Joseph Christoforo Specializes in Henderson, Holliday cards
It’s safe to say Joseph Christoforo owns the most impressive Baltimore Orioles ultra-modern card collection that exists.
Christoforo has over 100 autographed 1-of-1 cards, including 40-plus of young star Gunnar Henderson.
The 38-year-old co-founder of the online marketing agency Local Web Leads loves buying all the big Superfractors of his favorite Orioles players.
“If it’s the right card and it’s valued, your 1-of-1, especially your main brands of 1st Bowman, Topps Chrome, absolutely,” said Christoforo, whose Instagram handle is super_os_collector. “I think it’s like buying Google back in the AOL days.”
Collecting RDPAs
Christoforo’s latest project is a doozy. He is trying to collect all five Orioles who have Rookie Debut Patch Autos (RDPA) in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series product. These coveted 1-of-1s have become massive chase cards in The Hobby.
“It’s something that’s super unique and tied into the player. Just super cool, in my opinion,” said Christoforo, who resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. “As an Orioles fan, it’s been a long time since we’ve been good, so to have all these young guys on one team, it’s just kind of cool.”
Christoforo picked up four of the five RDPAs. He purchased Jordan Westburg’s top card, followed that up with getting Jackson Holliday’s Superfractor, and then brokered deals for the 1-of-1s of Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser.
The Holliday card—one of the top RDPAs in the product—came at a premium price.
Christoforo has tracked down the last RDPA Orioles card: David Bañuelos. The backup catcher—who made his MLB debut at 27 years old—has just one plate appearance in the majors.
“From what I hear, he’s very interested in his patch,” Christoforo said. “That guy who’s been in Triple-A his whole life finally got brought up to the majors for his first time, and he didn’t stay very long. To me, that guy should have his patch. That’s a sentimental piece. So, I think it should go to him.”
Chasing Rainbows
Christoforo has completed entire rainbows—collecting Superfractors all the way through numbered cards—of Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Grayson Rodriguez for Topps Chrome and their 1st Bowmans.
“I have the entire rainbow of Gunnar’s 1st Bowman in all PSA 10s,” Christoforo said.
Henderson, the American League Rookie of the Year in 2023, has his 1st Bowman Superfractor in the 2019 Bowman Draft product. It’s Christoforo’s favorite card that he owns. He brought it to a game when Henderson played Double-A ball and got a picture of Henderson holding it.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Christoforo has the best Henderson collection.
“That’s my guy,” Christoforo said. “I have his game-worn jersey—the first jersey he ever wore—when he hit the home run when he got called up.”
Christoforo’s collection of Holliday cards is just as impressive as his Henderson cards. Christoforo bought Holliday’s Topps Chrome Superfractor auto in a 10/10 at auction. That’s pairs nicely with the RDPA card.
Down to One
One big card Christoforo is missing is Holliday’s 1st Bowman Superfractor auto. He’s been in touch with the collector who owns it, but the asking price is too high.
That Holliday is seemingly the only card Christoforo is missing from his jaw-dropping Orioles collection. Well, there’s one card that would find its way into Christoforo’s collection; however, it was never made. Christoforo can dream about what it would be like if Henderson had a RDPA card.
“Man, honestly, I would sell my home for a Gunnar Henderson Debut Patch,” Christoforo joked. “So, I’m kind of glad that he doesn’t because I don’t know what I would have to get myself into to get it.”
