Eli Manning is a future Hall of Fame quarterback and the younger brother of Peyton Manning. He was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Eli Manning was then traded to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers, a 2004 third round pick, a 2005 first round pick and a 2005 fifth round pick. Below is a look at some of Eli Manning’s career accomplishments and highlights.
Career highlights
- 4x Pro Bowl
- 2x Super Bowl Champion
- 2x Super Bowl MVP
Eli Manning’s rookie card is in the 2004 Topps Chrome set along with fellow future Hall of Famers Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Larry Fitzgerald. While his preferred rookie is Topps Chrome, I prefer the look and rarity of the refractor variations. I purchased a raw card on eBay and sent it in for a paid signing along with a blue paint pen. I also tried requesting an inscription but was denied by Fanatics, they gave priority to larger items such as helmets and jerseys. In this hobby, dealing with Fanatics is unavoidable but they are absolutely the worst when it comes to customer service. This is the second event, in which they switched out my paint pen and used a sharpie instead.
Currently there is only one other autographed Eli Manning 2004 Topps Chrome Refractor in the PSA registry.
Total Investment: $196.50
Estimated Value: $1,000
Return on Investment: 409%