1. Domonic Brown 2008 Autographs

Comments: Domonic Brown has seen an absolute surge in card values this week with his MLB call up.  Everything with his name on it has picked up some major steam on ebay and in card shops.  Base contenders cards have fetched $8 each and base chromes have went for $20.  This is quite the spike when you consider how hard it is to sell a base contenders card.  Elites and Threads autographs haven’t dissapointed either, they are in the $90 range most of the time.   Graded copies should sell particularly well, because of the condition sensitive nature that Donruss foil cards create.

2. Buster Posey 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Parallel Autos

Comments: Buster Posey is still on fire.  And if it weren’t for the call up of Domonic Brown he would still be #1.  Normally with the introduction of a new prospect on the scene card prices of last weeks guy fall off a bit.  This isn’t the case with Buster, as his cards are hotter than ever.  Graded gold refractors are in the $1200 range, and every single other parallel is up.  Even cast off autographs from 2009-2010 are double what they were before his call.

3. Wil Myers Bowman Chrome and Donruss Elite Autos

Comments: Wil is slated for a big move up the Baseball America top 50 prospect list.  Ben Badler recently said that he is the one guy outside the top 25 that he thinks will make a run up the next list.  His discipline at the plate with surprising early power as a young player in the South Atlantic League has caused the demand for his cards not only to spike, but to maintain that spike.

4. Delmon Young Chrome Autographs

Comments: Delmon has found a home in The Twin Cities, and if it weren’t for home town boy Joe Mauer, Delmon might be the team MVP.  His offensive numbers are eye opening considering the pedestrian seasons he has had in previous years.  Any time a hitter goes from a .733 ops to .914 the hobby takes note, especially when the player has premium cards from an amazing set.  The gold refractor pictured here sold for $330 and base copies are nearing the $50 range.

5. 2010 Press Pass Showcase Racing

Comments: As I flip through this product, I can’t help but think how beautiful it would be and how much money I would spend on it if it were a College Football release.  The secondary market has not reacted to these cards quite like it takes to traditional sports with established card collector bases, however you cannot ignore the mass appeal of a Danika Patrick fire suit autograph.  These are hands down the most beautiful cards that Press Pass has ever made.  Any sport collecting base would consider them up there with the crown jewels of the industry.  From an aesthetic standpoint, these cards come the closest I have ever seen to passing Upper Deck Exquisite in the most attractive card category.  Well done Press Pass.

6. Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Autos

Comments: Mike Trout is the big fish in 2009 Bowman Chrome draft.  He is the one player everyone opening a box of that product hopes to pull.  This adds value to a card that is already shooting up due to his rare skill set creating havoc across two different leagues in just his second year of professional baseball.   Seriously, think about this for a second.  18 years old in high A and hitting .346.  An excellent defender, base stealer, hitter, and barring injury a sure fire major league all star.  His blue refractors are $215, the most of any 18 year old in the card market.

7. Tyler Chatwood 2008 Playoff Contenders Autos

Comments: When a card goes from nothing to something, it is generally worth noting.  In the case of Tyler Chatwood, a fine season and a torrid week or so gave him the #1 spot on last weeks Baseball America hot sheet, and his best autograph responded.  The contenders went from about $3 to $12 in no time flat, landing Chatwood on yet another hot list.  The contenders pictured is one that I bought for $3, had graded, and sold for $40.

8. Michael Pineda 2009 Bowman Chrome

Comments: Pineda has been a Baseball America regular this year and his cards reflect that.  He is still a guy who isn’t talked about much in prospect circles, but the guys following him are certainly not afraid to shell out prime dollars on him.  His blue refractors are at the $50 mark these days, and as long as he keeps up that disgustingly low 1.026 whip the trend should continue.

9.  2010 National Sports Card Collectors Convention FCB black parallels.

Comments: I get a homer call right?  Although these cards aren’t on the market and have just been printed, I think they deserve a spot here because of what they mean to this website.  Every year we will do this set, as long as we are still able to set up at The National.  Tradition builds a collecting base, and we think that if we do quality work year in and year out, some of these cards could eventually command a premium.

I am going to cut the hot list off at 9 this week, as it’s not normally my responsibility to write it.  In closing I would like to remind you guys that although we spend a lot of money on these cards, they are just that.  Just plain pieces of paper.   They are meaningless without friends you have made while collecting them, and the relationships strengthened by them.   Be it an online friend as is the case with so many people here at FCB, your father, or in my case grandmother, relationships with people are the key to a successful collection and no dollar value can change that.