I remember walking into the theater for “When We Were Kings” expecting to be educated about the era of Boxing where the heavyweight title still mattered. When Boxing matches were worldwide events, and the promotion of the fight was just as important as the fight itself. Instead of an education, I was wowed by the presence and personality of Muhammad Ali, someone I knew was more important to the sports youth of my dad than me. I was a fan of his bravado, and up until this past weekend, I was in awe of his contribution to everything sports – including trading cards.
Here are some of his better cards:
2000 Upper Deck Master Collection Muhammad Ali Dual Relic Auto
2000 Upper Deck Master Collection Muhammad Ali Relic Auto
2010 Sport Kings Muhammad Ali Auto BGS 9.5
2011 Leaf Metal Muhammad Ali Auto 1/1
Unlike other fighters, including Floyd Mayweather, Ali LOVED to sign for fans. He considered it an honor, and it showed in his desire to be a part of trading card sets going all the way back to his 1992 Pro Set card, which was one of the first real crazy chase cards in a football product. In fact, it was one of the first pack inserted autographs of the modern era. Be careful when buying one, however, there are A LOT of counterfeits.
Since then, Ali has made a truly deep connection with his fans through trading cards, including a fabled Master Collection from Upper Deck, which might be one of the best sets ever created. He has signed for all sorts of products, most recently for Brian Gray and Leaf, who put together a few entire products built around Ali and his colleagues
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As big of a loss as this was for the sports world, the loss has ripple effects that hit close to home for us. There arent many people left whose autograph is still worth as much as Ali’s autograph continues to be worth. People like Jordan, Brady and Tiger are up there along with others, but its rare for a boxer to carry the value Ali carries, despite how much he signed.
Fame is a huge thing in sports memorabilia, and that is no joke. Being that he was one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, it goes to show how much his career impacted both fans and the world. His charitable presence has been something that won him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but it also solidified such a huge legacy that extends into why so many people want his autograph in the first place. Ali was a giant, and he will be missed greatly by the trading card world.
I am just a few years younger than Ali. My dad was an amature boxer and that might have influenced my interest in boxing. I was glued to my TV for the 1960 Summer Olympics as I saw Cassius Clay win the Gold Metal, making all of us proud to be an American. I saw him knockout the unbeatable Sonny Liston to win The Heavyweight Championship. I was in awe of this great boxer named Cassius Clay.
Then I saw him refuse military service to our country as I signed up for the Vietnam War Draft. My feelings were mixed. Having come from a military background where twelve of my relatives fought for our country during WWII, The Korean War and Vietnam, I felt this blatant refusal was wrong.
As the years went by and I saw all the good that Muhammad Ali did for minorities, the disadvantaged and everyone who did not have a influential voice in making this a better country for so many Americans, I grew to understand and respect his position. Being the most outstanding and dynamic sports figure of my time aside, Mr. Ali was a man of compassion and dignity. He did more for mankind than any sports figure I can recall.
His affliction, Parkinson’s Syndrome brought attention and research monies to a disease which previously did not get the medical attention it deserved. My dad also had Parkinson’s and died from respiratory complications at the age of 69. Having died in 1991, my dad had received little benefit from the research which followed from the attention Ali drew; however, many Americans today receive superior medical attention because of Ali.
Muhammad Ali was a Champion like no other. Even though the Parkinson’s took his voice away in his later years, his mere presence added tremendous significance and meaning to every event and cause he attended. Having grown up with Muhammad Ali during my lifetime, I am a better man. My thanks to “The Greatest.”