THE LYONS HUNT • NATIONAL TREASURES • ROOKIE NFL SHIELD 1/1
THE LYONS HUNT
STRIKES
Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1.
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THE LYONS HUNT STRIKES: THE SAM LAPORTA REVEAL
The hunt setting, the display case and the reveal of the Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1. Why we bought it. Why we're holding.
0:30
The Lyons Hunt landed a Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL shield 1/1 for $1,300. For Connor and me, the excitement is in finding a card we want to own and understanding why we want to hold it. This is the story of the purchase, the sales we studied and the opportunity we see ahead.
THE PURCHASE
THE CARD WE BOUGHT
The hunt setting, the display case and the reveal of the Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1. Why we bought it. Why we're holding.
Connor and I bought a 2023 Panini National Treasures Sam LaPorta NFL Shields rookie 1/1, card number SHD-SLA, for $1,300. The large NFL shield and blue-and-white Lions design give it strong visual appeal. National Treasures, rookie status and the full shield are central to our buying thesis.
CARD FACTS
Fig. 1 The actual purchase photo. The full shield, the LaPorta name and the 1/1 marking are visible; the $1,300 sticker is the acquisition price.
A NOTE ON THE DETAILS
The card has no autograph. Its back states, "The enclosed authentic memorabilia is not from any specific game or event." That wording does not establish that LaPorta wore it in a game.
THE COMPARISONS
WHAT OTHER TIGHT END 1 OF 1 CARDS SOLD FOR
The hunt setting, the display case and the reveal of the Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1. Why we bought it. Why we're holding.
| NATIONAL TREASURES CARD | RECORDED SALE | COMPARISON |
|---|---|---|
|
Travis Kelce 2013 rookie NFL shield autograph [1]
|
$32,700
September 2025
|
Rookie shield with autograph.
|
|
Travis Kelce 2023 Tremendous Treasures NFL shield BGS 9 [2]
|
$1,687
December 28, 2024
|
Veteran shield without autograph.
|
|
Brock Bowers 2024 Colossal rookie NFL shield BGS 9 [3]
CLOSEST COMPARISON
|
$3,720
May 4, 2026 $2,880
June 8, 2026 |
Same card sold twice; closest comparison here.
|
|
George Kittle NT Colossal Tag patch autograph CGC Authentic [4]
|
$810
April 7, 2025
|
Veteran tag patch autograph; listed as 2023 NT '22.
|
Kelce's $1,687 and Kittle's $810 results include buyer's premium. Prices are historical results, not current offers for our card. Sources are listed at the end of the article.
THE READ
WHAT THE COMPARISONS TELL US
The hunt setting, the display case and the reveal of the Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1. Why we bought it. Why we're holding.
The Bowers rookie shield is the closest comparison in this group because it combines rookie status, National Treasures and an NFL shield without an autograph. Its different player, subset and BGS 9 grade still matter. The two sales show both meaningful demand and price variability: the same card sold for about 23% less the second time.
Kelce's $32,700 rookie shield autograph demonstrates the high end of this category. It is not a direct valuation for an unsigned LaPorta shield. The lower Kelce veteran-shield and Kittle tag-autograph results also show why "National Treasures 1/1" alone does not determine a price. Each specific 1/1 is unique, while collectors can choose among other 1/1 cards of the same player.
“Each specific 1/1 is unique, while collectors can choose among other 1/1 cards of the same player.”
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THE PRICING TOOLKIT
The tools, the competition and the channel economics behind every price in this article.
Fig. 2 Rookie status, NFL shield, one of one. The three things that made us buy it.
THE THESIS
WHY WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD
The hunt setting, the display case and the reveal of the Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1. Why we bought it. Why we're holding.
Our thesis is that Drew Petzing's offense could create more receiving opportunities for LaPorta. The Lions' own analysis describes a favorable fit and points to Trey McBride's 2025 production under Petzing: 126 catches, 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns. It also notes that injuries to other Arizona skill players contributed to McBride's volume. Detroit's target distribution will be different. [5]
TREY MCBRIDE • 2025 UNDER DREW PETZING • ARIZONA
We are buying exposure to that opportunity before knowing the outcome. Better football performance could increase collector interest, but it must translate into buyers willing to pay more for this particular card.
THE DECISION
OUR DECISION AT $1,300
The hunt setting, the display case and the reveal of the Sam LaPorta National Treasures rookie NFL Shield 1/1. Why we bought it. Why we're holding.
WORKING DISPOSITION
HOLD
Revisited as the season develops and new evidence arrives.
PURCHASE PRICE
$1,300
Our acquisition cost, not a market valuation.
UPSIDE SCENARIO TO TEST
$2,000 – $2,500
Not a verified current valuation, guaranteed return or ceiling. A stronger market could support more; weaker demand could leave the card below our purchase price.
VERIFIED PRIOR PUBLIC SALE OF SHD-SLA
None located
We have not found a verified prior public sale of this exact card.
Our working disposition is HOLD. A future $2,000–$2,500 sale is an upside scenario to test, not a verified current valuation, guaranteed return or ceiling. A stronger market could support more; weaker demand could leave the card below our purchase price. We have not located a verified prior public sale of this exact LaPorta SHD-SLA card.
Historical sales inform our purchase. Scarcity, future demand and timing inform when we choose to sell. We will revisit the thesis as the season develops and new sales or serious buyer offers provide evidence.
THE HUNT CONTINUES
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The next card we chase, the sales we study and what changes our thesis. Follow along, and join Connor and Tommy live on Whatnot for the Island Ink Hunt every Tuesday night.
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