Yankees’ Luke Weaver reunited with rare $10K rookie card thanks to fan

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One of the most compelling breakout stories on the Yankees roster last season, Luke Weaver capped off a memorable year with a unique gift—one that could stay with him for a lifetime.

Yankees reliever Luke Weaver receives rare, one-of-a-kind card as heartfelt gift

As first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Susan Lulgjuraj, the present came from someone who’s long been connected to the Yankees clubhouse: Frank Luna.

Luna, a New Jersey native, has worked closely with young Yankees players for several years. He helps them navigate signing events and public appearances, but his passion extends beyond logistics. Luna has a personal tradition—he tries to track down a rare and meaningful card of each player he works with, hoping to one day hand it over in person.

What happened

This time, the lucky recipient was Luke Weaver, who emerged as a surprising key figure in the Yankees bullpen and closed games down the stretch. While helping facilitate a signing for Weaver at Brandon Steiner’s CollectibleXChange, Luna saw an opportunity to deliver something truly special.
Luke Weaver had acquired a rare gem: his own 2014 Bowman Draft Chrome Autographs Superfractor—a true collector’s item. It’s a 1-of-1, making it the only one of its kind, and it has been graded Gem Mint 10 by CGC Cards (formerly CSG). In other words, it’s a card that rarely surfaces in the secondary market.

“I was watching Luke Weaver’s card market pretty closely,” Luna said. “When his Superfractor popped up on eBay, I immediately contacted the seller and we worked out a deal.”

Luna had been holding on to the card, waiting for the right moment to give it to Weaver. That moment came last week. According to Luna, the Yankees right-hander was thrilled.

“He was stoked,” Luna said. “Just the way things are going in his life right now, he mentioned that he’d love to share the card with one of his kids someday. It was a cool experience.”

The exchange wasn’t entirely one-sided. Luke Weaver gave Luna something in return: an orange parallel card from the same 2014 Bowman Draft Chrome set, signed with a personalized message. “Frank Thanks for the Super!” he wrote. He even added “1/1” to the inscription, making that card a unique item in its own right.

Moments like these are what drive Luna’s work. While he’s collaborated with several high-profile Yankees, including Aaron Boone, Paul O’Neill, and Oswaldo Cabrera, he says each interaction brings its own kind of meaning. With Weaver, there was a deeper sense of connection.

Luke Weaver, who made his MLB debut in 2015, has faced plenty of adversity throughout his career. He bounced around teams and shifted from a starting pitcher to a reliever—trying to find the right role. Last season, everything clicked. He not only stabilized a spot in the bullpen but stepped up as the Yankees’ go-to option in high-leverage moments, including closing out key games late in the season.

Luna could relate to the underdog story. He was recently laid off and unsure of what would come next. Rather than let that stop him, he leaned on his relationships in the baseball world and poured his energy into working with athletes and helping them build connections in their communities.

His mission goes beyond trading cards. Luna often introduces players to local Little League teams and helps them make a lasting impact off the field. Then, as part of his own tradition, he hunts down one special card to commemorate their journey.

“The cool thing is I bought it last year with the thought that it would make its way back to him one day,” Luna said. “Weaver’s story is unique. He’s battled through so much in the majors. Being able to return something like that to him—it just felt right.”

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