Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake
I was recently gifted one of my favorite trading cards that is now in my collection: a Tracy McGrady relic card of his game-worn jersey. The Topps Bowman card is labeled 08-09, but the stats on the back are only for the 07-8 season, suggesting to me that it is from the 07-08 season. I have seen other relic cards (Ray Allen’s) where the card was printed several years after the jersey was worn. Presumably, they are most likely taken from the previous season usually, though I cannot find verification of this.
Regardless, the alternative is this particular relic is from the 08-09 season, which would be the last season Tracy McGrady played while healthy. During his 08-09 season, he played 35 games before being shut down. He was never the same again.
I lived through both seasons as a Rockets fan. I loved that T-Mac and Yao era perhaps more than anybody. I remain a Rockets fan, but my love for basketball inevitably has me watching other teams as well, one of them being the Miami Heat.
If this card is from the 07-8 season, I can tell you that that was a very special season for the Rockets. It’s when they went from 10th place to 1st and had a 22-game winning streak, half of which was completed without Yao Ming. The 22nd game in the streak also included a win over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The following 08-9 season was the last we ever saw of Tracy McGrady as we knew him, which was also a special time for different reasons. The sentimental value of this card is very high for me and probably far exceeds its book value, though I think even the book value is probably underestimating the importance of this card.
Notable features of this card:
- The Bowman Relics 08-09 was printed for numerous stars in the NBA, but only this T-Mac one has historical importance.
- The colorway is the same for all players, but it suits the Rockets the best and looks like it was made for the Rockets.
- T-Mac is wearing the white jersey, which is the one I own from the same year and love the most.
- The jersey relic, however, is of the red jersey, and other people prefer the red/away NBA jerseys to the white home.
- The Kobe Bryant variant of this card is worth a lot, but the relic is of the white jersey rather than the colored variant of the Lakers jersey.
- Presumably relics are rare generally, but I can only find one other example of this card online.
- The other card I have seen of this same card is not in good condition, yet the seller isn’t letting it go cheaply.
- I think this card would be graded Near Mint or Mint by PSA, with a good chance of it being Mint.
- It may be the highest-graded/best-conditioned card out there for what it is.
Notes:
This was the first relic card I had owned. I plan on buying more of them in the future. It wasn’t until I had one in my possession that I was able to fully appreciate the idea behind these cards. Some collectors like collecting autographed cards. Being able to combine a game-worn jersey with a trading card is a pretty cool idea. And if you’re wondering, no the card does not smell.