The trading card industry experienced a lull in popularity between 1992 and the early 2000s. The economy tightened, several trading card lines were halted and card shops across the country closed their doors for good. Not surprisingly, this was also a period of very little lacrosse card production. However, four sets issued during that period have emerged to become some of the most important releases in nearly 150 years’ worth of lacrosse card manufacturing. Lacrosse Card Landscape articles for the month of July 2024 will focus on these sets: 1993 STX MILL, 1999 Choice NLL All-Stars, 2000 NLL Championship Game and 2001 MLL.
The last three sets I have written about represent box lacrosse: 1993 STXNastasi, 1999 NLL All-Stars and 2000 NLL Championship Game. The fourth set in this series is the lone field lacrosse set, and is perhaps the most intriguing of them all. At just 36 cards, the 2001 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) set is relatively small. But rarity and player selection make 2001 MLL a study in quality over quantity, and a very attractive element of any lacrosse card collection.
This set was a league issue and not produced by a major brand such as Upper Deck, which produced MLL cards in 2010 and 2011. Reliable information abouts its origin is limited as a result. What we do know is that the cards were released during the league’s inaugural season in 2001. Noted lacrosse collector, Jim Coughlin, was able to confirm that cards first appeared for sale at MLL games the weekend of August 19, 2001. Assuming they were available for the remainder of the season, these cards would have been available for only three weeks as the MLL Championship Game was held on September 3.
Complete sets, wrapped in clear and unmarked cellophane, have been seen on eBay in the past. It is believed that unsold cards were repackaged as complete sets and sold through a distributor after the season ended. It is also rumored that only 500 complete sets were printed, but no primary source material has surfaced to substantiate that claim.
Once past their undocumented origins, the cards themselves are quite attractive. Large action photos, informative player bios and stats, and colorful design elements on both sides contribute to a solid issue. As for the checklist, it is simple yet robust, with the league’s six teams represented by six cards each, for a total of 36 cards in the set:
BALTIMORE BAYHAWKS
Greg Cattrano, Dan Denihan, Rob Doerr, Tom Marechek, Mark Millon, Josh Sims
BOSTON CANNONS
Mike Battista, Ryan Curtis, Billy Daye, Doug Knight, Dan Radebaugh, Michael Watson
BRIDGEPORT BARRAGE
Roy Colsey, Jamie Hanford, Mario Lopez, Blake Miller, Matt Panetta, Brian Silcott
LONG ISLAND LIZARDS
John Gagliardi, Gary Gait, A.J. Haugen, Sal Locascio, Casey Powell, Vinnie Sombrotto
NEW JERSEY PRIDE
Christian Cook, Jon Hess, Jesse Hubbard, Jay Jalbert, Steve Koudelka, Tom Ryan
ROCHESTER RATTLERS
Ric Beardsley, Jake Bergey, Brian Dougherty, John Grant Jr., Ryan Powell, Tim Soudan
Beyond their design and rarity, the following makes these cards notable in the lacrosse genre:
- As their first cards showed them playing box lacrosse, this is the first set to show many individuals as field players including Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductees Gary Gait, Casey Powell, John Grant Jr. and Mark Millon.
- The following Hall of Fame rookie cards are part of this set:
- Brian Dougherty – Pro Lacrosse HOF
- John Gagliardi – Pro Lacrosse HOF
- Greg Cattrano – Pro Lacrosse HOF
- Josh Sims – Pro Lacrosse HOF
- Dough Knight – U.S. Lacrosse HOF
- A.J. Haugen – U.S. Lacrosse HOF
- Michael Watson – U.S. Lacrosse HOF
- Roy Colsey – Pro Lacrosse HOF, U.S. Lacrosse HOF
- Jesse Hubbard – Pro Lacrosse HOF, U.S. Lacrosse HOF
- Ryan Powell – Pro Lacrosse HOF, U.S. Lacrosse HOF
- Jay Jalbert – Pro Lacrosse HOF, U.S. Lacrosse HOF
As of this writing, only 133 of these cards have been submitted to PSA for grading, which is less than the equivalent of four complete sets. Casey Powell has been submitted the most (six cards), and only 43 cards in total have earned a PSA Gem Mint 10 distinction.
In terms of the secondary market, these cards (graded or raw) simply do not come up for sale often enough to determine values. Supply and demand are the main factors in determining value. Supply (or lack thereof) is certainly a factor here and the players included should contribute as the demand for lacrosse cards, and this set in particular, continues to grow.
For whatever reason, the MLL never issued another trading card set. It is unfortunate because this first effort resulted in attractive cards that ended up as victims of a poor sales plan. Had the league issued follow up efforts with more sets, the lacrosse card market might have developed even more over the last 20 years.