For some reason every year has a hobby lul. It’s a period of time where nothing really excites anyone and people quit talking about sports cards. When people quit talking, people stop buying. That is kinda the basis for this entire website, talk drives commerce. Last year we had an August lul, and this year we are right smack at the middle of it as September proves to be the big 2011 loser. The show must go on, as there are still cards that deserve their time under the spot light.
1. Matt Moore Elite / In The Game Autographs
For some prospectors, Matt Moore used his MLB Debut to validate what they had been saying all along. For two years now those of us who follow prospect circles have heard that Moore is a strike out machine. He mowed through $196,854,630 worth of pin stripes to claim his first win and recorded 11 strike outs in the process.
This caused the high end elite parallels to come off the board as fan confidence had seen enough out of him to pull out the big bucks. One point of note for me at least is how surprisingly strong some of the ITG sells were. It just goes to show you that once people start getting priced out, they will settle for second tier. Think twice before you ignore those autographs.
2. Matt Stafford High End Patch Autographs
We had a first in sports broadcasting happen this week. ESPN analyst Heath Evans was absolutely blasted by Lions fans and bloggers when he stated that they were more like the Carolina Panthers than the Defending Champion Green Bay Packers. Seriously, when was the last time the Lions fan base was this excited? The only thing I can think of that makes them more excited than the excellent play and health status of Stafford would be the announcement of a Matt Millen voodoo doll. Excitement leads to a positive market trend, and Stafford cards have certainly reacted to this hype.
3. Matt Kemp Bowman Chrome Autographs
It’s a Matt-a-palooza around the hot list today as Kemp is putting the finishing touches on an amazing season. In my opinion he has been the most dynamic player in baseball this year and certainly deserves MVP consideration. If he were on a contending team, the award would be practically handed to him. The Dodgers 2011 season in the light of a Cy Young and MVP campaign from Kershaw and Kemp shows you just how important supporting players are as they can’t win with two horses alone.
Kemp’s mid range chrome autographed cards are steadily climbing up the ranks in the singles market, and could possibly reach some pretty rare air as he joins other MLB superstars in status.
4. Justin Verlander Rookie Autos
Can I just copy and paste what I said last week?
Damn you Justin for not being named Matt!
Seriously, he’s this years Roy Halladay and his cards are being treated as such. His non chrome spiked this week as his chrome autographs held a vicious market pace. The kind of pace that takes the possibility of a Cy Young and MVP award to fuel.
5. Cool patches from 2011 Topps Marquee Baseball
You guys remember 2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection jumbo patches right? These are just as cool, and in many cases cooler. The patch work in these is beautiful work that I haven’t seen done short of a fire sell where a manufacturer knows that they have to use or lose the nicer patch pieces due to licensing or other factors.
The sale value on these cards are at least double the UD 09 counterparts as the Topps name continues to interest a wider range of collectors than any brand in the hobby.
Yes, I know it isn’t out yet. When you write the hot list, you can do things your way. For now, sit back and enjoy the awesomeness that is 2011 Topps Chrome Football. Topps has put in considerable work with the football brand this year. Content in inception, finest, and platinum have been absolutely out standing and chrome looks to trump them both. An amazing %75 of the rookies are on card this year.
Granted the top tier rookies will be pretty hard to hit. That has been the case with all of the NFL releases from Topps this year. You still have to tip your cap to the design and production staff over there. Keep up the good work guys.
