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Kurt Warner (True) Rookie Cards
The story of Kurt Eugene Warner is considered one of the greatest stories in NFL history. He is considered by many as the best undrafted NFL player of all-time. Kurt Warner has 14 true rookie cards and 27 rookie parallels.
Kurt Given No Chance
After high school, he attended the University of Northern Iowa and earned a degree in communications which serves him well today as a television football analyst.
In college, he was a third-string quarterback but as a senior, he earned a chance as the starting quarterback.
That year he was named the Gateway Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
After graduation he entered the 1994 NFL Draft, unfortunately, he went unsigned but was invited by the Green Bay Packers for a tryout however, he was released before the season started.
After his release, he headed back to Iowa and stocked shelves at a local Hy-Vee Grocery store where he earned $5.50 an hour.
He also worked as an assistant coach with the University of Northern Iowa football team, which is where he graduated from.
Kurt Warner Captures the Attention of the NFL
With no NFL teams willing to give him a chance he set out to the Arena Football League and signed with the Iowa Barnstormers.
In 1997, The NFL took notice of Warner’s accomplishments in the AFL so the St. Louis Rams offered him a contract but quickly transferred him to the NFL’s Europe Amsterdam Admirals.
He wasted no time in Europe and quickly made a name for himself there too! He led the league in touchdowns and passing yards.
At the start of the 1998 season, Kurt Warner earned a roster spot as the third-string quarterback for the St. Louis Rams.
Then the magical 1999 season happened. After trades and injuries, Warner moved up the roster quickly. Starter Trent Green was injured during the preseason, and coach Dick Vermeil declared Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback.
Kurt Warner Goes Rags to Riches
Warner did not disappoint as he set all kinds of NFL records. He threw 14 touchdown passes in his first four games! Went on to throw for 4,353 yards, and 41 touchdown passes that season.
Kurt Warner and his supporting staff were a force to be reckoned with for years to come and were nicknamed, “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
On January 30, 2000, the St. Louis Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV by a score of 23 to 16.
Kurt Warner went from rags to riches! Grocery store clerk to Super Bowl Champion! Not only champion but MVP of the Super Bowl!
For Such a Time as This
I remember watching his impressive performance in the Super Bowl but what made me a Kurt Warner fan was his response when he was on the national stage.
Interviewed during the Super Bowl celebration, with trophy ceremony, confetti and in front of the world Mike Trivico from ABC asked,
“Kurt, first things first – tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac?” Kurt responded, “Well, first things first, I’ve got to thank my Lord and Savior up above – thank you Jesus!”
The crowd erupted with cheers. Kurt is a devoted Evangelical Christian and attributes his success on and off the field to his faith in Jesus Christ. He is convinced that he was called for such a time as this.
A belief I can definitely respect and support. On and off the field Kurt is a man of character and leadership.
Warner’s impact in the community and in the NFL makes him a true All-Time Great! In January 2010 Kurt announced his retirement.
Kurt Warner played for 12 years. The first 6 years with the St. Louis Rams, a 1-year stint with the New York Giants, and his final 5 years with the Arizona Cardinals.
Career Stats & Accomplishments
According to Pro-Football-Reference.com Kurt Warner career stats are:
Pass Completions 65.5% | Passing Yards 32,344 | Touchdowns 208 | Interceptions 128.
Accomplishments:
- 4x Pro Bowler
- 2x All-Pro
- 2x MVP
- 1x Super Bowl Champion
- Bert Bell Award (1999)
- Walter Payton Man of the Year (2008)
- 2017 Hall of Fame Induction
Kurt Warner True Rookie Cards:
1999 Bowman’s Best, #110 (RC)
Leading us off in alphabetical order is the Bowman’s Best brand. Cards are a silver foil highlighted with horizontal lines in the background.
The back of the card I like more than the front because it gives us two photos, a short bio, some career highlights, and his numbers in the European League. This is the only rookie card that gives the European League stats.
There are two parallels, Refractor 1:17 packs #d /400, and Atomic Refractor 1:69 packs #d /100.
1999 Collector’s Edge First Place, #201P (RC)
This is a 200 card set. When released it consisted of 148 veteran cards, 2 checklists, and 50 rookies.
However, none of those fifty rookies included Kurt Warner. Card #201 was a late addition to the set and was marketed as a promo version and sold through Shop at Home.
This one is debatable among some rookie card enthusiasts because of its distribution method, myself included. A rookie card must be distributed in pack form and distributed Nationally.
However, since its pre-2005 I typically follow what the hobby has deemed an RC. But this one definitely has an asterisk to it on my list. Post 2005 this would not be considered a rookie card.
I love the crisp action photo offered. Looks like Kurt is dropping back in the pocket getting ready to release a missile. Although there are many parallels in this set, none are offered for Kurt Warner.
1999 Collector’s Edge Masters, #157 (RC)
This 200 card set is a unique set in that all base cards and inserts cards are serial numbered. For this reason, it still holds the attention of many collectors.
Rookies are limited to 2000 copies each. Here’s where you got to stick with me.
All base cards also have various levels of parallels, three to be exact. Holo Silver is the most common and is #d to /3500 including the rookies!
This means there are more Holo Silver parallels than there are base rookies, kind of weird. Higher demand falls on the Galvanized parallel numbered to /100 and the Holo Gold numbered to /25.
This product also offers collectors an autograph card of Kurt Warner but it’s considered more of an insert card.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of card design. The front seems too busy for me but I must admit the Holo-Gold parallel is stunning.
1999 Collector’s Edge Odyssey, #123 (RC)
What makes this 193 card set unique is the way it’s divided up. It’s like a football game!
First Quarter cards are the cards numbered 1-150. They are foil stamped as such, see bottom of the card front.
The remaining 43 cards are split up into the remaining three-quarters. Second Quarter cards are 1:4 packs. Third Quarter cards are 1:8 packs, and Fourth Quarter cards are 1:24 packs.
There are two parallels, Millenium Collection, and Millenium Collection Blue. Both were available via a serial numbered factory set via Shop at Home.
1999 Crown Royale, #116 (RC)
This die-cut crowned beauty is not an insert card. The entire 144 card set presents itself this way.
The royal blue and red background accented by gold foil just screams eye appeal. The card back speaks of Warner’s amazing start to the season.
The set offers one parallel with silver crown highlights numbered to /99.
1999 Donruss, #188 (RC)
This is a 200 card set and offers collectors a very large rookie checklist. Card numbers 141-190 all rookies. There is nothing to complain about here but there is nothing really to brag about either.
Somewhat average card design front and back but overall a respectable rookie card of a Hall of Fame quarterback.
There are two parallels, Stat Line Career #d /165, and Stat Line Season #d /15.
1999 Fleer Focus, #40 (RC)
The Fleer Focus is only a 175 card set and 75 of those are rookie cards. The rookies are split up into four groups. Quarterbacks #d /2250. Running Backs serial #d /2500. Receivers serial #d /3850.
The fourth group is all other rookies but these will not be serial-numbered. Why that is, is unclear and kinda bogus. There is also a “Stealth” parallel that is #d /300.
1999 Leaf Rookies & Stars, #288 (RC)
I wouldn’t mind picking up a few boxes of this product. It’s a 300 card set and cards 201-300 are all rookies.
The checklist shows 24 different types of insert subsets many of these consists of game-used and/or autograph cards.
Overall, this is a beautifully designed card with crisp lines. The card backs I give an A+ too this is just a well thought out balanced card design.
There is one parallel, Longevity, rookies are considered short-printed and are #d /30.
1999 Pacific, #343 (RC)
This 450 card set featured the first rookie card printed of Kurt Warner and because of his dominant start in the league, this card started quite a frenzy in the hobby.
For several weeks or so this was the only rookie card in print. Now I’m not a big fan of dual rookie cards but it is one that features a Hall of Famer so I appreciate that fact.
Multiple parallels for this one and each has a variant foil color. Red inserted 4:25 packs, Opening Day #d /45, Platinum Blue #d /75, Copper #d /99, Gold #d /199.
1999 Playoff Contenders SSD, #146 (RC)
Well, here it is folks! The cream of the crop. The “Big Dog” of Warner rookie cards.
For starters, this is his only autographed rookie card and thankfully he signed 1,825 of them. However, they are not serial numbered.
Overall a premium product with a premium card design. But of course, this much card swag comes with a price.
There are three autographed parallels, Finesse Gold #d /25, Power Blue #d /50, and Speed Red #d /100.
1999 Playoff Momentum SSD, #144 (RC)
Like the Contenders product, this too can be considered a premium product, thicker card stock printed on clear plastic allows you to see through the card.
Flip the card over and you’d think it was a reverse negative error card. It’s really the transparent plastic that allows you to see the front of the card on the backside.
Overall, it is a premium product that is much easier on the wallet. I love the card design, very under-rated in my opinion.
There are two parallels, O’s are die-cut and are #d /25, and X’s are also die-cut but are #d /50.
1999 Score Supplemental, #S-57 (RC)
This 110 card set functions like an “update” or “traded” set.
It was sold as a complete set and its purpose is to compliment the 1999 Score product which for multiple reasons did not include a Kurt Warner rookie.
Manufacturers release these supplemental sets and it allows them to come up to speed on players who were traded or rookies they missed during their first offering.
I really like the action photo offered on this one but that’s about it for me. The dominant purple color is a killer and really shows its ugly head on the back of the card.
Color and thin card stock cause this one to visibly chip along the edges too. There are no parallels for this one.
1999 Skybox Molten Metal, #93 (RC)
This is a 151 card set and 26 of those are short-printed rookies. What makes these unique is that all rookies are printed, not on traditional card stock, but on actual metal.
Definitely makes them different but the concept has never really taken off. You can feel the difference in weight too but not on card design. Personally, I like the card backs more than the card fronts.
There are three parallels, Millennium Gold released in factory set form, sets were #d /2000.
The Millennium Silver parallel was also factory set releases and was #d /3400, and finally Players Party #d /2500 sets.
1999 Upper Deck Encore, #139 (RC)
This 225 card set offers collectors 45 short-printed rookies which can be found in 1:8 packs.
The card design parallels the regular issue of 1999 Upper Deck except for the enhanced holo-foil card stock. There are two parallels, F/X #d /100, and F/X Gold which is a 1 of 1.
Happy Collecting Collectors,
Learn. Collect. Enjoy.
