What began in 1989 as a simple gesture of appreciation has grown into a beloved tradition in the trading card hobby. Pro Set, a newcomer to the NFL licensing scene, created special Santa Claus cards as thank you gifts for their dealers across North America. These festive cards quickly transcended their original purpose. Year after year, the tradition continued and expanded to other manufacturers. Santa Claus trading cards became a cherished part of the collecting community.
Today, Santa cards occupy a unique niche in the hobby. They see a notable surge in demand as the holiday season approaches each year. Some versions have become remarkably valuable, while others remain accessible to collectors of all levels. Whether you’re an investor or simply someone who appreciates the seasonal nostalgia, these cards hold a special place in the market. The story of Santa Claus trading cards now spans five decades. Let’s have a look at the most popular Santa cards that continue to intrigue collectors each December.
1989 Pro Set Football – Promos #1989 Santa Claus
This is the card that started it all. Pro Set released it as a promotional item, sending it to dealers along with a traditional holiday greeting card. It was their way of saying thank you for dealer support throughout the year. Because of this limited distribution, relatively few cards exist today, especially in top condition. The card features a charming illustration of Santa Claus. In the background, Pro Set founder Ludwell Denny can be seen peeking through the window. The artwork includes various holiday-themed elements alongside references to football and Pro Set products. It captures both the Christmas spirit and the excitement of the card collecting hobby.
Today, this card commands strong prices in the secondary market. Gem Mint copies sell in the $400 to $650 range. Mint condition examples typically go for $150 to $225.
In 2021, Leaf Trading Cards acquired the rights to the Pro Set brand and released new limited-edition versions of this Santa card.
1990 Pro Set Football – Inserts #1990 Santa Claus
The 1990 Pro Set Football Santa Claus #1990 insert card became one of the most recognizable oddball football cards of the early 1990s. It was inserted as a short print in 1990 Pro Set Series 2 packs. The card continued the Santa theme that began with Pro Set’s 1989 dealer promo, but this time as a true chase card in regular packs. This generated strong hobby buzz at the time. The card features a painted Santa by artist Rick Brown decorating a Christmas tree with football cards. The back includes text that playfully riffs on ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.’
Today, despite huge overall 1990 Pro Set print runs, the Santa #1990 remains a popular seasonal collectible. Raw copies typically sell for just a few dollars, while high-grade examples can command $50 to $75 for Mint copies and $400 to $550 for Gem Mint.
1991 Pro Line Portraits Football – Autographs & Wrapper Redemption Mail-In #1991 Santa Claus
Highlighted by a dynamic Heisman pose from the Man in Red, this was released in multiple versions, including an autographed version signed “Santa” numbered on the back to 2,000 copies, and a limited autographed version signed “Santa Claus” numbered on the front to 200 copies. Unsigned versions were only available via a mail-in wrapper redemption. The Pro Line set was groundbreaking for its full-bleed studio-style photography. It also featured some of the hobby’s first widely distributed, embossed, pack-inserted certified autographs. These autographs included current stars, legends, coaches, and celebrities, like Santa.
Mint 9 graded copies of the unsigned version sell for $35 to $50, while Gem Mint copies sell in the $300 to $500 range. The signed versions rarely become available graded, but raw copies of the “Santa” auto (#/2,000) sell for about $100 and the “Santa Claus” auto (#/200) go for about $275.
1991-92 Parkhurst Hockey – Santa Claus
A non-football entry comes from the Parkhurst hockey brand (which incidentally was produced by Pro Set) for the 1991-92 season. The imagery and design present well on a white background with Santa hard at work examining cards at his workbench. This card was a random insert in packs of 1991-92 Parkhurst Hockey Series 1. There is also a more limited version of the card from the French edition.
During the holiday season, Gem Mint copies of the card sell for $40 to $60.
1998 Upper Deck Holiday-Worn Jersey Kris Kringle
Often referred to as the 1998 UD Santa Claus Game Jersey, this oversized card (3.5″ x 5″) features a large red swatch of Santa suit material on the front, along with a Kris Kringle foil-etched facsimile autograph, and a congratulatory message on the back styled like Upper Deck’s late-1990s Game Jersey inserts. UD produced the card as a holiday promotion during the 1998 season, distributing it to hobby shops, distributors, select partners, and some collectors as a seasonal greeting instead of inserting it into retail products. No official print run was ever announced, and grading populations remain modest, supporting the idea of a limited promotional release. The card is often cited as one of the more desirable Santa-themed memorabilia pieces due to its nostalgia and visual ties to Upper Deck’s pioneering jersey cards of the era.
Raw copies of this card sell in the $30 to $50 range.
2007 Topps Holiday #1 Santa Claus
The 2007 Topps Holiday #1 Santa Claus card uses the classic 1952 Topps baseball design. The card also mimics the pose of the Mickey Mantle #311 card. The complete set includes multiple Santa cards styled after different years of Topps baseball designs, along with a relic card and a Santa autograph card. These cards were sold as an 18-card boxed set, featuring designs spanning from the 1950s through the 2000s. This particular card is widely considered the most popular in the set among collectors.
At this time of year, this card sells regularly for $150 to $225 in Gem Mint condition.
2022 Donruss Football – Downtown #DT-SC Santa Claus
The Downtown insert set is a favorite among modern sports card collectors. People love its bright, cartoon-style design. Each card shows artwork of the player’s city on holofoil board. The set is valuable because it’s a tough card to find. Downtown cards are super short prints (SSP). They appear about once per case. This is Santa’s first Downtown card.
Gem Mint copies sell for $3,200 to $4,200. Mint copies go for $2,200 to $2,800.
CONCLUSION
Santa Claus trading cards have come a long way from their humble beginnings as simple dealer gifts. What started as a fun holiday gesture has grown into a long‑running tradition that collectors look forward to every year. From rare promos to creative inserts and even memorabilia cards, each release adds something new to the story while keeping the same sense of holiday charm that made the first cards so memorable.
Today, these cards continue to draw interest from both seasoned collectors and newcomers who enjoy the mix of nostalgia and hobby history. Some versions have become surprisingly valuable, while others remain easy to pick up and enjoy. No matter the price point, Santa cards offer a lighthearted break from the usual chase and remind collectors why the hobby is fun in the first place. Which Santa Claus card do you love most?
GRADEx Staff
This story is a team effort. Our writers, editors, and hobby experts worked together, researching and reporting to bring you this piece.
