Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Blake Martinez scored a pretty penny for an ultra-rare Pokémon card at an online auction.
The veteran linebacker sold his 1998 Pokémon Illustrator card online at Goldin Auctions. The sale ended on Saturday evening. The final sale price? A cool $672,000.
Per the Guinness Book of World Records, the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold was a Pikachu Illustrator that had a PSA Grade of 10. YouTube star Logan Paul purchased it in Dubai in July 2021 for $5.275 million.
As previously noted, Martinez showed his special card to Rick Harrison and Chumlee of the popular Pawn Stars television series at Harrison’s Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Per Spotrac, Martinez is playing on a one-year deal with the Raiders for $1.12 million. So yes, the Pokémon Illustrator netted Martinez more than 50 percent of his salary for the 2022 season. Not a bad payday at all.
Martinez was released by the New York Giants ahead of the 2022 season. He had one year remaining on a three-year pact he signed in 2020. The Giants, under new GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, made it a priority to move on from several of Dave Gettleman’s expensive player signings.
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The Raiders’ current defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, was the Giants’ DC when Martinez played there in 2020 and 2021. In three game appearances for Las Vegas this season, Martinez has nine tackles.
Many expected Las Vegas to make the playoffs for a second straight year after they traded for All-Pro wideout Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers. But the Raiders have lost five of their first seven games, and the clock is ticking on their playoff hopes.
Martinez and the Raiders will try to get back on track this Sunday when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are trying to end a five-game losing skid.
