Johnny Stone, a 13-year-old from Ohio, had the reaction of a lifetime when he found a one-of-a-kind card of New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones earlier this month.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the rare Black Finite rookie card of Jones was found in a box of Panini Prizm Football cards that Johnny opened during a live stream on June 3.
"One of one Mac Jones!" he is heard yelling in the video, posted to his YouTube channel.
Both Johnny and his father, Chad, buy and flip cards under their business, Stone Sports Cards. The card-collecting duo immediately knew they had something special with the Jones card.
"When I say it was a 1 in 20 million chance, I'm not exaggerating," Chad, 46, tells PEOPLE. "Worldwide, they sell cases, upon cases, upon cases of that product, and we just happened to pick up a box at the local shop."
"Johnny's reaction to finding it went on five minutes straight as loud as he could scream, my gosh, to the point of hyperventilating, and it's just hilarious to watch," he adds.
After the find, a storm of collectors contacted the pair, and they ultimately sold the card for a whopping $100,000.
The Akron Beacon Journal said the card was sold by the buyer soon after for $175,000.
Chad tells PEOPLE he is using Stone Sports Cards to help teach his son the ins and outs of running a business. He pays for the purchases but splits the earnings with his son (70 percent goes to Chad and 30 percent to Johnny).
"We learn what not to spend money on, what to spend money on, and when to spend it," Chad says. "Sports cards are like the stock market. You got to know when to sell. You got to know when to buy. You got to know when to hold."
"There's a big learning curve, but he knows how to do all the online sales," he continues. "He knows how to list cards, do breaks. He does all of it. I've taught him how to do it. I hired people to guide him through the early stages of it."
But the Jones rookie card find couldn't have come at a better time for the family.
Chad says finances at his construction company had recently "tightened," and he had even informed his employees he would have to find ways to cut costs.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/chad-stone08-8f43f673eacf47e89f7f3270ea4a0cc3.jpg "13-Year-Old Sells Rare Card of Patriots' Mac Jones for a Whopping $100,000: 'It Was Surreal' (1)")
"We had a prayer meeting," Chad recalls. "We prayed to have God's supply give us a way to keep men working. And less than three hours later, my son hit that card."
"It was surreal," he adds of the special experience. "The money was very cool. The card was very cool. The experience of seeing my son get that happy — I don't think he'll ever have another moment like that again."
It's clear that Johnny Stone's discovery of the rare Mac Jones rookie card was an extraordinary stroke of luck in the world of sports card collecting. The Panini Prizm Football series is renowned for its limited-edition cards, and the Black Finite edition that Johnny found, being a "one-of-one" card, makes it exceptionally rare and valuable.
The specifics of this card, being a unique piece in a sea of millions, speaks volumes about its scarcity and desirability among collectors. Johnny's exuberant reaction captured on video, coupled with the subsequent sale and its price appreciation from $100,000 to $175,000, attests to the sheer demand and value associated with such a rare find.
The endeavor of Stone Sports Cards, helmed by Johnny and his father Chad, not only serves as a lucrative business but also serves as an educational platform for Johnny to learn entrepreneurial skills. The father-son duo's approach to the card market, likening it to the stock market with its nuances of when to buy, sell, or hold, underscores their deep understanding of the industry's dynamics.
Chad's decision to involve Johnny in the business, sharing profits and teaching him the ropes, showcases a commitment to imparting real-world knowledge and financial acumen to his son. Their reliance on prayer and the serendipitous timing of Johnny's discovery, just when financial constraints loomed over their construction business, adds an almost serendipitous quality to the entire story.
In summary, this narrative encapsulates the essence of rarity, financial opportunity, familial bonding, and the unpredictable nature of collectibles markets. The story not only highlights the excitement of a unique find but also the invaluable lessons being imparted to a young entrepreneur in the making.
