Tag Archives: Miguel Cabrera

FCB Weekly Hot List October 5th 2012 Edition

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Look at anything you have in your life, and I can guarantee you one thing about it.  Eventually in some way it will change.  It’s an inevitable force that will eventually affect everything.  Today, the hot list undergoes a temporary change.

Phil Mason, who has valiantly written this list for two years now will be sitting the next few lists out until we can get a handle on the blog content.  The goal is to have a series of regular columns by a few writers and not just be the two man show that it has been.  Content is going to take this site forward.  Forward seems like a good direction, so let’s start the list.

#1 Miguel Cabrera Anything.

A Triple Crown is one of the rarest feats in baseball.  Especially in the modern age with equipment improvement, advanced scouting, and performance enhancing drugs.  The playing field is level enough that dominating every offensive statistical category is more impressive than ever.

Miggy has always been a guy that was capable of the crown, and now reality has set in and collectors have jumped on his cards in a huge way.  Random base set Topps cards are in the buck range and lots are crazy as well.  Want this nice PSA Topps traded autograph in the picture?  Not unless you got $1500 in your paypal account.

The post season awards aren’t done for Cabrera as he should be also awarded the AL MVP.  You also have hopefully a long playoff run for him to star in.

 

#2 Matt Ryan Exquisite RPA Patch Autographs

Matty Ice is living up to his nickname this season.  In all my days of watching Falcon football I have never seen anything like that pass out of the end zone to Roddy White to put the Panthers away.

It was so epic that it became a national sports story rather than the usual local coverage that the birds get here in Atlanta.  The NY Times and other national sources covered it as feature stories.  This gives Matt a wider market of collectors and has pushed all of his rookie cards upwards this week.

 

#3 2012 Topps Update All Star Jumbo Patches

Sometimes Topps just gets a design right.  These cards are among the nicest looking I have seen in a few years.  I realize the complaints that they use all star warm up jerseys for these cards are valid.  I understand that collectors want real game used.  I also understand that these cards are beautiful, have a deep star studded checklist, and are extremely rare.  Besides isn’t this better than getting a game used card and having no clue where the jersey came from? 

In the world of base topps, extremely rare is enough to drive prices up.  When a set meets all three of those demands prices go through the roof.  These cards got off to a slow start with a Craig Kimbrel only hitting the $100 mark.  Then a Trout and Darvish showed up and showed the collecting market that these cards are big.  Player collectors will scramble for these cards for a long time.

#4 Star Wars Galactic Files High End Autographs and Sketches

In terms of crazy collecting fan base no sports figure has anything on Star Wars memorabilia.  When those collectors embrace a card set the secondary market has a hard time containing the result.

Your standard Harrison Ford autographed 8×10 runs about $350.  Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Galactic Files, try an incredible $5000.

I am very surprised that The Fett Man is only selling for $45.  I would have thought that his cult following would push that card up higher than that.

Sketch cards are big money as well.  Some of the color sketch cards of notable characters can bring close to the $800 mark.  My favorite sketch that I have seen so far is this Darth Vader.

#5 Brian Hartline Contenders Autographs

With fall coming up many of you are taking your coats out of the closet and getting them ready for colder weather.  Some of you when doing so will find one of life’s most underrated surprises left in your pocket of that coat.  Sure enough, you left an Andrew Jackson in that pocket last year and this year it feels like free money.  People who have Brian Hartline contenders autographs right now should have a similar feeling.

It’s hard being a white guy receiver in the NFL.  Guys like Jordy Nelson of the Packers face an up hill battle when looking for recognition in the hobby.  If the perception is slow receiver it takes a massive performance for the players cards to get any attention.  Unless that player plays for the Patriots for some reason.

Tannehill to Hartline exploded this week with an amazing 252 yards in the air.  If you say you saw this coming, you are probably lying.

#6 2012 Leaf Metal Baseball Albert Pujols Patch Autos

This is an advanced add to the hot list.  Right now there aren’t enough cards or information on the market to include these cards on the hot list.  But I suspect that by the time this article is circulated that we will see a few eBayers fighting over this extremely limited sub set.

This bidding war should be a fun one to watch.  Also these patches are all scanned post production by Leaf and made available via a public database.  This is a clear deterrent for patch fakers and if done across the board by the card companies it will put an end to the mass of fake patch cards that get made every year.

 

 

Ice Cold Bonus Cam Newton

Last years break out story has gotten a bit stale as he hits his sophomore slump.  His negative attention in the media lately has made him look bad and the collecting world has certainly responded.  If you are holding Cam cards and looking to sell, be prepared to hold a while.

The good news is, he is still an elite talent.  The sky is still the limit for Cam as he is clearly one of the most talented athletes in the league.  The bad news is, he is getting out shined by Robert Griffin.

To put this into perspective all you have to do is compare RG4′s stats to Cam’s last year.  I think you will find that case study to be advantage Newton.

These factors make now the best time to buy, grade and sit.  The prices are getting too good to not pick up his stuff counting on an inevitable rebound.

ESPN’s Top 10 from a Cardboard Perspective

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The season is under way, and ESPN recently came out with their list of the top 500 players in baseball. Zeroing in on the Top 10, one can debate the merits of the selection and order. Undoubtedly though, the list includes ten of the best players in baseball, and due to their popularity, these players offer many collecting options. Here I’ll discuss a bit about their rookie cards in general and, specifically, their most popular rookie autograph releases:

1. Albert Pujols: Pujols broke into the Majors in 2001 and was the rare player who did not have a rookie card before he reached the “bigs.” This (along with Ichiro’s RC season) made for some pretty exciting times in the hobby, and the card companies capitalized releasing a huge variety of rookie, rookie autograph, and insert cards of the slugger. It was also the first time I recall a company put a redemption into a product without saying what it was for. (Five redemptions cards for RC’s were inserted in Fleer Premium for unnamed rookie cards, one of which was later revealed to be Pujols.) The “Holy Grail” of all Pujols rookie cards (and the “Holy Grail” for many modern collectors) is the 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols RC Autograph /500. Cost of Chrome RC Auto: recent BGS 9s have sold in the $4000–$5000 range.

2. Roy Halladay: Halladay’s rookie cards stem from 1997, and offerings include Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman’s Best. His Bowman Chrome RC card is a popular one amongst collectors; though his most highly regarded first-year cards are likely his Bowman Autographs. While they are inserts, they’ve been accepted by collectors much like any other rookie autograph and command serious prices. The card comes in three versions: blue ink, black ink (which sometimes looks red if it is faded), and gold ink. Estimates of the gold ink version are as low as 50–100 copies. They are also extremely condition sensitive with black-back borders, and in decent condition they command a nice premium. Price of a Bowman Auto: $175–$225 while a BGS 9 got $700. (Note that the price on raw copies is way down from where it has been over the last year or two.)

3. Miguel Cabrera: Cabrera is another guy with very few options. His rookie cards are from 2000 and are limited to Topps Traded and Topps Chrome Traded—both boxed sets. Thankfully for rookie autograph collectors, Topps Traded offered an autographed option—a card that has been extremely popular since Cabrera captured the attention of the hobby during the 2003 playoffs as a 20 year old. The Topps Traded autograph is also condition sensitive as the boxed sets led to many dinged corners. The card was also one that was commonly trimmed, so buying graded is recommended. 8.5s often net a premium over raw. Price on 2000 Topps Traded Auto: $400+ for raw; $600+ for BGS 9, though a recent copy went for $844 indicating that his hot start and pairing with Prince Fielder may lead to increased hobby interest.

4. Justin Verlander: Verlander, like Pujols, has a wide array of rookie cards and autographs, and like Pujols his most popular is his Bowman Chrome Autograph. Unlike Pujols though, his card is not limited to 500 copies. By 2005 Bowman Chrome had all sorts of parallels, so collectors who are looking for Chrome can shoot for the parallel that best fits their collection or budget. Because Verlander has so many rookie autographs, there is one that fits most price ranges. Even after his MVP season rookie autographs can be found for $30–$40. Price for a Bowman Chrome RC Auto: $100-$120.

5. Felix Hernandez: King Felix took the Majors by storm as a 19 year old in 2005, but collectors had already been picking his cards up since 2004. He had a variety of cards produced all by Topps and two rookie autographs: Bowman Chrome and Bowman’s Best. His Chrome card has been extremely popular for years. As the final release before Chrome introduced 1/1s and began upping the number of parallels, his best may very well be his gold refractor autograph, a tough card, but one that can be found with some patience (and an open wallet.) Price for a Bowman Chrome Auto: $75–$100.

6. Ryan Braun: The 2011 MVP does not have a huge number of rookie cards to choose from, but he has some very low-end releases as well as a whole bunch of nice rookie autographs. His most popular rookie autograph is his Bowman Chrome Autograph (anyone sensing a trend), but he also has a Bowman Sterling option and a Bowman Heritage Auto. (The red auto parallel /51 is in my opinion one of the underrated cards available. It is basically as rare as a gold refractor and, when found, costs a small fraction of the price.) Price of a Bowman Chrome Auto: $110–$130.

7. Clayton Kershaw: Another one whose Chrome Rookie autograph dominates the discussion, last year’s Cy Young Award winner has never posted an ERA above 3. Kershaw is also the first (and only one) on the list that has actually two Bowman Chrome autographs. While his 2006 version is the most popular, his 2008 version is a nice looking on-card autograph at a pretty reasonable price point. His 2006 BC Auto can be had in the $65–$80 range. (Interestingly his Xfractors have tended to be very cheap relative to other parallels.)

8. Troy Tulowitzki: A rare star over the last few years that does not have a Bowman Chrome RC Autograph, his only rookie autograph stems from the fairly obscure Topps Rookie Cup. (Tulowitzki’s Bowman Chrome cards are still very popular and collectible.) While the Rookie Cup cards are sticker autos, they do have a nice large picture of Troy and a bevy of parallels to satisfy rainbow collectors and those looking for more high-end options. The base version of the Topps Rookie Cup Auto can be had in the $55–$70 range.

9. Tim Lincecum: Owner of tw0 Cy Young Awards and featured on a ton of cards in 2007 (a search for Lincecum (2007, 07) nets over 600 results), his most popular offering (like so many others on the list) is his Bowman Chrome Autograph and parallels. Rare Lincecum Chrome parallels sell for as most as almost anyone who has ever had a Chrome release; though he has many other rookie autographs available—including a great looking Exquisite RC Auto /199. Chrome RC Autos sell for around $150, while the Exquisite card can be had for a little less than that.

10. Robinson Cano: While Cano had a wide variety of rookie cards produced in 2003, the rarer stuff sells really well. A Bowman Chrome Refractor BGS 10 recently sold for over $500! Raw copies of his refractor and Xfractor can run you $150 or so, so it’s not just the BGS graded ones. A relatively young star playing under the biggest spotlight in baseball can do that to a player. Cano also has just a single rookie year autograph: an insert in Bowman Heritage. It’s a condition sensitive card, and the print does not appear to be all that high as there are rarely more than a few copies on eBay at a time.