Steven Stamkos
Date of Birth: 2/7/1990
Rookie Card Year: 2008-09
Investment Rating: 8.0
Overview
Steven Stamkos cards are among the most popular in the hobby. The centre came into the NHL in 2008-09 with early comparisons to Wayne Gretzky. Expectations from the Tampa Bay Lightning and the league were high. The first pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, he performed decently in his first season but was unable to match the lofty expectations put before him. As a result, many collectors tried to cut their losses by quickly selling their Steven Stamkos cards before he was officially labeled as a bust and values plummeted. A dominant sophomore season put him back on the map as an elite young talent and collectors rushed to get Steven Stamkos cards and memorabilia once again.
Stamkos has asserted himself as a perennial Hart Trophy candidate as the league's MVP. The young centre became only the sixth player in history to notch two seasons with 50 or more goals before age 23.
Clearly, number one picks do not normally take anyone in the collecting world by surprise, but his relatively disappointing start helped mask the brilliance for at least one season. It also kept prices of Steven Stamkos cards and memorabilia in check. Even though the values of Steven Stamkos cards have picked up considerably, given his young age and potential, there is still plenty of room for growth. The one knock against him at this point is that the Tampa Bay area is not a traditionally strong market for hockey and this will limit his exposure.
Steven Stamkos has over 20 rookie cards that fall across all budgets. The top three cards are all numbered to 99.
Top Steven Stamkos Rookie Cards
2008-09 Upper Deck The Cup Steven Stamkos RC #150 Autographed Patch #/99
The holy grail of Steven Stamkos cards, his rookie from 2008-09 Upper Deck The Cup features an on-card autograph and a small, diamond-shaped patch piece. Be prepared to drop a couple of mortgage-sized payments for this rare gem.
2008-09 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Steven Stamkos RC #102 Autograph #/99
Another top option among that features an on-card autograph, 2008-09 Ultimate Collection represents a slightly cheaper alternative to The Cup. While it does not contain a jersey piece, the card is still limited to 99. For those reasons, this will always be among the top Steven Stamkos cards.
2008-09 Upper Deck Ice Steven Stamkos RC #184 #/99
Despite not featuring patches or autographs, 2008-09 Upper Deck Ice has built a strong reputation among rookie collectors. The acetate card features a slashing background that matches the Lightnings' team colors and should remain a collector favorite based on the limited print run.
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Rookie Cards
Steven Stamkos Rookie Card Checklist
Budget Rookie Cards
- 2008-09 Collector's Choice #242
- 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee #795
- 2008-09 Ultra #251
- 2008-09 Upper Deck Champ's #200
- 2008-09 Upper Deck MVP #381
- 2008-09 Upper Deck Ovation #193
- 2008-09 Upper Deck Power Play #387
- 2008-09 Upper Deck Victory #350
Mid-Range Rookie Cards
- 2008-09 Artifacts #274 #/750
- 2008-09 Black Diamond #209
- 2008-09 UD Clear Cut Rookie
- 2008-09 Upper Deck #245
- 2008-09 Upper Deck Trilogy #163 #/499
Premium Rookie Cards
- 2008-09 Be A Player #191 #/99
- 2008-09 OPC Premier #81 Autograph Jersey #/299
- 2008-09 SP Authentic #247 Autograph #/999
- 2008-09 SP Game Used #200 #/99
- 2008-09 SPx #190 Autograph Jersey #/499
- 2008-09 The Cup #150 Autograph Jersey #/99
- 2008-09 UD Black #103 Autograph #/99
- 2008-09 Ultimate Collection #102 Autograph #/99
- 2008-09 Upper Deck Ice #184 #/99
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Autograph Guide
Steven Stamkos Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Steven Stamkos' authentic signature looks like. This can be used as a first point of reference for determining the legitimacy of autograph memorabilia, but is not a substitute for having your items authenticated by a well-respected professional autograph authentication company. Reputable authentication companies include JSA, PSA, Panini Authentic and Mounted Memories to name a few. Click on any of the images below to view full size photos.
Steven Stamkos Cut Signature Exemplar
Steven Stankos Key Signature Attributes: An authentic Steven Stamkos signature autograph will exhibit several distinguishing characteristics. Regardless of the type of item or when it was signed, look for, at least some of, the following signature features:
- The complex nature of his signature makes it hard to replicate.
- Very few letters if any are legible.
- Providing an analysis is largely impossible by letter definition, instead look for some of the following shapes.
- At the start you can see a heart sharp on about a 45 degree angle, this sits atop a character that looks like the classic arcade game Pac-Man.
- Moving to the end of the signature, you can make out a "k" with the angled lines on the right curling in slightly to "grab" the letter "o" which is discernible.
Steven Stamkos Signed Puck Pricing:
Active Listings for Steven Stamkos Signed Pucks
Steven Stamkos Signed Stick Pricing:
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Steven Stamkos Signed Jersey Pricing:
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Steven Stamkos Signed Photograph Pricing:
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