SPORTS CARDS GAZETTE by Tom DiGiandomenico

Prospect Watch: Matt Wieters

2009-03-22T15:49:00.004-05:00

Matt Wieters, the fifth overall pick of the 2007 Baseball Draft, is one of the hobby’s most sought-after prospects. Splitting time between A and AA ball last season, the soon-to-be Orioles catcher hit .355-27-91 last season, his first as a professional. Wieters will likely start the season in the minors to delay his arbitration date, but Baseball America’s 2008 Minor League Player of the Year should be playing in Baltimore by June.

As the top AL Rookie of the Year candidate, Wieters has quickly become a hobby favorite. His most coveted card is the 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition “Autograph” selling for $170. His 2005 Upper Deck USA rookie card is a nice pick up for $5.

President Obama/Jackie Robinson Signature Autograph Card

2009-03-18T17:40:00.002-05:00

The most coveted 2009 card to date is the dual cut “Autograph” card featuring the signatures of President Barack Obama and baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson from the 2009 Topps American Heritage set. With a production run of just one, this unique card sold on eBay for $4,050 on eBay in February.

The product includes cut autographs of every president and includes two Relic or autographs per hobby box. The set features past Topps designs to relive US history and document Obama’s historic campaign. Boxes are selling extremely well for $73-$79

Jimmie Foxx: Underrated Slugger With Undervalued Baseball Cards

2009-02-09T10:37:00.000-05:00

Jimmie Foxx was one of the most under-appreciated players in baseball and sports collectibles history. He equaled or surpassed the production of nearly every slugger not named Babe Ruth, but his baseball card and memorabilia values lag considerably behind Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, et al.

Seldom mentioned when baseball's all-time teams are discussed, Foxx hit at least 30 home runs and tallied 100 or more RBI from 1929 with the Philadelphia Athletics to 1940, his fifth season with the Red Sox. His 20-year total of 534 home runs ranked second to Ruth for many years. His 58 home runs in 1932 fell just two short of Ruth's single-season record. Interestingly, two home runs were taken away from Foxx because of rain and 10 more were lost because of newly constructed outfield screens in Cleveland, St. Louis, and Philadelphia that were not erected until after Ruth hit 60. So if the baseball stars were properly aligned in 1932, Barry Bonds would have eclipsed the magical number of 70 set by Foxx.

The toughest Foxx baseball card to find in reasonable condition is the 1934 Goudey (#1). Firstcards of vintage sets received the brunt of the rubber band damage that decimated so many '50s and '60s baseball cards. A handful of PSA-8 versions exist, selling for $8,200, a remarkable buy considering '34 Goudey PSA-8 Gehrig cards command as much as $15,000.

Foxx, provided Boston with their first bona-fide star since Ruth was sold to the Yankees in 1919. Double XX set Red Sox records for home runs (50) and RBI (175) during his 1938 MVP season. More than just a slugger, Foxx won the Triple Crown in 1933 and excelled defensively, primarily as a first baseman, but also as a catcher, third baseman, and outfielder.

Foxx was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951, but strangely there has been little or no protest over the Red Sox failure to retire his number. Surely someone who is mentioned in the same breathe as Ruth and Gehrig deserves the same elite status as Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Carlton Fisk in Red Sox annals.

Newly acquired Red Sox first baseman Mark Loretta, who recently told the Boston Herald that "Foxx never received the credit he deserved for being one of the game's all-time great sluggers," is honoring Foxx by wearing number 3. Foxx, who played 20 seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics (1925-35), Red Sox (1936-42), Chicago Cubs (1942 and 1944) and Philadelphia Phillies (1945), is arguably the best slugger not to have his uniform retired by any team.

Modern day cards of Foxx are somewhat limited, but affordable. His vibrant '04 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic "Logo Patch" (#SSP-JF) displaying the vintage Philadelphia Athletics logo can be had for under $5 -- a great buy for unique card serial numbered to just 300.

Rare Ruth/Gehrig Baseball and Josh Gibson Photo Sells

2007-01-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

A baseball signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig recently sold for $98,600 – double the previous mark for a similar ball – by Robert Edwards Auctions. According to the auction house, the ball is the finest example that grading service PSA has ever seen.

Like most Ruth memorabilia on the auction block, there is a story behind the autographed baseball. A letter of provenance accompanying the ball states that Ruth gave the ball to a priest he befriended at St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, the orphanage that raised the Bambino as a child.

A rare Negro League photo signed twice by Josh Gibson sold for $81,200 at the same auction, which grossed a Robert Edwards Auctions record of $7.5 million. The postcard is believed to be the only one of its kind in existence and may bear the only Gibson autograph on a Gibson photo known to exist. According to Robert Edwards, the price is an all-time high for a Gibson signed item and a world record for a postcard.

Upper Deck Re-Introduces Flair "Letterman" Inserts

2006-12-31T11:02:00.000-05:00

Upper Deck has made good on its pledge to enhance, but not overhaul the most popular Fleer sets. Flair Showcase Baseball, released last month, features the highly anticipated “Letterman” insert series. Each “Letterman” card features a complete letter taken from the nameplate running across the back of a game-used jersey. The limited inserts issued by Fleer in previous years, have been some of the hobby’s most sought-after memorabilia cards, typically commanding over $100 per card. Oversized patches, like the letters from the nameplates, generally create the most popular jersey insert cards.

This is the first “Letterman” series issued by Upper Deck since the company purchased the Fleer name late last year. This year’s “Letterman” checklist features 40 major league stars, including Red Sox sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez as well as Carlos Beltran, Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, David Wright, and All-Star MVP Michael Young among others.

The cards are serial-numbered to match the number of letters in each player’s name for a total of 253 “Letterman” cards randomly seeded into hobby packs of 2006 Flair Showcase. The odds of finding a “Letterman” card have not been released, but Upper Deck has confirmed that the odds are greater than one card per 16-box (18 packs per box) case.

Upper Deck was careful to maintain the same look of previous “Letterman” inserts while incorporating an Upper Deck photo layout. This was a difficult insert set to produce because different teams use different fonts for their letters. Fortunately for Upper Deck, the height of the letters used on nameplates are standard on all major league uniforms. Upper Deck has been saving the nameplates from jerseys that have been shredded in the past to produce game-used jersey cards.

The set also includes Flair inserts made popular in the mid ‘90s such as “Hot Gloves” and “Wave of the Future”. Each five-card hobby pack of Flair Showcase Baseball carries a suggested retail price of $4.99, a reasonable price for one of the more popular releases of the year.

*************************************************************************

Upper Deck is also challenging collectors to take the “Epic Quest”. The first four collectors to build the 300-card Epic Baseball set will be rewarded for their persistence and dedication to the hobby with an entire collection of all 300 original printing plates used to produce the set.

Building this high-end series, released last month, is a costly venture, as each card is numbered to 450 and packs carry a suggested retail price of $50. The entire set will be printed on vibrant foil board.

The series includes many prominent inserts. “Epic Awesome Eight Materials” displays four individual jersey swatches per side. Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Duke Snider, Eddie Matthews, and Thurman Munson are among the featured players

1959 Fleer Ted Williams: As Splendid as the Splinter

2006-11-10T12:01:00.000-05:00

When Fleer entered the baseball card business 47 years ago, the rookie sports card manufacturer turned to the greatest hitter who ever lived. Ted Williams not only established new slugging standards, he also changed the way the sports collectibles hobby was marketed.

During this era, Topps was the exclusive baseball card manufacturer, so Fleer -- the only other major trading card producer at the time -- had to take a more creative approach with its products. Facing the daring task of going head to head with the mighty Topps Co., Fleer signed Ted Williams away from Topps. The result was 1959 Fleer "Life of Ted Williams" -- an 80-card series capturing a medley of snippets detailing Williams's legendary career.

One of the more popular cards of the set (#2) pictures Ted in his Red Sox uniform gripping a bat with his idol, Babe Ruth. The card back chronicles Ted's time at Horace Mann Junior High School in California. Card #5 details Ted's brilliant high school career for Herbert Hoover High School. He was considered one of the top amateur players in California, drawing the attention of big league scouts.

Card #14 highlights his amazing rookie season (1939) in which he became the first AL rookie to lead the league in total bases. A favorite among collectors is card #41, which displays a head shot of Williams above the title "1941 -- How Ted Hit .400". The card back discusses how Ted played both games of a doubleheader on the last day of the season to raise his average from .400 to .406.

The Fleer set also features Ted's distinguished military career. Card #24 titled "1945 -- Sharpshooter" shows a concerned, but anxious Williams taking the Naval eye test. According to the card back, "Navy doctors said that eyesight like Ted's occurred only six times per thousand persons."

This set includes three of the hobby's hardest-to-find All-Star cards. Card #34 pictures Williams sliding into second base in the 1947 All-Star Game. The card back details the new runs scored record established by Williams that year.

Card #40 shows Williams crashing against the wall to make a spectacular catch in the 1950 All-Star Game at Comiskey Park. The card back tells the story of how the catch destroyed the Red Sox Pennant hopes and nearly ended Ted's career. Williams didn't realize that he had broken his elbow and gamely played for 8 more innings, hitting a single and driving in a run.

Card #48 features Marine Captain Ted Williams throwing out the first ball and serving as an honorary member of the AL team at the '53 All-Star Game in Cincinnati while still serving on military duty. The card back expressively reads, "Not only was he a baseball hero of the finest magnitude, but he was in two wars within the short span of one decade."

The Williams set successfully put Fleer on the sports collectibles map, but not without incident. Card #68 pictures Ted preparing to sign a contract with Red Sox general manager Bucky Harris, who was one of the handful of baseball executives under contract with Topps at the time. Rather than face a lawsuit from Topps, Fleer withdrew card #68 by defacing the lower right corner of the card on the printing sheet, and then destroying the cards after they were cut from the sheet. A very limited amount of mint #68 cards were packaged before Fleer started its disfiguring process, making this one of the most sought-after Williams cards.

The back of the Harris card reveals just how much times have changed: "Ted signed his 1959 contract in Boston for a reported $125,000. He has been baseball's highest paid player for several years."

This affordable set details the extraordinary career of the legendary Ted Williams. Much of the history written about the Splendid Splinter came directly from the backs of these cards. Every card -- except the Harris card, which commands $1,000 -- can be had for under $20.

David Ortiz: Hot Bat, Hot Baseball Cards

2006-08-12T18:36:00.000-05:00

Clutch-hitting sluggers top nearly every collector’s hot list, which is why RBI and home run front runner David Ortiz, the Red Sox slugger with a knack for walk-off home runs, is among the hobby’s most sought-after baseball players.

In three seasons with the Red Sox, Ortiz has 13 walk-off hits, including eight walk- off home runs. During those three seasons, Ortiz’s rookie cards – ‘97 Ultra (#518) and ‘97 Fleer (#512) – have taken the leap from $1-$3 commons to $30-$40 must-have cards. These cards list Ortiz and David Arias, but they are not misprints. Ortiz went by the name of Arias, his mother’s name, early in his career.

Ortiz’s clutch hitting is no fluke, so expect these cards to increase in value. He has hit at least one game-ending home run in each of the last five seasons.

As the recent cover boy for Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, and Tuff Stuff collectibles magazine, Ortiz has received tremendous national publicity, increasing the demand for his certified autograph cards. His first autographed card, the 1997 Donruss Signature Autograph, can be had for $50, a good buy considering the autograph prices for lesser players. The value this card and his two rookie cards may be a bit low because Ortiz is pictured in a Twins uniform. Many diehard Red Sox fans are only willing to dig into their pockets for Ortiz’s Red Sox cards.

Ortiz and Manny Ramirez form baseball’s best one-two punch. During the Red Sox World Series Run in 2004, the Red Sox sluggers became the first pair of AL teammates to hit 40 home runs, have 100 RBI, and bat .300 since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931. The two also hit back-to-back homers six times that memorable season to tie a major league record. A must for any Red Sox fan is the 2005 UD Ultimate Quad patch sporting jersey patches of World Series heroes Ortiz, Ramirez, Curt Schilling, and Johnny Damon selling for $150.

As the numbers and accolades for Ortiz mount, expect the interest in his baseball cards to continue to increase. His biggest endorsement came for Red Sox owner John Henry who presented “Big Papi” a plaque at the start of the 2005 season reading: “David Ortiz #34 The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox.”

Rookie, autograph, and memorabilia cards for the Red Sox greatest clutch hitter are gaining steam, but are still reasonably priced, which means the market is ripe for buying.

Topps Dares Collectors to Keep It or Rip It" with Allen & Ginter

2006-07-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

Topps will debut its “Rip Card” program in the soon-to-be released Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball series. The one “Rip Card” per case is a trading card within a trading card that could be concealing a hobby treasure.

At first glance, the “Rip Card” looks like a typical 2 ½ x 3 ½ baseball card, but upon closer inspection, collectors will find a small perforation on the card back with a message reading, “Keep it or Rip it”.

Why would a collector rip a high-end, state-of-the-art baseball card? The card within the card could be an original 1887 Allen & Ginter baseball card or a hand-painted 1-of-1 trading card from renowned sports artist Dick Perez, the original artist of Donruss Diamond Kings and the official artist of the Philadelphia Phillies. Collectors could also find Autograph variations from the 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter set or an exclusive mini card found only in “Rip Cards”.

Why would a collector chose to preserve the “Rip Card” and turn down the opportunity to land a rare gem? Each “Rip Card” is a limited, sequentially numbered trading card featuring all-time greats such as Mickey Mantle and Josh Gibson.

The original 1887 Allen & Ginter N28 series, designed to advertise cigarettes, featured color lithographs of champions from seven different sports, including rowing, boxing, and baseball. These are believed to be the first nationally distributed baseball cards and became the most popular sports cards of the late 1800s.

Hall of Famer Cap Anson, a 20-time .300 hitter, is the first baseball player highlighted in the set. Anson, often called baseball’s first superstar, accumulated five National League pennants and 1,200 wins as a player/manager primarily for the Chicago White Stockings/Colts.

Allen & Ginter cards in decent condition are extremely rare. An Anson card graded PSA-5, a high grade for a 119-year-old card, recently sold for $2,676 on eBay.

Baseball player, manager, owner Charlie Comiskey is also featured. At the time the Allen Ginter set was released, Comiskey was one of baseball’s biggest names. He became the player/manager of the St. Louis Browns of the American Association in 1883 and won four consecutive pennants from 1885-1888. At the turn of the century, Comiskey was a co-founder of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox for 31 years. Hard-to-find PSA-5 versions of the Comiskey Allen & Ginter card sell for $1,400.

Although the modern-day hobbyist is conditioned to preserve baseball cards, the temptation of landing an 1800s baseball card will be too great. Expect most collectors to “rip it”. Unfortunately many highly collectible cards will land in the trash basket, while some rare century-old cards may never be discovered. Topps would better serve the hobby by offering the original Allen & Ginter cards in a redemption program.

Topps’s 2006 Allen & Ginter series will also feature baseball’s biggest names as well as other athletes such as Mike Tyson, Hulk Hogan, Danica Patrick, Carl Lewis, John Wooden, and Brandi Chastain with autographs and standard cards. Historical figures such as John F. Kennedy will also be featured. Fifty one different autographs and 375 mini printing plates will be randomly inserted into packs.

Twelve-box cases (each box contains 24 seven-card packs) are pre-selling for $950. Look for Topps’s success with retro-theme sets featuring baseball stars and non-sports celebrities to continue with the 2006 Allen & Ginter.

Topps Looks To Salvage Barry Bonds

2006-06-29T11:48:00.000-05:00

The controversial “Trade Barry” billboard that first appeared near AT&T Ballpark in San Francisco at the beginning of the season was not the work of a disgruntled baseball fan. To the surprise of many baseball fans in the San Francisco area, the billboard was created by Topps. Three days later, a new billboard reading “TRADE BARRY’s CARDS WITH TOPPS – The Exclusive Home of Barry’s Home Run Chase” replaced the original. The Giants were aware of the ad campaign from the beginning.

Topps was attempting to salvage a two-year exclusive rights contract with Barry Bonds signed in December 2004, just weeks before excerpts of Bond’s grand jury testimony in the BALCO investigation were revealed by the San Francisco Examiner. The deal is believed to be worth more than $2 million. The manufacturer is hoping to create interest in the 15-card “Barry Bonds Chase to 715 Set” available through topps.com and barrybonds.com for $49.95.

Possible links to steroid use combined with Bonds’s physical ailments and general surliness have taken a toll on the value of his baseball cards. Because baseball card sets chronicle history, Bonds cards are being bought and sold, but for significantly reduced prices.

The value of Bonds’s rookie cards have fallen steadily as he chases Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. According to a report on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines”, high-end Bonds items have fallen 50% or more over the last two years. The Bonds 1986 Topps Traded rookie, which sold for over $100 two years ago, are readily available on eBay for less than $20 with graded versions going for $30. The value of his game-used memorabilia cards pale in comparison to popular sluggers like Albert Pujols and David Ortiz.

The Rise of Albert Pujols and His Baseball Cards

2006-06-27T19:41:00.000-05:00

As Barry Bonds passes Babe Ruth and takes aim at Hank Aaron, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has emerged as baseball’s most popular and collectible slugger.

The hobby’s most pursued card is the limited Pujols ‘01 Bowman Chrome “Autograph” rookie (#340), currently selling for $2,500. Because of the black borders, graded versions of this card are extremely rare. Of the 207 different Pujols Chrome “Autograph” rookies that have been submitted to Beckett Grading Services, only one has received a 10 rating (the highest possible grade). This one-and-only pristine card recently sold for $15,400, while a 9.5 version sold for $10,200.

Just 26 years old, Pujols is already considered baseball’s best right-handed hitter. The reigning MVP is the only player in history to begin his career with five 30-homer seasons and he began the 2006 season by setting the major league record for homers in April (14). Pujols has been a model of consistency, averaging 40 home runs and 124 RBI per season and batting .332 over his career.

The Pujols legend began in 1999 at a Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, a school known more for business management and engineering than baseball. While teammates were focused on their studies and other collegiate activities, Pujols, then a shortstop, set his sights on the major leagues. In his one season of college ball, Pujols hit .461. Just Minors captures Pujols’s brief college baseball career with ‘04 “Featured Insert” (#AP1), a good buy for $5.

Although scouts marveled at Pujols’s natural hitting ability, power, and work ethic, they were concerned about his weight and ability to play defense in the majors. He dropped all the way to the 13th round, where the Cardinals made him the 402nd player chosen. Just before the start of the next college season, Pujols signed with the Cardinals for $60,000. He spent the 2000 season climbing the organizational chart, earning an invitation to spring training the following season.

Still a bit raw and without a position, the Cardinals figured Pujols would begin the season in the minors, until Bobby Bonilla pulled a hamstring before the team headed north. Pujols quickly overcame the Cardinals concerns, setting an NL rookie mark for RBI (13) and total bases (360) while hitting .329 with 37 homers. The Pujols ‘02 Topps card (#719, selling for $4), recounts Pujols’s Rookie of the Year season.

Pujols game-used cards are extremely active, ranging from $10-$500.

Keith Olbermann Sparks Alex Gordon Cards

2006-06-25T20:13:00.000-05:00

Alex Gordon is at least several months away from the majors, but news/sports pundit and avid baseball card collector Keith Olbermann recently paid $7,500 for a fully-intact gem-mint version of Gordon’s 2006 Topps card. It’s not the player, but the actual baseball card that intrigues deep-pocketed collectors like Olbermann.

Last summer, in an effort to reduce confusion in the baseball collectibles marketplace, the Major League Player’s Association ruled that no player can be issued in standard issued 2006 sets before appearing in a major league game. Gordon, drafted No. 2 overall after leading Nebraska to the 2005 College World Series, did not qualify to have a 2006 rookie card, but somehow a handful of the third baseman’s cards survived the production process and reached the open market.

During the printing process, Topps cut the centers out of many Gordon cards, leaving only the borders. Hobbyists estimate 200-500 cut-out versions are in circulation, each selling for $30-$50 before Olbermann’s purchase, but are now selling for as much as $100.

When Olbermann buys a rare baseball card, collectors take notice. The former ESPN Sports Center host is a collectibles historian who published Collectors Quarterly magazine in the ‘70s. Olbermann’s baseball card collection covers every year from 1863 to the present.

Non-graded, fully-intact versions of the Gordon card were selling for $800-$900 before the Olbermann purchase. The same cards are now selling for $1,300. Hobby insiders estimate 10-12 of these cards exist.

A day after the Olbermann purchase, the number of Alex Gordon listings on eBay jumped from under 100 to over 1,000.

Interested buyers should be ware of a few unscrupulous dealers posting a picture of a full Gordon card, but actually selling a Topps box – be sure to read the fine print before placing a bid.

A third version of the mysterious Gordon Topps card appeared recently in the secondary market. Unlike the “cut-out” versions, this “blank front” is a full card. The gold-foil “Royals” inlay and banner consistent with 2006 Topps cards clearly appears, but without Gordon’s image. This first known “blank front” copy initially failed to sell on eBay with a starting bid of $999.99.

Jon Lester To Follow Papelbon Route To Fenway

2006-05-12T18:09:00.000-05:00

When the Red Sox tried to acquire Alex Rodriguez three winters ago, the Rangers wanted Jon Lester to join Manny Ramirez in Texas. When the Red Sox inquired about Josh Beckett, the Florida Marlins wanted Jon Lester before accepting three other highly regarded Red Sox prospects. Baseball America rates Lester ahead of all other Red Sox pitching prospects, including lights-out stopper and hobby-favorite Jonathan Papelbon.

Yes, Lester, the Red Sox 2002 second round draft choice from Puyallup High School (Washington), is special. He is the rare power-pitching lefthander with pinpoint control. A fastball that tops out at 95 mph is complimented by a hard slider and a swing-and-miss change-up. Under the tutelage of Red Sox pitching coach Al Nipper, Lester is learning the split-finger fastball – the same off-speed pitch that has separated Papelbon from other pitching prospects.

The 24-year-old Lester, the Red Sox 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, is expected to follow the same path that lead Papelbon to Boston last season. A few more months of minor league seasoning to gain experience and command of his pitches is all that stands between Lester and the majors. He will not apprentice as a reliever like Papelbon, who was a closer in college.

Lester, like most players passing through Pawtucket on route to Boston, is an outstanding autograph signer via the mail and at the ballpark. Mail a self-addressed stamped-envelope with a baseball card to McCoy Stadium and Lester will return the card with his signature less than 10 days later. The Lester 2004 Just minor league card (#44) sporting a clean, gloss-free surface with white borders is ideal for autographs and is readily available for less than $2.

Lester’s 2004 Just “Certified Autograph” is selling for $20, nearly tripling in price from last April.

His one and only true rookie card – 2003 Upper Deck Premiere Prospects “Future Gems” (#12) – has been extremely active over the last nine months. The card could be had for $3 last summer, $6 during the off-season and is currently selling for $8. The card will make a significant leap in price when Lester is promoted to Boston.

The Lester rookie takes on added significance following the MLBPA’s 2005 ruling that no player can be featured in standard-issue sets before appearing in a major league game. Unlike Lester, future high-profile prospects will not have a rookie card issued the same year they are drafted.

Minor League Cards of Future Stars

2006-04-18T17:45:00.000-05:00

Ironically last summer, the final year of rookie card collecting as we knew it, several players who did not start the season on a major league roster established themselves as future stars during the second half of the season. Their minor league cards and autograph inserts, will likely become even more popular in coming years, are on fire.

Nineteen-year-old Felix Hernandez, reminiscent of Dwight Gooden propelling the Mets back to glory in the mid ’80s, quickly rose through the Mariners minor league system before dominating major league hitters over the last three months of the season. The flame-throwing right-hander’s first baseball card was issued when he was 17 years old, one year after signing a professional contract. The ‘03 Grandstand Everett Aquasox minor league card is selling for $38 with PSA-9 versions getting over $50.

Jeff Francoeur did not make his minor league debut until July 7, slugging a home run for his first major league hit and tallying 3 RBI. He quickly joined Albert Pujols as the only rookies to hit 10 home runs in their first 30 games. The former Georgia high school football star has developed a huge following in Atlanta. His ‘02 Upper Deck USA “Autograph” jumped from $100 to $250 at season’s end.

Zach Duke is the first of what could be many Pittsburgh Pirate prospects to excel in the majors. The 22-year-old left-hander was 6-0 in his first nine starts. His first autograph, the ‘04 Bowman’s Best, is approaching $100 on eBay, a $75 jump in two months.

Jon Papelbon, a collegiate closer and minor league starter, uses a 94 mph fastball and devastating splitter to bridge the gap between the Red Sox starting rotation and closer Mike Timlin at the end of last season before becoming the Red Sox closer in 2006. Resembling a young Roger Clemens in both stature and command, Papelbon has excelled as a starter and reliever over the second half of the season. His 2004 Just autograph, which could be had for $7 last July is now approaching $50.

Rare Joe DiMaggio/Marilyn Monroe Autographed Ball for Sale

2006-04-17T19:00:00.000-05:00

A unique autographed baseball sporting the original signatures of Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio and his former wife, actress Marilyn Monroe, will be offered for sale by Heritage Auction Galleries later this month. The ball is from the estate of the late Associated Press photographer, Harry Harris, who obtained the signatures during the Yankees 1961 spring training in Florida when the Yankees slugger and Monroe were attempting to reconcile after their divorce.

The signatures are bold and clear and are located on the same panel of the ball. This is the only known baseball autographed by both DiMaggio and Monroe with her name as “Marilyn Monroe,” according to Heritage. The only other known baseball autographed by the celebrity couple – signed “Joe DiMaggio” and “Norma Jean DiMaggio” – sold for $50,000 in 1999.

Harris, who shot many famous photos, including President John F. Kennedy lying in state beneath a statue of President Abraham Lincoln, turned down a $5,000 offer to sell the ball 45 years ago. The unique DiMaggio/Monroe signature baseball carries a pre-auction estimate of $100,000.

Coco Crisp: Instant Attention Grabber

2006-04-11T18:37:00.000-05:00

The name alone, Coco Crisp, is an attention grabber, but the Red Sox 26-year-old center fielder has multiple on- and off-the-field talents that have made him an instant hit with local baseball fans and card collectors.

Crisp is an athletically-gifted switch hitter with a tremendous work ethic. He hit .316 last year with the Cleveland Indians with 61 extra-base hits, including 16 home runs, in just his third season with 400 or more big league at bats. Crisp must adjust from batting second and playing left field last season to leading off and playing center field, where he has played in the past. The Red Sox expect him to develop as a leadoff spot with experience and his exceptional speed will be an asset in Fenway’s vast center field.

Originally drafted by St. Louis in the seventh round of the 1999 draft and named the Cardinals minor league player of the year in 2002, Crisp sports a Cardinals uniform on his 2001 Bowman DP rookie card (#BDP49). This true rookie jumped from $2 to $8 after an off-season acquisition sent Crisp from the small market Cleveland Indians to Boston. This highly sought-after card has since settled at $5. Johnny Damon, Crisp’s popular center field predecessor, saw a similar spike with his popular ‘93 SP rookie after leaving Oakland for Boston four years ago.

Crisp also has impressive off-the-field credentials. He is a rapper who writes his own songs and owns a music label. When he’s not developing his baseball or musical skills, he is developing various television projects. Talent runs abundant in his family. His sister is a figure skater and appeared in Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials as a child. His father, Loyce “Sugar” Crisp, was a professional boxer and his grandfather, Milton Newton, is in the Masters Hall of Fame for track and field.

Crisp has the talent and flair to succeed Johnny Damon, the center fielder and the celebrity. Constant comparisons to Damon will keep Crisp in the national spotlight, which will significantly impact his baseball cards.

The few Crisp autographed and memorabilia cards available are soaring in price. His ‘05 SPx “Autograph” is getting $30, while his ‘05 Ultimate Collection “Autograph”, limited to a production run of 25, is selling for $44. His 2006 Topps Bazooka “Blasts” game-used bat card can be had for $6. Now that Crisp is in the limelight, expect to see more game used cards to be released.

The History of Fleer Baseball Cards

2006-04-07T13:06:00.000-05:00

The following is a brief history of Fleer Baseball cards in response to readers' inquiries aabout the now defunct company.

Fleer's company history dates back to 1849 when Frank H. Fleer began a bubble gum business. In 1923, Fleer released its first trading card series featuring 120 sports celebrities, including Babe Ruth, to help sell its gum.

Fleer first challenged the Topps baseball card monopoly in 1959 when it signed Ted Williams to an exclusive contract and issued the "Ted Williams" Baseball Card Set, chronicling the Red Sox great's Hall of Fame career. Fleer effectively broke the Topps dynasty in 1981 by securing a license to produce a major league baseball card set and opening the door for Donruss, Upper Deck, and other companies to issue baseball cards.

Fleer made its biggest hobby impact in the mid '80s. In 1984, Fleer was the only manufacturer to release a Roger Clemens card, which was featured in the 1984 Fleer Update Set. The set also included the first licensed card of Kirby Puckett. In 1986 Fleer revived the basketball industry by releasing the 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Set featuring Michael Jordan's rookie card.

Despite Fleer's rich tradition and tremendous impact on the hobby, the company will hardly be missed once the dust settles. The remaining high impact manufacturers -- Topps and Upper Deck -- continue to produce a wide variety of affordable base sets and costly high-end sets that satisfy the needs of most collectors. In fact, Upper Deck has purchased the Fleer brand name and the recently released the 2006 Fleer Baseball Set (Upper Deck style), which includes many of the same insert sets that made Fleer popular with set builders.

In a saturated market, it was inevitable that one of the key players would be dropped from the roster and that player turned out to be Fleer.

The Changing Face of Rookie Cards

2006-03-27T16:57:00.000-05:00

I wrote he following article last October to help explain the new rookie baseball card guidelines and their affect on the hobby.

Lost in the uproar surrounding the demise of Fleer and Donruss losing its baseball card license is the changing face of rookie baseball cards. On a decree handed down by the Major League Baseball Player’s Association, players not on a 25-man roster will not be allowed to appear in base sets. Any rookie called to the majors after August 31 will not be available for use in current sets.

The new ruling, which will take affect with 2006 releases, is a tremendous blow to minor league aficionados and baseball card prospectors -- collectors who discovered Felix Hernandez’s mastery and Jeff Francoeur’s game long before July 2005.

Under the grandfather clause that gave Topps exclusive rights to sign non 40-man roster players to be included in mainstream sets, the manufacturer issued a ‘04 Topps Traded rookie card of Hernandez (#T144, selling for $6, Gold versions getting $21) and a ‘02 Bowman Draft card of Francoeur (#BDP23, selling for $12.50, chrome versions getting $53).

Hernandez and Francoeur have been spectacular since debuting in July, making their early rookie cards the most coveted of the season. If the new ruling had already taken affect, rookie cards of Hernandez and Francoeur would not have been released until this season. Would the demand be as great? Unlikely. Would the thrill of landing the top rookie cards be as exhilarating? No way. The hobby is in grave danger of alienating minor league prospectors, some of the hobby’s most active participators.

The MLBPA believes that the new rookie ruling will even the playing field between Topps and Upper Deck, the two manufacturers left standing after a summer of hobby discourse. The intent is to allow both manufacturers to reap the benefits of top rookies called to the majors during the season and to make rookie card collecting less confusing, but the playing field is not quite level and the confusion is mounting.

The MLBPA will allow Topps to issue non 40-man prospects in Bowman brand insert sets with no special provisions for Upper Deck. Bowman inserts will not have the official MLBPA rookie logo, but will they have a similar design as the “official” rookie cards? Will collectors, dealers, and price card editors consider these cards “inserts” or “rookies”?

With many questions still to be answered, expect more changes in the way we collect baseball cards next year or until the MLBPA realizes that the hobby’s participants determine the difference between “rookie” and “insert” cards.

Topps Jumps the Gun on Alex Gordon

2006-03-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

Hours after Topps 2006 Topps Baseball was released in February, case busters discovered that a card was missing from the 330-card set. A few days later, Topps announced that card #297, originally slated to featured Royals prospect Alex Gordon, was pulled from the set. Topps made this last minute change in compliance with the Major League Players Association ruling that no players can be featured in standard issue 2006 sets prior to appearing in a major league game.

Minutes after Topps released its statement, a handful of Gordon cards with a huge square hole cut out of the middle were listed on eBay. Confused collectors were paying as much as $75 for a card that consisted of nothing more than a border. Approximately 1,000 partial cards have since been discovered and are currently selling for $30-$40. Apparently, Topps was able to eliminate Gordon’s image on most of his cards before reaching the packaging process, but not all of them.

A collector from Bloomington, Illinois, was the first to unearth a fully-in-tact Gordon card #297. After calling various hobby publications and discovering that he had the one complete Gordon card to date, the veteran hobbyist sold the card on e-Bay for $500. Meanwhile, collectors and dealers continue to pay inflated prices for Topps 2006 boxes in search of another complete Gordon card.

Gordon’s 2006 “Autographs” insert survived the distribution process unscathed and is currently selling for $10-$70 depending in its scarcity. Because the card is an insert and not part of the base set, Gordon’s autograph is not restricted by the MLBPA’s ruling.

The huge Topps gaffe has raised many eyebrows within the hobby. In an attempt to clarify rookie card status, the MLBPA ruled that no player can be featured in standard issue sets before making his major league debut. How did Topps let Gordon, the second overall pick in the 2005 draft, slip through the cracks? Many dealers and collectors believe Topps created the error to cause a stir and interest in its 2006 base set. The MLBPA has yet to investigate or even issue a statement, so don’t be surprised to see a few more “errors” pop up.

Topps & Mickey Mantle Reunite

2006-03-18T16:34:00.000-05:00

A relationship that has brought Mickey Mantle fame and Topps fortune over the past 44 years has been renewed. Under the agreement, the Mantle family grants Topps exclusive rights for all trading cards, including inserts, memorabilia cards, cut signatures and the use of Mantle’s image on packaging and advertising.

With access to the family photo collection, upcoming Topps releases will chronicle the life and times of Mantle with a large array of base and insert cards featuring never-released photos of the prolific slugger.

Topps 2006 contains more than 1,200 game-used Mantle bat relic cards, each selling for $140-$350 depending on its scarcity. The “Mickey Mantle HR History” insert set begins with Series 1 and will continue in Topps Series 2 and Updates & Highlights. These horizontal cards sport an early ‘50s design and are readily available for under $3.

Series 1 also features the missing #7 cards from the last nine years, each sporting a rare Mantle photo. Topps retired card #7 in 1997 to honor the great Yankee slugger. The new #7s are selling on eBay for $3-$6. All future Topps and Topps Chrome sets will feature Mantle on card #7.

Topps 2006 Baseball appeals to novice set builders, deep-pocketed memorabilia afficionados, and all collectors in between. With such an inclusive fan base, expect the base brand and its Chrome counterpart to sustain popularity throughout the summer and beyond. The set features one Mantle insert per box and 12 per case, while the popular card #7s are easy finds.

Topps recently purchased rare Mantle memorabilia, including a first baseman’s glove valued at $18,000, at least two game-worn jerseys, and an “off-the-field” suit. These and other items will appear at the 2006 All-Star Fanfest and will eventually be incorporated into Topps memorabilia sets.

Mantle game-used jerseys from the ‘50s and ‘60s are extremely rare. According to Beckett Baseball, three were purchased at auctions over the past 18 months for $110,000-$145,000. Because Mantle bats – currently selling for $15,000-$20,000 – are easier finds, expect more bat cards than jersey cards in upcoming releases. A game-used jersey typically produces 2,000 swatches of fabric and a bat produces approximately 1,2000 chips.

Topps Triple Threads, scheduled for release in early April, will include a handful of rare Mantle memorabilia cards. The series will also feature “Cut Signature” cards of Mantle and Ted Williams as well as memorabilia and autographed cards of Roberto Clemente, Hank Greenberg, Buck O’Neil, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens. Expect to pay in excess of $80 per pack for the Topps showpiece series.

The long, storied history between Topps and Mantle began in 1952, when the Topps Chewing Gum co. marketed images of baseball players to help sell gum. As baseball became a cornerstone American life during the ‘50s and ‘60s, Mantle emerged as the game’s most prolific player, leading the Yankees to 12 Pennants and seven World Series titles. He won the Triple Crown in 1959 and was named the AL MVP in 1956, 1957, and 1962.

The ‘52 Topps card, the second Mantle card issued (Bowman released the true rookie a year earlier), has become the most sought-after postwar card and remains the most recognizable sports card ever produced.

Fleer Baseball Returns, Upper Deck Style

2006-03-12T13:19:00.000-05:00

Fleer Baseball – Upper Deck style – will hit the retail and hobby shelves in early April with the same Fleer designs and many of the same insert sets that made Fleer an affordable collector-favorite over the past 25 years. The Fleer brand name is among the assets purchased by Upper Deck from the bankrupt Fleer Co. last summer.

Like past Fleer products, the 2006 version will feature a good mix of veterans and future stars as well as prominent insert sets such as “Autographics,” “Smoke ‘n Heat,” and “Lumber Company.” The set will also include 60 rookie cards with the new rookie logo as designated by the Major League Players Association.

Fleer 2006 Baseball is a 400-card set specifically geared toward new collectors attempting to build entire sets without breaking the bank. Ten-card packs will carry a suggested retail price of $1.59. There will be an insert card per pack and a “Glossy” parallel card seeded in every other pack and one game-worn jersey card will be found in each box.

Insert cards will also feature 2005 MVP winners (Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols), Rookie of the Year winners (Ryan Howard and Huston Street), and Cy Young Award winners (Chris Carpenter and Bartolo Colon).

The popular Fleer inserts – especially Autographics – combined with Upper Deck’s outstanding marketing and packaging strategies will make 2006 Fleer Baseball a winner among set builders.

Tobacco Cards New and Old

2006-03-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

Tobacco cards from the early 1900s still significantly influence the hobby. Early card designs are being enhanced with foil, vibrant colors, four-color printing technologies, and embedded memorabilia while recently discovered original tobacco cards continue to drive hobby auctions and the Internet market place.

Issued in 1911, the groundbreaking T205 series sported gold borders and intricate designs. It was the first major baseball set to feature player biographies and statistics. Ninety-two years later, Topps turned back the clock, incorporating today's top players with the T205 design.

The 150-card Topps 205 set, released in July 2004, features 144 veterans, 10 prospects, 15 rookies, 11 autographs, and five reprints. The series also includes five parallel sets -- Bazooka, Drum, Honest, Polar Bear, and Brooklyn, paying homage to Topps's birthplace. For more historical perspective, Topps 205 also includes the popular 1912 Triple Folder (one per pack) featuring a current star in a black and white folder photo flanked by two original T205 designs.

The crown jewel of the set is the 2,000 original T205 cards randomly inserted into packs, which drove the price of eight-card packs well above the suggested-retail-price of $4.

Topps decided on the T205 series following the highly-successful 2003 T206 release, which started the trend of saluting the vintage baseball sets. The success of the initial release triggered an unplanned Series 2 and Series 3 releases. Topps capitalized on the most famous trading card ever issued -- the T206 Honus Wagner -- by incorporating a piece of an actual game-used Wagner bat into a unique memorabilia card limited to a production run of 25 and currently selling for $500.

The original T206 Wagner is the most renowned and costly card in existence. According to an October 1912 issue of The Sporting News, Wagner refused to be included in American Tobacco Co. series because the star shortstop did not want to promote cigarettes. Although most baseball historians believe Wagner had the cards pulled because of his disdain of cigarettes, some believe Wagner was unable to reach a contractual agreement with American Tobacco Co.

An uncut strip of five T206 cards was recently sold by MastroNet Sports & Americana for $78,665. This one-of-a-kind strip was reportedly discovered some 25 years ago in the back pocket of an original Wagner uniform stashed away in the attic of his old house. Baseball historians believe the tobacco company sent this strip to Wagner hoping he would reconsider his stance. No other T206 uncut strip has ever surfaced. Wagner remained firm in his decision, but a small number of the Wagner cards were somehow issued. Vintage collectors believe 75 originals exist today.

In addition to Wagner, the strip also includes Three-Finger Brown, Cy Young, Frank Bowerman, and Johnny King. The strip has a blank back and printer's proof marks in the corners of each card. Being stuffed in a pocket for decades, the strip is filled with severe creases.

Hank Aaron: The Dignified Home Run King & His Baseball Cards

2006-03-06T15:47:00.000-05:00

Hank Aaron baseball cards, old and new, have become increasingly popular as the dignified "Home Run King" has become more appealing than many of today's controversial sluggers.

The slender 180-lb. outfielder accumulated 755 home runs over his 23-year career. A right-handed hitter with remarkably powerful wrists and a smoothly crafted swing, Aaron was recognized for home runs, but his legacy included 3,771 hits (third all-time), 2,174 runs (tied for second), 2,297 RBI (first), and a career .305 average. Aaron also displayed outstanding speed and one of the better right-field arms of his time.

A Hall of Fame career combined with several Topps production mishaps have made Aaron a collector’s favorite. His 1954 Topps rookie (#128), sells for $1,500 in near-mint condition. The card design sports two pictures, a large headshot and a small in-action shot in the lower left-hand corner.

After just a few years of producing baseball cards, Topps had yet to establish much of a photo library, so pictures were often recycled during the '50s. The same Aaron headshot was used from 1954-1956.

The 1956 card (#31) also includes an action shot in the lower right-hand corner picturing Willie Mays sliding into home plate wearing a Braves uniform. A Topps artist painted the uniform. The actual photo of Mays appeared in a baseball card publication a year earlier. This hard-to-find relic accidentally picturing two of baseball's greatest players sells for $275.

Topps made an even bigger gaffe on Aaron's card the following year. The production staff accidentally reversed the negative on the 1957 card (#20), which displays baseball's most prolific right-handed hitter batting left-handed. This unique card sells for $300.

The ultra conservative Topps rolled the dice in 1974 by printing "New All-Time Home Run King" on Aaron's 1974 Topps card (#1) despite Aaron entering the '74 season one home run shy of tying Babe Ruth's career mark. Fortunately for Topps, Aaron kept the suspense to a minimum, hitting a home run on Opening Day. The '74 Topps card became officially accurate a few days later when Hamerin' Hank broke the record on a nationally televised Monday Night Baseball game with a homer against the Dodgers' Al Downing.

Aaron has gained popularity with today's collectors, as baseball card manufacturers continue to combine baseball history with modern day memorabilia cards. His 2005 Bowman Heritage "Game-Used Seat" card is a great pick up for under $15. A piece of an actual seat from Milwaukee County Stadium is embedded in the lower left-hand corner of the card celebrating Aaron's 1956 NL batting title.

DH Extends Productivity, Careers, Card Life

2006-03-02T07:17:00.000-05:00

The designated hitter was first proposed during the 1890s as the designated pinch hitter. Connie Mack took credit for the idea in 1906. NL owners actually approved the DH rule in December 1928, but were overruled by their AL cohorts. In 1940, the Bushrod League, a California winter circuit, adopted the DH. In 1969 the International League experimented with the DH for a year.

After nearly eight decades of debate between league presidents, owners, and players, the AL finally approved the DH before the 1973 season. On April 6, Ron Blomberg, became major league baseball's first designated hitter when he drew a first-inning, bases loaded walk from Luis Tiant on a cold, windy Opening Day at Fenway Park.

A pulled hamstring forced the 24-year-old first baseman to his new position. If Matty Alou, batting third for the Yankees, didn't stroke a two-out double in the first inning, the Red Sox Orlando Cepeda, the first player signed specifically for DH duty, would have made the history books.

Although the Red Sox won the game 15-5, Cepeda, the prototype DH, went 0-for-6, the only Red Sox starter to go hitless.

AL owners hoped the DH would increase offense, give aging sluggers the chance to extend their years of productivity, and increase attendance. The three-year experiment worked. AL teams were scoring more runs, league attendance rose from 11.4 million to 13.4 million, and older stars were extending their careers.

Cepeda was exactly what the AL owners had in mind when they adopted the DH. The 35-year-old former first baseman entered the season with bad knees and 358 career home runs, and had driven in over 100 runs five times in his career.

In 1973, Cepeda played all of his 142 games at DH for the Red Sox, hitting 20 homers and 86 RBI -- excellent power numbers for the time -- winning the first Associated Press Designated Hitter Award.

The DH helped sluggers such as Cepeda, the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year with the Giants and the 1967 MVP with the Cardinals, achieve Hall of Fame status. Cepeda, elected by the Veterans Committee in 1999, finished his career with 379 home runs (21 as a DH) and 1,365 RBI. The DH also prolonged the careers of Red Sox greats Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice.

Cepeda's '58 Topps rookie (#343) is a nice pick up for $30 in decent condition, while his '73 Topps can be had for $5. With yesterday's stars now being featured on memorabilia cards. Cepeda's '01 Donruss Classics Legendary Lumber Game-Used Bat is a nice buy for $5.

Although Blomberg name figures prominently in baseball history, injuries and lack of production limited his career to just 461 games and 52 home runs with the Yankees and Mets.

The DH is now widely excepted and used in some form in most leagues from high school to the majors. The final hurdle may be its place in the Hall of Fame. There are several players who have appeared as a DH already in the Hall, including Yaz, Reggie Jackson, and Dave Winfield. But most of these players played the majority of their games at other positions -- usually first base or outfield.

Paul Molitor became the first Hall of Famer to have spent much of his career as a DH. Edgar Martinez will likely fall short of the Hall after his playing days are over, but he will retire as the most productive DH. Molitor's '78 Topps Rookie, which he shares with Alan Trammel (#707) can be had for $20. His '02 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Autograph is an excellent buy for $15.

Molitor's enshrinement could open the Hall of Fame doors for Tony Oliva, who hit the first home run by a DH, a position forced upon the Twins slugger after seven operations to his right knee. The three-time AL batting champion and 1964 Rookie of the Year was also able to extend his career as a DH. Because of the crippling injuries, Oliva does not meet the longevity criteria. But he was a .304 lifetime hitter and led the league in hits five times. Oliva's '63 Topps rookie (#228) is a nice pick up for $18, while his '01 SP Legendary Cuts Game-Used Bat can be had for $3.

Long Lost Reggie Jackson Orioles Card Surfaces

2006-02-06T15:09:00.000-05:00

Topps recently discovered an extremely rare 1977 Reggie Jackson proof card picturing Mr. October in an Orioles uniform. Topps Vault (www.toppsvault.com), which specializes in rare Topps items such as proof cards and uncut sheets, sold the card in conjunction with eBay for $6,101 last month.

As soon as Jackson signed with the Yankees prior to the 1977 season, Topps quickly airbrushed its original photo, covering the Orioles home uniform and multi-colored hat with Yankee pinstripes and traditional cap. Jackson's first official Yankees card (#10) became a key part of the '77 Topps set and currently sells for $8 in mint condition. A few original blank-backed proofs escaped the Topps shredders and found their way into the marketplace. Because of its scarcity and Jackson's October heroics, this proof card is among the hobby's most sought-after commodities. The proof card does not have a facsimile autograph commonly featured on '77 Topps cards.

According to published reports, television commentator, baseball historian/hobbyist Keith Olbermann owns two versions of this almost singular collectible. One is an actual card, the other is part of an uncut proof sheet that he purchased at a 1989 Topps/Guernsey's auction for an undisclosed price.

Although Jackson played the 1976 season with the Orioles, he is pictured in an Oakland A's uniform because Topps did not have time to doctor the photo before the series was released. Later that season, Star Co. finally released a card with Jackson wearing an Orioles uniform. Nearly a decade later Upper Deck released the first memorabilia cards sporting Jackson
in an Orioles uniform.

MLBPA Rwshuffle Eliminates Donruss

2006-01-21T14:55:00.000-05:00

Seeking a more focused and less muddled hobby, the Major League Baseball Players Association did not renew the Donruss/Playoff licensing agreement for 2006. Topps, the grandfather of baseball collectibles, and Upper Deck, are now the only baseball card manufacturers. Fleer, citing sluggish sales and debt approaching $40 million, went out of business in May and was recently sold at auction to rival Upper Deck for $6.1 million.

The demise of Donruss was the result of the manufacturers marketing failures, certainly not the quality of its baseball cards. Collectors and dealers agreed that the Donruss Diamond Kings, Absolute, Timeless Treasure, and Elite sets were among baseball’s most popular releases. Donruss poured so much money into acquiring autograph rights and game used memorabilia as well as cutting-edge technology that it could not afford to promote its products to a wide assortment of collectors.

Donruss game-used cards were instrumental in the development of high-end sets, but the MLBPA is now trying to attract younger collectors with less-expensive cards and a more modest number of high-end releases. Topps and Upper Deck already has a product line that fits the new model, Donruss does not.

Topps and Upper Deck will be required to market and promote baseball cards to attract children and new consumers while still providing value to the current collector base. Baseball cards will be more readily available in drug stores and convenience stores, and will be heavily promoted in major retail stores.

With fewer products in the marketplace, customer confusion will be reduced significantly as the MLBPA attempts to encourage set building and rookie card collecting. Beginning with 2006 releases, a new “Rookie Card” logo will appear on the cards of players making their major league debut.

The Players Association will prohibit players not on the 25 man roster from appearing in base sets. Topps will still be allowed to produce cards for non-25 man roster players in their Major League uniforms, but only in subsets and insert sets and will not include licensing photos on the card backs.

The insert/subset clause allows popular Topps brand Bowman, the self-proclaimed “Home of the Rookie Card”, to continue producing the first cards of top minor league prospects -- but as insert or subset cards not part of the base set. A card that is not part of the base set is not a rookie card according to the MLBPA. How price guide analysts and editors target such cards remains to be seen.

The goal of the MLBPA is to more clearly define rookie cards, but the new rookie rule makes a confusing situation even more chaotic. The market established between dealers and collectors over time constitutes rookie cards, not a logo neatly placed on a baseball card.

In a long overdo effort to restore order to the hobby, the new licensing agreement prohibits companies from releasing next year’s set in the current year, so 2006 sets were not released in late 2005 before the holiday rush. According to the MLBPA, 2006 Topps and Upper Deck will be released at the start of spring training.

A shake-up has been imminent over the last several years as a saturated market made the hobby too expensive and confusing for most collectors. But instead of eliminating Donruss, the MLBPA should have reduced the brand quantity per company. Why not spread the remaining 40 brands between three or even four companies? Limiting competition will eventually reduce the quality of baseball cards.

DONRUSS MAY NNOT BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BASEBALL CARD BUSINESS

Donruss might not be completely out of the baseball card business. The manufacturer will reportedly pursue a MLB Properties license allowing the company to produce cards of retired players no longer covered by the MLBPA license. An MLB Properties license would provide the rights to picture all Major League uniforms and logos.

Before the MLBPA shake-up, Donruss already had multi-year licensing agreements with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Sandy Koufax as well as the rights to produce Babe Ruth memorabilia cards. The manufacturer has remaining inventory of vintage game-used memorabilia that could be used in future produces, including swatches from the 1925-era Ruth jersey the company bought for $264,911 in 2003 used to make memorabilia cards. A MLB Properties license would allow Donruss to continue producing popular Prime Cuts and Classics sets. Based on the recent popularity of throwback sets, Donruss could establish a successful niche in the hobby.

Jimmie Foxx : Under-Rated Legend with Under-Rated Baseball Cards

2006-01-20T16:19:00.000-05:00

John Elway: The Baseball Player and His Baseball Cards

2006-01-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

Twenty-four years after being drafted by the New York Yankees, John Elway has finally appeared on a Topps baseball card. The two-time Super Bowl winner is among the 120 current and former baseball players and executives featured in Topps 2005 Fan Favorites. The series also includes general managers Brian Cashman, Walt Jockety, and Brian Sabean, former Player’s Union head Marvin Miller, and Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, and George Brett among others.

The Yankees drafted Elway out of Stanford University in 1981. In his first season of pro baseball, the athletic outfielder hit .318 and a team-high 25 RBI in 42 games. In the late ’70s Elway was one of the most sought-after high school athletes in the country. At 6’-3”, 215 pounds, Elway had the size and speed (4.7 40) craved by baseball and football coaches. He could throw a football 85 yards with the flick of a wrist and a baseball 92 miles per hour. He threw a football better on the run than most college quarterbacks and a baseball with exceptional accuracy. The son of San Jose State’s football coach chose Stanford over many more high-profile football and baseball programs.

Elway was wearing pinstripes two decades before Yankees tried to turn former Michigan Wolverine and current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Henson into a major league third baseman. Elway was exactly what George Steinbrenner lusted after -- the high-profile, All-American athlete that every football and baseball team wanted. The strong-armed outfielder hit .321 at Stanford. Scouts witnessing Elway’s sophomore season at Stanford (.361-9-50 in 49 games) insist he would have been as successful in baseball as he was in football. While starring on the college diamond, Elway became Stanford’s all-time leading passer with 9,349 and 77 touchdowns, surpassing Jim Plunkett and Steve Dils. (Steve Senstrom has since passed Elway in yards passing.)

As a collegiate athlete, Elway was known for his smarts and toughness as much as his athleticism, steering him toward a quarterbacking career. After being drafted No. 1 overall by the Baltimore Colts, Elway demanded a trade, using a potential baseball career with the Yankees as bargaining leverage. After forcing a trade to the Denver Broncos, Elway became one of the top quarterbacks ever, finishing his career as the NFL’s all-time winningest quarterback.

The 2005 Fan Favorite isn't Elway’s first baseball card. His 1999 Just Minor League baseball card can be had for $5. His 1984 Topps football rookie (#63) is selling for $33 in mint condition.

From The Autograph Mailbox: Baseball GMs

2006-01-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

During the off season is a great time to write to your favorite baseball general mangers, executives and owners. In the month of December I wrote to each general manger. In each case I asked for an autographed business card and enclosed an index card if a business card was not available. Here are the responses I have received back so far:

Billy Beane - Oakland A’s, signed index card (7 Days)

Brian Cashman - New York Yankees, signed index card with GM inscription (21 Days)

John Hart - Texas Rangers, signed index card (12 Days)

Bill Bavasi - Seattle Mariners, sent a signed luxury box suite info card (10 Days)

Bill Stoneman - Anaheim Angels, signed index card and sent signed business card (16 Days)

John Schuerholz - Atlanta Braves, sent signed business card (17 Days)

Pat Gillick - Philadelphia Phillies, signed & personalized index card & sent business card (9 Days)

Mark Shapiro - Cleveland Indians, signed & personalized index card (7 Days)

Dave Dambrowski - Detroit Tigers, signed index card (7 Days)

Terry Ryan - Minnesota Twins, signed index card and sent hand written letter (6 Days)

Ned Colletti - Los Angeles Dodgers, signed & personalized index card (11 Days)

Dan O’Brien - Cincinatti Reds, signed index card (11 Days)

Walt Jocketty - St. Louis Cardinals, sent signed business card (7 Days)

Tim Purpura - Houston Astros, signed index card, sent personalized 5 x 7 picture and sent hand written note thanking me for writing.

For the team addresses click on www.mlb.com

Steve DiGiandomenico

Rare Josh Gibson Cards Sets Pace for Negro League Memorabilia

2006-01-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

The highest graded example of one of the scarcest and most renowned baseball cards ever produced, the 1950-51 Toleteros Josh Gibson, established a new high for Negro League memorabilia, selling for $69,262 in a recent Lelands.com auation. Graded by Sportscard Guarantee Corporation as an SGC 88 Near-Mint 8, this card is believed to be just one of 12 in existence.

Like most stars of the Negro leagues, Gibson played winter ball for lucrative contracts in Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. In 1937, the peak of his career, Gibson joined Satchell Paige and Cool Papa Bell in the Dominican Republic to play for a team owned by dictator Rafael Trujillo. In a highly competitive and fiercely played seven-week season, Gibson hit .453, leading Trujillo's All-Stars to the championship.

Before the auction, Lelands went to great lengths to end the controversy surrounding the rare Gibson card. Produced three years after Gibson's death, many vintage baseball card collectors believed the card pictured his son, Josh Jr, who played for the Homestead Grays in 1949. Leland's discovered a Puerto Rican scorecard with the heading "Baseball de Puerto Rico" (January 7, 1940) featuring an identical image of the senior Gibson on its cover as on the 1950-51 Toleteros card. Lelands also sold a bound collection of programs from 1939-40, including the Gibson cover, sold for $3,554.

A powerful and agile catcher, Gibson was the Negro Leagues' greatest home run hitter. Known by his peers and conteporaries as "the black Babe Ruth", Gibson used a short, compact sweing and massive upper body to bash home runs in ballparks North and South America with the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1930 to 1946. Newspaper accounts describe him as an intimidating hitter with quick wrists and a massive upper body with who seldom struck out.

According to baseball legend, Gibson hit as many as 75 home runs in a single season, more than 800 homers during a 17-year career, and was the only player to ever hit a fair ball out of Yankee stadium. Oft-repeated myths tend to become exaggerated over time -- the lengendary home run reportedly traveled over 500 feet, but landed in Yankee stadium -- but Gibson was indeed one of the most prolific power hitters in baseball history.

Trajecally, Gibson was just 35 years old and still active when he suffered a cerebral hemorrage and died suddenly in January 1947, just a few months before Jackie Robinson changed American history by breaking baseball's color barrier.

Gibson slugged his way onto nine East-West All-Star squads and ranked him second only to Paige as the best known Negro-League player. Topps plans to spread the legend of the great Josh Gibson after recently signing deal with the Hall of Famer's estate that gives the card manufacturer exclusive rights to produce his cards. The contract covers all trading cards, including inserts, cut autograph cards, and memorabilia cards as well as the use of Gibson's likeness in packaging and advertising.

It's Just in the Cards

2006-01-15T15:25:00.000-05:00

Just Minors baseball cards closely resemble your father's baseball cards or the cards from your childhood. In an industry rife with technological advancement, simple in-action or portrait photographs on a medium card stock are the manufacturer's signature. Just has become a big hit with rookie card collectors because it offers debut cards of future major leaguers.

Just Minors is not competing with the major league baseball card manufacturers targeting investors. Company president, Scott Jordan, a career minor league baseball player who enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Cleveland Indians in 1988 (he has a 1998 Donruss rookie card), targets baseball fans at the grass-roots levels -- people who go to games, study the players, and collect baseball cards as a hobby.

The minor league manufactuer offers basic baseball cards with low production numbers and high-quality photography. You won't find any game-used memorabilia cards, bust most Just sets include autograph cards of the day's rising stars. Among players who have signed for Just are Alfonso Soriano, John Elway (he was drafted by the New York Yankees), and Joe Mauer.

Most minor league ball players are excellent autograph signers at the ballpark and through mail correspondence. Just cards are ideal for autograph seekers because they do not contain a high gloss surface that often smudge autographs. Red Sox collectors can expect pitching prospect Jon Papelbon, to respond to mail autograph requests within 10 days.

Just Stars, the first of three products to be released this year, will be released this month. The series will include the 30-card "Road to the Show" subset featuring Hanley Ramirez, the Florida Marlins top prospect, and Seattle Mariners 19-year-old minor league prospect Felix Hernandez, "the most anticipated pitching prospect since Dwight Gooden," according to Jordan. Because collectors can purchase directly from Just and avoid the secondary market, sets are very much affordable. For more information, click on www.justminors.com.