Panini America Investigates the Rising Cost of Colin Kaepernick (Gallery & Video)

It seemed nothing short of poetic when the San Francisco 49ers traded up in the 2011 NFL Draft to nab Colin Kapernick, the profusely athletic hometown hero from the University of Nevada by way of California’s Pitman High School. But the buzz largely subsided when Kaepernick spent most of his rookie season backing up Alex Smith and watching as the 49ers made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

2012 started out much the same way, with the potential-packed Kaepernick clutching a clipboard as the Niners bolted to a 6-2 start. But everything changed during San Francisco’s Week 10 game against the St. Louis Rams, when Kaepernick relieved an injured Smith in a game that eventually ended in a 24-24 tie. Three weeks later, the only thing Kaepernick is clutching now is the 49ers’ starting quarterback job.

In just more than 10 quarters as a starter, Kaepernick has completed 43-of-65 passes (66.2 percent) for 591 yards and three touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 105 yards and two more touchdowns during that time. As a result, the Niners are perched near the top of the NFC with an 8-2-1 record — and Kaepernick’s best Panini America Rookie Cards are absolutely on fire.

Generating the kind of frenzied secondary-market activity historically reserved for San Francisco signal-callers such as Joe Montana and Steve Young, Kaepernick’s top cards are currently selling for as much as three times their most recent listed values on Beckett.com.

Kaepernicksanity? Sure.

His 2011 National Treasures RC, currently valued at $150 by Beckett.com, has sold recently for as much as $600, a 300 percent increase. Meanwhile, his 2011 Limited RC has sold for as much as $118 despite a Beckett.com value of $40. That same wave of appreciation can be seen across the board and is highlighted in the must-see Kaepernick card gallery that follows.

With each Kaepernick card below, we’ve listed the current Beckett.com value and an average value of what the card is selling for on the secondary market.

After you’ve perused the sweet cards and their eye-popping sales increases, stick around for a special video Panini America produced with Kaepernick at the 2011 NFLPA Rookie Premiere the day company officials acquired most of the assets — autographs, memorabilia and photos — to produce arguably the hottest football cards on the market.

2011 National Treasures Black: Priced at $250, Selling for $610

2011 National Treasures NFL Gear Combos Signatures: Priced at $80, Selling for $300

2011 Playbook RC: Priced at $80, Selling for $102

2011 Contenders Rookie Ink: Priced at $50, Selling for $90

2011 Prime Signatures: Priced at $25, Selling for $55

2011 Contenders: Priced at $30, Selling for $75

2011 Plates & Patches: Priced at $30, Selling for $70

2011 Absolute: Priced at $30, Selling for $60

2011 Gold Standard: Priced at $30, Selling for $65

2011 Limited: Priced at $40, Selling for $110

2011 Certified: Priced at $25, Selling for $50

Now, the video that proves Panini America was on the Kaepernick bandwagon long before the craze . . .