This post may contain eBay affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Travis Kelce (10/5/89) with the 63rd pick in the 3rd round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and boy, are they glad they did.
He’s been with the team ever since, winning Super Bowl LIV and making five Pro Bowl appearances, and he holds the NFL record for most seasons with 1,000 yards receiving by a tight end.
SHOP TRAVIS KELCE ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY
Investment Rating: Buy (3.9 out of 5)
Ownership Disclosure: None Risk/Return
Outlook: Low to Moderate Risk//Moderate to Moderate High Returns
Best Travis Kelce Rookie Card: 2013 Topps Chrome RC #118 (Shop eBay)
Not only is Kelce a great player, but he is also on the brink of winning his second Superbowl (which we suspect he will), which should send his rookie cards even higher.
Travis Kelce Rookie Year Stats: 16 games | 62 receptions | 862 receiving yards | 5 touchdowns
Related: Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card
With a long list of trophies, accolades, and records to his name, his rookie cards have received a lot of interest since they were first released in ‘13. Here are three best Kelce RCs, along with investment advice if you’re hoping to flip a couple in the future.
We’ve looked at recent auction data to bring you a list of the top three Travis Kelce rookie cards available on the market now.
2013 Travis Kelce Topps Chrome RC #118
Kelce’s 2013 Topps Chrome card features a shot of the player holding a football in amazement, with a deep blue background that matches his shirt. It’s different from the average RC, but that’s no bad thing.
Most Popular Travis Kelce Rookie Cards on eBay
Refractor parallels are where the money is, and you’ll be able to tell the difference by checking out the border colors. His name and position are found at the bottom, along with KC and RC logos. The bottom portion is red and gold, so the red refractor is probably the best-looking option overall.
Parallels: Refractor, X-fractor, Orange, Blue Wave, Purple (/499), Military Camo (/499), BCA Pink (/399), Prism (/260), Black (/299), Blue (/199), Sepia (/99), Gold (/50), Red (/25), SuperFractor (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
2013 Travis Kelce Panini Contenders RC #187
The 2013 Panini Contenders range is an excellent high-end option, and you’ll find Kelce’s card in the Rookie Tickets set.
There’s a large image of Kelce on the left-hand side, with a stickered auto found on a separate white segment on the right. There’s also a similar image and different ticket versions, so there’s ample choice if you’d like to pick up a rarer edition. (Variations have no stars around the team logo helmet on the back of the card.)
The base features an image with his left hand within the border, while the variation shows his left arm on the signature side and a Nike Swoosh on his shorts.
Of the versions available, the Cracked Ice card has a low serial number, (21) a slick design, and it attracts a lot of attention at auction. It’s our pick as an exciting investment piece.
Parallels: Playoff Ticket (/99), Cracked Ice Ticket (/21), Championship Tickets (1/1), Printing Plates (1/1)
2013 Travis Kelce Panini Prizm RC #292
The final card to make our list is from the popular Panini Prizm range. There’s a layered image of Kelce in the middle, holding a football as he surveys the field. It comes with a skewed Prizm border, and player info is found on a white tab at the bottom. As well as an RC logo, you’ll find a large black and white ‘Rookie’ sign, just in case you weren’t sure.
Despite being an older release, there are heaps of exciting parallels that change with the outer background’s color. These include some attractive die-cut cards, although they’re rare and prone to damage easily. Parallels are as follows;
Parallels: Prizm, Camouflage, Red Pulsar, Blue, Blue Pulsar, Green, Light Blue, Orange Die-Cut (/50), Purple Cracked Ice (/40), Die-Cut Light Blue (/15), Gold (/10), Finite (1/1)
2013 Travis Kelce Score RC #431
This might be the best-looking of all the Travis Kelce rookie cards and comes in as one of the most affordable.
Looking for a great-looking and affordable Travis Kelce rookie card simultaneously? Check out his 2013 Score RC
Numbered #431, the Kelce score rookie card shows a close-up headshot of the rugged Travis with a not-so-happy look on his face. His name is in the bottom left corner, and the KC Chiefs Helmet is in the bottom right corner. The words 2013 Rookie is placed in the top right corner, with the Score logo in the top left.
Travis Kelce Rookie Card Value
The value of Kelce’s rookie cards is valued correctly based on his career stats to date. If he can win another Superbowl or three, the value of his rookie cards will go even higher, and the odds of him winning at least one Superbowl are pretty decent.
Are you thinking about buying a Travis Kelce RC but unsure which one to buy? Hit us up at advice@goldcardauctions.com, and we will help!
Do you have a Travis Kelce football card and would like an estimated value? Email us at value@goldcardauctions.com and include at minimum two CLEAR photos of the card.
Or you can always follow us on the Gold Card Auctions Facebook page and hit us up whenever you want about anything you want card-related.
Checklist
- 2013 Topps Chrome Travis Kelce RC #118
- 2013 Panini Contenders Travis Kelce RC #187
- 2013 Panini Prizm Travis Kelce RC #292
- 2013 Panini Momentum Travis Kelce RC #192
- 2013 SPX Autograph Rookie Card /299 Travis Kelce RC #107
- 2013 Prizm Rated Rookie Patch Travis Kelce RC #292
- 2013 Totally Certified RC Freshman Phenoms Auto /499 Travis Kelce RC
- 2013 Topps Magic Travis Kelce RC #327
- 2013 Panini Prestige Rookie Auto /50 Travis Kelce RC
- 2013 Score Travis Kelce RC #431
- 2013 Panini Crown Royale Travis Kelce RC #194
- 2013 Prestige #293 Travis Kelce RC
- 2017 Panini Rookies & Stars Airborne Travis Kelce RC #11
- 2013 Fleer Rookie Sensations Travis Kelce RC #RS-10
Buyers Guide and Investment Advice
Even though Kelce had been suspended for an entire season during college for failing a drug test, he’s matured into a natural leader in recent years. He’s already a legend for the Chiefs, and they were right to take a chance on him.
The tight end is in a class of his own, posting at least 72 catches, 875 yards, and four touchdowns in the previous five consecutive seasons. He signed a five-year, $46 million contract extension in 2016, so he’ll have to decide on his future soon. Will he stay with the Chiefs?
The real question is him many Superbowl rings will he collect? Two, Three, maybe five? Whatever the number he is already one of the best tight ends the NFL has ever seen.
Top Investment: Troy Aikman Rookie Cards
If ever there was a candidate for a future Hall of Fame spot, Kelce is likely to be in with a great chance when his name is available on the ballot.
For now, Kelce’s rookie cards aren’t the most expensive, and many options suit almost every budget. Each card we’ve mentioned is relatively affordable if you’re looking at base versions, so it’s not hard to pick them up cheaply.
The real money is found in the rare parallels, many serial-numbered to fewer than 100 copies. They should be a great long-term investment if you’re willing to hold until he retires.