2001 Upper Deck Graded Rookie Series #61 Freddie Mitchell Autograph (BGS 8.5)

This is a professionaly graded sports trading card featuring Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell. The item is a 2001 Upper Deck Graded Rookie Series card, specifically number 61 in the set. It features a hard-signed autograph in blue ink on a white sticker application, which is a common manufacturing style for the era. The card includes a serial number in blue foil, '021/750', indicating its limited production run. The layout is horizontal, displaying Mitchell in his green Eagles jersey against a white and grey background with his jersey number '84' ghosted in the design. The card is encased in a rigid, tamper-evident Beckett Grading Services (BGS) plastic slab. The internal label identifies the card details and provides a grade of 8.5, which corresponds to 'Near Mint-Mint+' condition. The grading label is white with black text and the silver Beckett 'B' logo. Physically, the card appears well-centered with sharp corners and clean edges protected by the case. There are no visible signs of fading on the autograph or significant scratching on the outer protective slab, maintaining high display quality and archival protection for the collectible.

Upon visual examination of this 2001 Upper Deck Graded Rookie Series Freddie Mitchell (#61), I find the item to be in attractive collector-grade condition. The Beckett Grading Services (BGS) slab provides a Near Mint-Mint+ (8.5) grade, which reflects strong centering and sharp corner geometry inherent to the 2001 Upper Deck stock. The blue ink sticker autograph remains bold without evidence of UV-related fading (light-stripping), and the serial numbering '021/750' is crisp and legible. Market demand for Freddie Mitchell remains centered on Philadelphia Eagles team collectors and '01 rookie set enthusiasts. While he was a first-round selection, his career statistics limit the card's ceiling compared to contemporaries like Reggie Wayne or Steve Smith. The BGS 8.5 grade is solid but falls short of the 'Gem Mint 10' threshold preferred by high-end investors, keeping the value in the mid-range for this specific print run. Recent comparables for serial-numbered rookie autographs from this era fluctuate based on the specific set tier; Upper Deck Graded is a respected mid-tier product. Limitations of Image-Based Appraisal: While the BGS slab protects against tampering, I cannot personally verify the integrity of the holographic seals or the internal card surface for micro-scratches under magnification. For a full authentication, I would require an in-person physical inspection of the slab’s Sonic Weld to ensure it hasn't been compromised. Provenance documentation and a verification of the BGS serial number against the Beckett database would be the standard procedure for final valuation.