Los Angeles
Reuters
The surprising announcement by Tom Brady, 44, that he will return to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season has delighted football fans. However, it probably disappointed the person who bought the ball from his “last touchdown pass” the day before.
The undisclosed buyer paid $518,628 for what was thought to be the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s last touchdown ball. Bidding started at US$100,000 (R$512,000 at current exchange rates) last month.
“If there’s any item in the field of sports collectibles that needs no embellishment, it’s this piece of history: Tom Brady’s career-ending touchdown ball,” auction house Lelands said in its description of the ball.
An anonymous person picked up the ball after Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans threw it into the stands in the fourth quarter of a game in which the Buccaneers lost 30-27 to the Los Angeles Rams.
A seven-time Super Bowl champion, the husband of Gisele Bündchen, 41, announced his retirement six weeks ago but has since changed his mind and will be back next season.
The seller was satisfied with the sale prior to the announcement of the player’s return. “We stayed the whole game and I kind of held the ball like a baby,” the anonymous salesman told ESPN.
“We stood still for a while as the players left the field, so I tucked it into my jacket and we walked out as normal. No one came up to us or anything.”
Lelands auctioned off Brady’s first touchdown ball, which took in $428,841 less than a year ago.
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