Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is drawing card at memorabilia event in NYC

If Jaxson Dart needed any reminder of the spoils of his first season as Giants quarterback, he saw it firsthand Saturday surrounding by screaming fans at Dave and Adam’s Card World in Manhattan.

Dart tossed out cards and signed a few autographs as fans crammed the counter holding their memorabilia. Fans fought over silver packs of cards that Dart flung as easy as he does footballs at MetLife Stadium.

It was a highlight of “Topps Rip Night”, an annual celebration for card collectors around the world that’s held at around 800 stores. In Manhattan, fans waited for hours around several blocks to wait for Dart and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin and the chance to win giveaways passed out during 15-minute intervals.

The crowd size surprised store owner Adam Martin, who recalled starting his first trading card shop in Buffalo in the 1980s and has seen his business expand to not jut New York but the Netherlands and Abu Dhabi.

“When I got dropped off around 1 (p.m.) and saw people in line, I was like, ‘What is going on,” Martin said. “I’m so glad I stuck around to see this because it’s something.

Dart, who appeared at Fanatics Fest last June, brought an extra buzz to the crowd when he arrived wearing a black coat over a black sweater. He didn’t take questions from fans nor mentioned the Giants finalizing their coaching staff.

Instead, he opened packs of Star Wars cards and showed his excitement over cards featuring Darth Vader, R2-D2 and Yoda. He also participated in a giveaway by asking fans if they knew who he faced in his first college start at USC or Ole Miss.

Dart also said that his love of trading cards picked up more in college but he’s eager to continue it more as a pro. It was another sign how huge the industry has become, especially among New York athletes where Knicks forward Karl-Anthony Towns is perhaps the most prominent collector.

For Rubin, who appeared at four stores in Long Island earlier Saturday, having young players like Dart attend “Topps Rip Night” is another example of growing more collectors as well as admiring how quickly Dart found success as a finalist for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“With the trading card business, you meet everyone when they become a rookie,” Rubin said. “I met Jaxson last May before he played his first game so to see what he’s done in his career, it’s so fun to see these guys grow.”

Martin noted that Dart went above and beyond showing love to fans during his 30-minute stint. He and his staff were initially told Dart wasn’t planning to do autographs.

Naturally, Dart called an audible and changed that plan, even signing a few items as he walked out of the building. It was another way the Giants’ quarterback has endeared himself to New York in just under a year since his arrival.

“He took care of a lot of kids tonight. So props to Jaxson,” Martin said.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.