Graham Elliot is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality best known for his appearances as a judge on MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. He’s also a longtime collector and is active within the hobby and on social media. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, he became one of the youngest chefs in the United States to earn four-star recognition from major publications and was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs” in 2004. Known for blending fine dining with creativity and approachability, Elliott has earned multiple James Beard Award nominations and operated acclaimed restaurants, including his Michelin-starred namesake restaurant in Chicago. Today, he remains a prominent figure in the culinary world through his restaurant ventures, media appearances, and hospitality leadership as well as a recognizable collector of vintage cards and memorabilia.

How did you first get into collecting and what was the initial focus of your collection?

Growing up a Navy brat, I was able to travel to all 50 states and went to over 10 different schools. Baseball seemed to be the one thing that kept me grounded—a constant piece of history. My father, his father, and even his father all shared a joy for the things that were as basic 100 years ago as they are today: dirt, leather, wood, grass, and the hard work and determination to be the best. It transcends sports and becomes part of the ethos of being a great American.

What are a few of the most prized items in your collection? What’s a grail item that you someday hope to acquire?

I have a signed postcard that was written to the father of a fan, inviting him and his child to come down to the dugout after the game. It was handwritten, signed, and dated 1935 by the one and only Lou Gehrig—who I almost named my son after.

Grail item: 1934 Tour Of Japan team signed ball. Gehrig, Ruth, Mack, Foxx, Berg, Gehringer, Gomez etc. The peak of 1930’s America coming out of the Great Depression and taking our national pastime to what would soon become the Pacific Theater of WW2. 

You’re in charge of creating a commemorative mural featuring the five most important sports cards of all-time. Which five are you picking and why?

1888 Goodwin Champions King Kelly – Not only is it a great key card, set, and player, but the artistry and color are striking, as is the mustache. It’s a great capture of a moment in time where nobody knew what the future held for the sport, but it perfectly captured the spirit.

1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth Rookie – To see a kid almost 20 years before he retired, looking innocent before taking over the world of baseball, as well as New York, and representing the Roaring ’20s, captures the spirit of what could be.

1965 Topps Joe Namath Rookie – I’m not a huge football fan, but the idea of this guy giving it all during college, then going pro, getting injured, and getting out of a hospital bed to lean on a wall and take the iconic photo is inspiring and, for lack of a better word, badass. To go on wearing fur coats and sunglasses, opening your own nightclub in New York City, and earning the name Broadway Joe only takes it to another level. I think this card represents that.

1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio – The colors, the straight-on swing photo, and the fact that it was 1941, with the 56-game hitting streak and beating Ted Williams for the MVP, all stand out. A few months later, Pearl Harbor happened, changing the world and the course of history, as well as Joe’s career arc. Timeless.

1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle Rookie – The true rookie, even though the ’52 gets the most love. I love the idea of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed kid coming out of the innocence of the ’50s with a suitcase, leaving Oklahoma to go take over New York City. You have the innocent ’50s coinciding with the restless ’60s, starting at one end of the spectrum and ending at the other. The fact that it was done in the Bronx, carrying the legacy of those before him, only adds to the lure and mystique.

We’re creating a one-of-one dual-auto trading card featuring you and one other person. Who are you picking to be on that trading card with you?

That’s a tough one, but I’m going to go with Auguste Escoffier—the French OG chef from whom the kitchen organizational structure is built. He laid the foundation for cuisine and the brigade, so it’s a card I would love to own.

What upcoming projects can we look forward to, whether cooking-related or other endeavors of yours?

We are now in an era where chefs aren’t merely limited to, or expected to be, in the kitchen cooking, but also on social media, as well as having a television presence. That said, I am working on my own kids’ television cartoon, as well as a memoir and some other fun things. Keep an eye out—and yes, the hobby and collection will be a part of it!