Login Sign Up Free
Defunct

Press Pass

Press Pass was a draft-and-prospect card maker known for football, basketball and racing autographs.

1992–2011 United States Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Sports cardsFootballBasketballRacing
Image gallery (7) Pre-grade a card
Vince Wilfork 2004 Press Pass SE #33 FOOTBALL Card
Vince Wilfork 2004 Press Pass SE #33 FOOTBALL Card

Press Pass at a glance

Press Pass was a draft-and-prospect card maker known for football, basketball and racing autographs.

Full history, sources and grading notes below. Last verified · Published · Confidence: Medium

Company history

Draft and prospect focus[1][2]

Press Pass entered the market in 1992 with a focus on draft prospects and racing. Its football and basketball products gave collectors early cards of players before their professional debuts, and autographs became a core part of the brand.

Legends and closure[1][2]

Press Pass Legends shifted the focus to retired stars and vintage-style design. The company closed in 2011, and its catalogue remains a reference for prospect collectors and racing card specialists.

Timeline

Dated milestones with a source for each event. Hover a marker for the short label; the list below carries the detail.

Press Pass timeline
Press Pass timelineDated milestones in the history of Press Pass.1992: Company foundedCompany founded19921995: Autograph focusAutograph focus19952004: Press Pass LegendsPress Pass Legends20042011: Company closesCompany closes2011
View timeline events
YearEventDetail
1992Company foundedPress Pass enters the prospect card market.
1995Autograph focusPress Pass expands its autograph-driven products.
2004Press Pass LegendsLegends focuses on retired stars.
2011Company closesPress Pass ceases operations.
  1. 1992
    Company founded[1]

    Press Pass enters the prospect card market.

  2. 1995
    Autograph focus[2]

    Press Pass expands its autograph-driven products.

  3. 2004
    Press Pass Legends[2]

    Legends focuses on retired stars.

  4. 2011
    Company closes[1]

    Press Pass ceases operations.

Brand identity

Image archive

Local, provenance-recorded images. Captions and source credits are part of the record; a missing section is shown as an explicit gap rather than filled with a placeholder.

Card fronts & backs

Open the full gallery →
Vince Wilfork 2004 Press Pass SE #33 FOOTBALL Card
Card fronts · 2004Vince Wilfork 2004 Press Pass SE #33 FOOTBALL CardeBay listing image
Jeremy Shockey 2002 Press Pass #33 Football Card
Card fronts · 2002Jeremy Shockey 2002 Press Pass #33 Football CardeBay listing image
Tarvaris Jackson signed autograph auto 2006 Press Pass Football Card
Card fronts · 2006Tarvaris Jackson signed autograph auto 2006 Press Pass Football CardeBay listing image
Vince Wilfork 2004 Press Pass SE #33 FOOTBALL Card — reverse.
Card backs · 2004Vince Wilfork 2004 Press Pass SE #33 FOOTBALL Card — reverse.eBay listing image
Jeremy Shockey 2002 Press Pass #33 Football Card — reverse.
Card backs · 2002Jeremy Shockey 2002 Press Pass #33 Football Card — reverse.eBay listing image

Notable sets

Notable sets
YearSetWhy it mattersSource
19921992 Press Pass FootballThe brand’s first football prospect set.[2]
20042004 Press Pass LegendsA retired-star set with vintage-style design.[2]

Grading notes

How this manufacturer's stock, cutting and production method affect the four grading pillars.

Prospect stock[2]

Press Pass cards use standard card stock and often show corner wear from handling. Autographs can smudge.

Centring[2]

Centring varies; check the border symmetry before submitting.

How to identify Press Pass cards

1992-2011[1]

The Press Pass wordmark and product name appear on the card; prospect and racing checklists are typical.

Legends[1]

Press Pass Legends uses retired players and a vintage-inspired design.

Not sure which printing you have?

Upload a front and back photo and get an AI condition read plus identification evidence.

Grade & identify

Frequently asked questions

When did Press Pass start making cards?

Press Pass began issuing cards in 1992.

Who owns Press Pass now?

Press Pass is defunct; its brand assets have changed hands over time.

What is Press Pass known for?

Press Pass was a draft-and-prospect card maker known for football, basketball and racing autographs.

Sources & methodology

Every factual claim in the profile is tied to the numbered sources below. Translated sources are tagged with their original language. Media provenance is recorded per image; images are stored locally and credited to their source.

  1. Wikipedia: Press Pass (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
  2. Cardboard Connection: Press Pass (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)

Unverified or incomplete

  • Text-first draft; media, design evolution and people/place sections are pending.

Cite this profile

PreGradeCards Research. “Press Pass.” Card Manufacturers Directory. Last verified 2026-11-07. https://pregradecards.com/manufacturers/press-pass

Found an error? Report a correction with the source you are relying on.