Ben Roethlisberger Rookie Card Market Guide

As one of the great quarterbacks of his generation, Ben Roethlisberger played his entire 18-year NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2006, at the age of 23, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl. Winning a Lombardi Trophy at such a young age made him a fan favorite for Pittsburgh fans, but did his success on the field translate to his rookie cards and their values? Here’s a breakdown of some of the QB’s most popular rookie cards along with their current trending market values.

From Rookie to Super Bowl Champ

Roethlisberger was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 and initially began his rookie season as a third-string quarterback. However, after veteran QBs Charlie Batch and Tommy Maddox were unable to play due to injuries, Roethlisberger stepped in during Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, completing 12 out of 29 passes and recording 176 yards and two touchdowns. From then on, he became the team’s starting quarterback.

Under his leadership, the Steelers became the first team in the AFC to have 15 regular season wins. After finishing his rookie season with a 14-1 record, (including the playoffs), he was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and chosen for the NFL All-Rookie team.

In the 2005 season, Roethlisberger led the 11-5 Steelers to a 21-10 Super Bowl win against the Seattle Seahawks. With the victory, Roethlisberger took over Tom Brady’s record as the youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Comeback

In 2007, Roethlisberger was selected for the first of six career Pro Bowls during his almost two-decade pro career. A year later, the Steelers began another run for the championship. In Super Bowl XLIII, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in what is considered one of the most dramatic Super Bowl endings of all time.

Arizona initiated a comeback of their own that gave them a 23-20 lead late in the game. With 2:30 left on the clock, Roethlisberger drove his team down the field and threw a six-yard touchdown pass (with only 35 seconds remaining) for the win.

Roethlisberger made his third Super Bowl appearance with the Steelers in 2010, this time losing to the Green Bay Packers 31-25. The following year, Roethlisberger surpassed Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw’s longstanding record for the most pass completions (2,026) in Steelers history.

A decade later, during a 2020 postseason match against the Cleveland Browns (which the Browns won 48-37), Roethlisberger set NFL records for the most pass completions in a single game (47) and the second-most passing yards (501) in a playoff game.

Roethlisberger announced his retirement in 2022. Among NFL quarterbacks with at least 1,500 career attempts, he finished his career ranked fifth in career passing yards (64,088), eighth in touchdowns (418) and fifth in completions (5,440). He was also one of only six quarterbacks to win against all 31 other teams in the NFL.

Are Ben Roethlisberger Rookie Cards Valuable?

When Roethlisberger made his professional debut, the sports card industry was just revamping from its notorious “junk wax” era of the 1990s, when cards were massively over-produced. Manufacturers started to focus more on creating special, limited-run premium cards and putting higher-quality touches into their card packages.

Many of Roethlisberger’s cards reflect these changes, especially his signature, jersey patch and Chrome Refractor cards. In top condition, some of these cards can trend for five figures.

Investment Potential for Ben Roethlisberger Rookie Cards

As a guaranteed Hall of Famer, one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation and one of the greatest Steelers of all time, Roethlisberger is an icon of the game. This bodes well for the investment potential of his sports cards, especially for rookie cards in top-grade condition.

Top Ben Roethlisberger Rookie Cards

Here's a look at eight of the most popular Ben Roethlisberger rookie cards:

• 2004 Playoff Contenders #106 - #’d/541
• 2004 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Jersey Autographs #213 - #’d/299
• 2004 Bowman Chrome Autographs #111 - #’d/199
• 2004 Topps Chrome Refractor #166
• 2004 Topps Finest #108
• 2004 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Rookie Autographs #127 - #’d/150
• 2004 Upper Deck SP Authentic Sign of the Times #SOT-BR
• 2004 Fleer Tradition #333

Here’s how Ben Roethlisberger rookie cards are trending on tracking sites like SportsCardsPro and PriceGuide.Cards. Since these sites are updated daily, prices are subject to change at any time.

2004 Playoff Contenders Autograph #106 - #’d/541 ($14,700)

With a print run of 541 copies, this quality card shows an image of Roethlisberger preparing to throw the football, set against black and gray “Steelers Rookie Ticket” graphics. Roethlisberger’s signature appears on a sticker attached at the bottom.

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $999, Grade 9 at $3,042 and Grade 9.5 at $3,812. Additionally, Gem Mint tops out at $4,594 on the price tracking site.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $356 and a top price of $8,975. Graded trends at an average price of $1,065 and a top price of $14,700 (grades unspecified).

2004 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Jersey Autographs #213 - #’d/299 ($12,550)

A collectors’ favorite that is limited to only 299 copies, this beauty shows an image of Roethlisberger holding his Steelers helmet and facing the camera. It’s flanked by a jersey patch embedded in the card and a bold signature at the bottom.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $628 and a top price of $3,800. Graded trends at an average price of $1,760 and a top price of $12,550 (grades unspecified).

SportsCardsPro shows Grade 8 trending at $1,124.

2004 Bowman Chrome Autographs #111 - #’d/199 ($6,782)

Limited to a print run of 199, this premium card is made of heavy cardstock and features an action photo of Roethlisberger about to throw a pass. The background is printed in shimmering, glossy gold, enhanced with a bold signature across the bottom half.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $296 and a top price of $2,662. Graded trends at an average price of $670 and a top price of $6,782 (grades unspecified).

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $600, Grade 8 at $838 and Grade 9 at $1,323. Grade 9.5 trends at $3,270 and Gem Mint at $4,500.

2004 Topps Chrome Refractor #166 ($5,475)

Topps Chrome cards are always popular, and this classy card has an elegant, simple retro vibe that greatly appeals to a lot of collectors. It features a striking action image of Roethlisberger setting up for a pass, framed in white borders with a black “Steelers” banner at the top and Roethlisberger’s name at the bottom in gold. This card also comes in a Gold X-Fractor Parallel that’s highly sought by collectors and even more valuable.

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $158, Grade 8 at $219 and Grade 9 at $350. Grade 9.5 trends at $543 and Gem Mint at $5,475.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $41 and a top price of $1,375. Graded trends at an average price of $155 and a top price of $2,200 (grades unspecified).

2004 Topps Finest #108 ($3,150)

With a print run of 399 copies, this popular card shows an action image of Roethlisberger about to make a pass, set against a flashy set of multicolored circles on a white background. The on-card signature is featured at the bottom.

Collectors also look for the Refractor version, which is limited to 199 copies and features shiny gold reflective graphics.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $168.14 and a top price of $1,302.50. Graded trends at an average price of $330.99 and a top price of $1,912.50 (grades unspecified).

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $525, Grade 8 at $462 and Grade 9 at $481. Grade 9.5 trends at $659 and Gem Mint at $3,150. Gold Refractor Ungraded trends at $910 and in Grade 9.5 trends at $2,025.

2004 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Rookie Autographs #127 - #’d/150 ($1,990)

This glamorous card shows a photo of Roethlisberger about to throw a pass, framed by a white and blue background with a bold signature at the bottom. Its sleek, streamlined look and limited run of 150 make it especially popular with collectors.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $336 and a top price of $1,100. Graded trends at an average price of $657 and a top price of $1,990 (grades unspecified).

2004 Upper Deck SP Authentic Sign of the Times #SOT-BR ($1,497)

This card is interesting because of its horizontal layout. It features a close-up headshot of Roethlisberger, accompanied by a bold on-card signature, with a black-and-silver “Sign of the Times” banner above.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $199 and a top price of $935. Graded trends at an average price of $302.67 and a top price of $1,497.49 (grades unspecified).

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $171, Grade 9 at $300 and Grade 9.5 at $330. Gold Parallel: Ungraded trends at $625.

2004 Fleer Tradition #333 ($600)

This Fleer Tradition issue has an appealing vintage look, with a low-key design reminiscent of 1960s cards that adds to its appeal. It features an unusual on-field image of Roethlisberger with his back to the camera in a practice jersey, framed by red and white graphics with a simple white border.

At PriceGuide.Cards, Ungraded trends at an average price of $10 and a top price of $600. Graded trends at an average price of $32 and a top price of $397 (grades unspecified).

SportsCardsPro shows Ungraded trending at $12, Grade 8 at $24 and Grade 9 at $36. Grade 9.5 trends at $43 and Gem Mint at $70.

Where Can I Find Ben Roethlisberger Rookie Cards?

You can find Ben Roethlisberger rookie cards at collectibles stores, sports card shows and auction houses across the country. Some of the most popular auction sites for sports memorabilia include:

• Heritage Auctions
• Robert Edwards Auctions
• Lelands
• PWCC
• SCP Auctions
• Invaluable
• eBay
• EBTH
• Sotheby’s
• Memory Lane
• Christie’s

Sports card shows are held year-round and are great sources for Ben Roethlisberger rookie cards. To find out about shows coming to your city, you can check local newspaper listings, social media sites and online collector forums.

How Are Ben Roethlisberger Rookie Cards Graded?

Professional appraisers grade sports cards by using a long-established numeric system that rates cards up to a Pristine 10. Here’s what the grades mean:

Pristine 10: No flaws, even at 10x magnification. This card has Perfect 10 ratings across the four grading criteria: edges, corners, centers and surfaces.

Gem Mint 10: This card will have a Perfect 10 score in three out of four grading criteria, with just a tiny, almost imperceptible flaw in the fourth.

Grade 9.5: Nearly Gem Mint, except for a minuscule production flaw or condition issue.

Grade 9: Nearly Mint, with an extremely minor production or condition flaw.

Grades 8 and below: Condition wear and production flaws, with cards graded according to the severity of these issues.

Raw: Just removed from its package.

Ungraded: Not graded.

Condition, rarity and collector interest are factors that drive sports card values. Of the three, collector interest is the least predictable and can fluctuate according to a player’s popularity or athletic performance. If players have a bad season or disappear from the limelight, their card prices may suffer.

Cards from Hall of Fame players typically retain higher values, but popularity still plays a part in collector demand. A rare Pristine 10 card from a player who isn’t as popular may not sell for as much as a lesser-grade card from a fan favorite. Likewise, auction bidding wars and record prices can also affect values.

Should I Get My Cards Graded?

Professional grading can confirm the authenticity of your sports cards and give them an established condition rating that can enhance their quality. During the grading process, a professional appraiser examines each card, identifying and assessing any manufacturing flaws, wear or condition issues. The card is assigned a condition rating. This information is entered into an international database and kept as a permanent record.

Collectors and dealers will often pay a higher price for graded and authenticated cards because they've been given an official stamp of approval according to industry standards. Likewise, graded cards often sell for more money than Ungraded ones. Grading gives your cards certified recognition, with a quality rating that will be recognized by future generations in the sports card industry.

For further information on CGC's 10-point Grading Scale and to find out more about our industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.com.

*Any mention of "investment potential" is for entertainment only and should not be construed as investment advice. The Certified Collectibles Group does not provide investment advice and is not liable for any buy, sell or trade decisions made by any parties.