2002 Rookie Cards
19 rookie cards across Hockey, Football, Basketball, Baseball. Sorted by estimated gem mint value.
2002-03 Upper Deck Young Guns Eric Staal #215
The eldest of the hockey Staal brothers and the franchise center for the Carolina Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup championship. Staal's 100-point season in his Cup year remains one of the most complete individual performances of the 2000s.
2002 Topps Chrome Ed Reed #200
The greatest free safety ever. Reed's ball-hawking instincts and field vision were unmatched. 64 career interceptions.
2002-03 Topps Chrome Yao Ming RC #146
The Chrome rookie of the #1 overall pick who became a global basketball icon. Yao Ming was an eight-time All-Star and the player most responsible for the explosion of NBA popularity in China. At 7-foot-6, he was the tallest All-Star in NBA history.
2002-03 Topps Chrome Amare Stoudemire #164
Amare Stoudemire 2002-03 Topps Chrome rookie. The #9 pick straight out of high school who became the centerpiece of the Suns Seven Seconds or Less offense with Steve Nash.
2002 Bowman Chrome Ed Reed #135
Reed's Bowman Chrome RC. The greatest ball hawk in NFL history had a sixth sense for the football — he could diagnose a play before the QB even released the ball. His 64 career INTs and 1,590 return yards changed how safeties are evaluated.
2002-03 Topps Manu Ginobili RC #135
The key rookie card of the Argentine magician who transformed the sixth man role. Ginobili won four NBA championships with the Spurs, an Olympic gold medal with Argentina, and a Sixth Man of the Year award. His fearless Eurostep and creative passing made him one of the most beloved players in NBA history.
2002-03 Topps Chrome Amare Stoudemire #164
Amare Stoudemire 2002-03 Topps Chrome rookie. The #9 pick out of high school became the ROY and a 6x All-Star. His pick-and-roll chemistry with Steve Nash in the Seven Seconds or Less Suns revolutionized modern basketball.
2002-03 Upper Deck Ryan Miller RC #432
Ryan Miller 2002-03 Upper Deck rookie card. The 2010 Olympic MVP for Team USA was the best American goaltender of his generation. His Vezina Trophy in 2010 and 391 career wins make him the winningest American-born goalie in NHL history.
Henrik Zetterberg 2002 Topps Chrome #186 Rookie Card
2008 Conn Smythe MVP — led Red Wings to last Cup. 960 career points. Captain who wore the C until back injury forced retirement.
Mark Prior 2002 Bowman Chrome #332 Rookie Card
The most hyped pitching prospect of a generation. Prior went from #2 overall pick to 245 strikeouts in 2003 at age 22. Injuries robbed him of what should have been a Hall of Fame career. The great what-if of modern baseball.
Julius Peppers 2002 Topps Chrome #185 Rookie Card
HOF 2024. 159.5 career sacks — 4th all time. 6-7, 295 lbs with WR athleticism. Also played UNC basketball. Most gifted pass rusher ever.
Rick Nash 2002 Topps Chrome #165 Rookie Card
The #1 overall pick in 2002 from the OHL. Nash scored 437 career goals across 15 NHL seasons. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2004 and was the face of the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise.
Carlos Zambrano 2002 Topps Chrome #330 Rookie Card
The Cubs ace for a decade. Big Z threw a no-hitter in 2008, was a 3x All-Star, and was one of the best-hitting pitchers of the modern era with 24 career home runs.
Dwight Freeney 2002 Topps Chrome #207 Rookie Card
The spin move. The most devastating pass rush technique in NFL history. 125.5 career sacks. Super Bowl XLI champion with the Colts. 7x Pro Bowl, 3x First-Team All-Pro. At 6-1, 268, he was undersized but unstoppable. Changed how defensive ends play the game.
Caron Butler 2002 Topps Chrome #152 Rookie Card
Tough Guy. #10 pick by Miami. Arrested 15 times before age 15 — turned his entire life around through basketball. 2x All-Star who earned everything. Eventually won his ring with the 2011 Mavericks (injured, but integral to the culture).
Tyson Chandler 2002 Topps Chrome #130 Rookie Card
The #2 pick from the 2001 prep-to-pro class alongside Kwame Brown. Chandler became the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year and the anchor of the 2011 Mavericks championship team that dethroned LeBron Heat.
Carlos Zambrano 2002 Donruss #369 Rookie Card
Venezuelan fireballer who brought intensity and emotion to Wrigley Field. Zambrano went 16-7 with a 3.11 ERA in his breakout 2004 season and became a fan favorite at the Friendly Confines.
2002 Topps Clinton Portis #364
RC of the eccentric running back who rushed for over 9,900 career yards and was famous for his elaborate press conference costumes. Portis burst onto the scene with 1,508 rushing yards as a rookie with the Broncos, then was traded to Washington where he became the franchise's all-time leading rusher.
2002 Score Clinton Portis #285
Score RC of the Miami Hurricane who won a national championship in 2001 before being drafted in the 2nd round. Portis was part of a legendary 2002 Broncos running back class (alongside Mike Anderson) and exploded for back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons before the blockbuster Champ Bailey trade.