners and edges.
Interesting Facts
Burress was known for his massive 6'5" frame, making him one of the most dominant red-zone targets of his era.