In this photo made Oct. 18, 2012, Todd, right, and Ula Nelkin, dressed in Detroit Lions t-shirts, talk about their autographed Barry Sanders card in their shop in Houston. Desperate for a baby, the couple is trying to raise money for in vitro fertilization by auctioning the rare football card. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
In this photo made Oct. 18, 2012, Todd, right, and Ula Nelkin, dressed in Detroit Lions t-shirts, talk about their autographed Barry Sanders card in their shop in Houston. Desperate for a baby, the couple is trying to raise money for in vitro fertilization by auctioning the rare football card. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
FILE - This April 22, 2010 file photo shows former NFL running back Barry Sanders arriving for the NFL Draft in New York. A Houston couple desperate for a baby was trying to raise money for a last attempt at in vitro fertilization. To do so, they're auctioing a rare Barry Sanders football card. Now, the Hall of Fame running back is spreading the word about the sale in hopes of raising the $20,000 the couple needs. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
FILE - This April 22, 2010 file photo shows former NFL running back Barry Sanders arriving for the NFL Draft in New York. A Houston couple desperate for a baby was trying to raise money for a last attempt at in vitro fertilization. To do so, they're auctioing a rare Barry Sanders football card. Now, the Hall of Fame running back is spreading the word about the sale in hopes of raising the $20,000 the couple needs. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
This photo made Oct. 18, 2012 shows Ula Nelkin holding an autographed Barry Sanders card in Houston. Desperate for a baby, Todd and Ula Nelkin are auctioning the rare card to raise money for a last attempt at in vitro fertilization. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
This photo made Oct. 18, 2012 shows Ula Nelkin holding an autographed Barry Sanders card in Houston. Desperate for a baby, Todd and Ula Nelkin are auctioning the rare card to raise money for a last attempt at in vitro fertilization. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
In this photo made Oct. 18, 2012, Todd, right, and Ula Nelkin, dressed in Detroit Lions t-shirts, display a rare autographed Barry Sanders card in their shop in Houston. Desperate for a baby, the couple is trying to raise money for in vitro fertilization by auctioning the rare football card. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
In this photo made Oct. 18, 2012, Todd, right, and Ula Nelkin, dressed in Detroit Lions t-shirts, display a rare autographed Barry Sanders card in their shop in Houston. Desperate for a baby, the couple is trying to raise money for in vitro fertilization by auctioning the rare football card. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
Very special card
Barry Sanders knows that his trading cards are bought and sold every day.
When the Hall of Fame running back learned that a Houston couple desperate to have a baby was auctioning off one of his most rare cards to fund one last attempt at in vitro fertilization, he was stunned.
Now the former Detroit Lions star is helping spread the word about the sale of the card signed by both him and Walter Payton so Todd and Ula Nelkin can raise $20,000. It’s hard for Sanders to imagine one of his cards helping bring a child into the world.
“It would be very, very special,” Sanders said. “I’m not sure that I even have the words, but it will be very special if I were able to help.”
The 1999 Donruss card has a picture of Sanders and his signature on one side and Payton, who died in November 1999, is seen on the other side with his autograph. It is the only one of its kind rated a 10 by the Beckett grading service.
The Nelkins are auctioning it off this week on eBay.
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