It took him a few years to get the recognition he deserved, but most NFL fans and collectors now recognize this simple fact: LaDainian Tomlinson is the best running back, and maybe the best player, in pro football today.
Perhaps playing his college ball at TCU, not exactly a school known as a football power, kept Tomlinson under the radar. His numbers certainly spoke for themselves, as he twice led the nation in rushing and set an NCAA single-game rushing record with 406 yards against UTEP in 1999.
After trading their first overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons (who used it to take Michael Vick), the San Diego Chargers ended up at No. 5 and selected Tomlinson. He paid immediate dividends, rushing for 1,236 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
Tomlinson has done even better as his career has progressed. Since 2002, the man known as "L.T." has rushed for at least 1,300 yards and 13 TDs each year. He's averaged over 66 receptions a year and even thrown six touchdown passes. His 2006 season was unquestionably one for the ages, as Tomlinson broke the NFL single-season record with 31 TDs, recorded a career-high 1,815 rushing yards and won the AP's NFL MVP award.
Despite his long list of accomplishments, Tomlinson lived in Vick's hobby shadow for the first part of his career. But things are changing, and with the Chargers enjoying greater success as a team and L.T. showing no signs of slowing down, football card collectors have steadily driven up the prices of his 50+ rookie cards.
Expect to pay fairly steep prices for Tomlinson's best 2001 cards, like his Playoff Contenders # 150 and his SP Authentic # 120. That doesn't mean there aren't bargains out there, like his autographed Topps Debut # 103, but even his more affordable cards will continue to climb as the multi-talented back continues to thrill fans and write his name in the NFL record book.
LaDainian Tomlinson 2001 Rookie Cards
- Absolute Memorabilia # 158 - football swatch card #'d to 850
- Bowman # 210
- Bowman Chrome # 190 - #'d to 1999
- Bowman's Best # 124 - #'d to 1499
- Crown Royale # 151 - autographed, #'d to 250
- Donruss Classics # 109 - #'d to 475
- Donruss Elite # 114 - #'d to 500
- E-X # 133 - #'d to 1000
- Finest # 132 - #'d to 1000
- Fleer Authority # 113 - #'d to 1350
- Fleer Focus # 185 - #'d to 1850
- Fleer Game Time # 128 - #'d to 2001
- Fleer Legacy # 99 - #'d to 999
- Fleer Premium # 206 - #'d to 2001
- Fleer Showcase # 124 - #'d to 500
- Fleer Tradition # 414
- Fleer Tradition Glossy # 414 - #'d to 2001
- Hot Prospects # 118
- Leaf Certified Materials # 128 - jersey card #'d to 400
- Leaf Rookies and Stars # 212 - SP
- Pacific # 459 - autographed, #'d to 1500
- Pacific Dynagon # 108 - autographed, #'d to 199
- Pacific Impressions # 203 - #'d to 117
- Pacific Invincible # 290 - jersey card #'d to 250
- Pacific Prism Atomic # 189 - #'d to 506
- Playoff Contenders # 150 - autographed w/ announced print run of 600
- Playoff Honors # 229 - jersey card #'d to 725
- Playoff Preferred # 201 - jersey card #'d to 400
- Private Stock # 161 - #'d to 200
- Quantum Leaf # 210
- Score # 283
- Score Select # 283 - #'d to 275
- SP Authentic # 120 - jersey card #'d to 500
- SP Game Used # 96 - jersey card #'d to 500
- SPx # 122 - jersey card w/ two versions #'d to 250 each
- Stadium Club # 140
- Titanium # 196 - jersey card #'d to 75
- Titanium Post Season # 77 - #'d to 795
- Topps # 350
- Topps Chrome # 221 - #'d to 999
- Topps Debut # 103 - autographed
- Topps Gallery # 103
- Topps Heritage # 136 - #'d to 1956
- Topps Reserve # 104 - #'d to 999
- UD Game Gear # 108 - #'d to 500
- UD Graded # 53 - two versions #'d to 500 each
- Ultra # 253 - #'d to 2499
- Upper Deck # 230
- Upper Deck Legends # 112 - #'d to 750
- Upper Deck MVP # 294
- Upper Deck Ovation # 146 - #'d to 250
- Upper Deck Pros and Prospects # 104 - #'d to 1000
- Upper Deck Rookie F/X # 293F - #'d to 750
- Upper Deck Top Tier # 227 - #'d to 1500
- Upper Deck Victory # 416
- Upper Deck Vintage # 252
- Vanguard # 141 - #'d to 450