Tom Brady’s childhood love for Don Mattingly cards inspired his growing trading card business beyond the NFL (Image via Getty Images)
The company planned to open its 17th store in Palo Alto, California, in August 2026. It also set a target of 40 locations by 2028, according to the report.
Costa told that the two speak daily. Brady’s involvement goes beyond promoting the brand. Brady even worked the phones to improve CardVault’s allocation of Pokémon cards, which have become popular with customers. His NFL career made him a household name, but baseball cards have remained a personal passion. Through CardVault, Brady is turning that childhood interest into a business while helping a new generation of collectors discover the same excitement.
“Since I was seven years old, I only wanted Don Mattingly cards,” Brady told Mattingly at Fanatics Fest in July 2026. During discussions about the partnership, Brady told CardVault cofounder Chris Costa, “I don’t want to do a store. Tom Brady has seven Super Bowl rings, but his love for baseball cards started long before his NFL career took off. As a child, he spent his money collecting cards of Don Mattingly, his favourite player. After years, Brady still owns that collection and sometimes brings it to CardVault store openings. What began as a childhood hobby has now become a business venture that keeps him connected to the sports collectibles world. Brady did not hide his excitement when he met Mattingly at Fanatics Fest. The former New York Yankees star had been his favourite player since childhood, and his cards once filled the pages of Brady’s binder. I want to open all of them with you guys. Costa recalled the exchange in an interview with Front Office Sports