The Zion Patch Craze in Sports Card Collecting

The Zion Patch Craze in the Sports Card Industry

The sports card collecting world was set ablaze in 2019 with the emergence of basketball phenomenon Zion Williamson. As a standout freshman at Duke University, Zion became one of the most hyped NBA prospects in years. This led to huge demand for his rookie cards and memorabilia.

Zion's Rookie Cards Garner Massive Attention

Panini, Topps, and other major card companies sought to capitalize on Zion's popularity with a variety of rookie card releases in 2019-2020. The most coveted was Panini's National Treasures product featuring multi-colored logo patches dubbed "RPA cards." Zion's RPA cards featuring patches from his Duke college jersey became extremely desirable.

The Infamous "Zion Patch"

The holy grail of Zion rookie cards turned out to be RPAs that included a patch piece cut directly from his Duke game-worn jersey featuring part of the "ZION" nameplate on the back. These ultra rare "Zion patch" cards have sold for insane amounts at auction.

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FAQs

What is an RPA card?

RPA stands for "Rookie Patch Autograph." RPAs feature an on-card autograph and patch piece embedded into the card, usually cut from a player's jersey.

Why are Zion's rookie patch cards so valuable?

Zion was seen as a generational talent and massive NBA star in the making coming out of college. Collectors anticipated high demand for his rookie memorabilia far into the future.

What is the most expensive Zion patch card sale so far?

In January 2021, one of his National Treasures RPA cards featuring a huge patch with 4 colors sold for $960,800 at auction.

How rare are the "Zion patch" cards?

It's believed Panini produced less than 10 National Treasures cards featuring a patch with Zion's nameplate. Their extreme scarcity drives the incredible prices.

When did Zion Williamson rookie cards first release?

Zion rookies first appeared in 2019-2020 basketball card products roughly during his standout freshman season at Duke.

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