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When it comes to content deliver we are in a whole new world. You know when something that you think is a fad is here to stay when timeless main stays of society adapt to the new technology. Today one of the big stories on the news was the The Pope has created a twitter account. Not surprisingly it took about 4 seconds for a parody account to be created. So Israel and Palestine talk smack on twitter and now The Pope can answer your questions live and in person. The times they are a changing. Watch out those of you who just don’t like change.
This has been a theme in the hobby too as we have seen players take to twitter. Pretty much everyone is on there, even retired guys like Dale Murphy. In an exchange with the folks at Panini Dale showed off some cards he was signing. Twitter has become an excellent resource to find out about what is going on in the hobby as more and more information gets posted there first. Players are often instructed by the companies to tweet out pictures or to say something candid about the signing on their accounts. It along with several other tools that collectors have at their fingertips are attempting to make the hobby more engaging and more relevant as people can participate at a level that they previously weren’t able to achieve. And while we are talking about achievement, I can think of no better segway into this weeks hot list.
#1 Greg McElroy Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs
Remember the constant theme behind the Vick / Nick Foles drama this year? No one is as popular on a struggling team than the backup quarterback when the starter isn’t playing well. Now I suppose we can say that the third string guy is popular as well. While Sanchez faltered Greg stepped in and led the Jets to their only scoring drive of the game and sealed a much needed win with Mark on the side line. It’s his first drive in the NFL and it was a game winning touch down pass.
Winning is something that Greg is just flat out used to. He never lost in high school, and it took him till week 6 of his Junior year at Alabama to finally know what defeat tasted like. At least for now he is also undefeated as a professional. Is he the new starter? Probably not as the Jets have a lot of time invested in Sanchez and probably are not willing to give up on him just yet. They also have Tim Tebow on the bench and will no doubt use him when he is able. For now it’s fun to speculate. And boy are people speculating as this card has moved north of $40 from the $5 bin.
#2 Andrew Luck Rookie Autographs
Andrew is already the best hit in an absolutely loaded rookie class. His autographs can’t possibly go up any farther right? Absolutely wrong. In the world of franchise NFL quarterbacks the rookie autographs of the elite carry big premiums and while Andrew has a ways to go to catch up with the Mannings and Bradys of the card world he is certainly going in the right direction. His game winning drive made more believers as more collectors started scooping up and paying more for cards. Previously you could buy this inception autograph /50 for $200 and now it will cost you $50-$75 more as his cards surge.
#3 Mike Zunino Bowman Draft Autographs
Base autos are at $50, refractors at $75, blues at $175 and everything else is much higher and much spottier. At this point it’s hard to tell who the standout is in this product as the new few players on this list are just so close in value.
Zunino being a standout is no surprise to anyone who follows minor league baseball. All he has done since he was drafted and aggressively placed in the minors is smash. He moved through two levels of play last year and now sits in AA. This puts him with players of his same age and baseball experience as he proved that the low A North West League wasn’t his equal.
#4 Albert Almora Bowman Draft Autographs
The 6th overall draft pick in the June draft is no stranger to collectors. His USA autographs are abundant as he was the guy who played on both the 16u and 18u teams when those Topps sets were printed. He was in almost every bowman product in 2011. But this is his first autographed card pictured as a member of the Chicago Cubs so it will undoubtedly be his most desired card. Especially when you look at Bowman Chromes history and what the first on card chrome autograph means to a players secondary card market value.
Albert was only 18 in his first professional season so it will take some time for him to develop and see major league play. That’s ok because the fan base of the Chicago Cubs lives in the future. The NEXT guy is always gonna live up to the hype right?
#5 David Dahl Bowman Draft Autos
He’s a product of the Alabama public school system that you would swear was at least a college junior. He’s also the best all around prospect in this set as he does everything extremely well. In the perfect game camp on evaluator put him up there with the stars of the 2005 draft class in terms of potential.
As a new pro in short season ball Dahl once agian played above his head, with a 1.048 OPS+. That was good enough to top the Pioneer league that had many players older and supposedly more advanced than Dahl. His chrome autographs are right there with Almora, Zunnino, and a touch over the next pick on the list, Joey Gallo.
#6 Joey Gallo Bowman Draft Autographs
I can anticipate the mob references now. Soon people will be calling him “Crazy Joe” because he shares a name with the famous mobster Joe Gallo. Those Joey is making a name for himself as well. At 19 he absolutely shredded rookie ball in Arizona hitting 18 long balls. That is 10 more than an earlier pick by Oakland Matt Olson had.
He will need to work on his glove though, as errors were a problem for him. As you might suspect that as a first baseman even if his glove is nothing more than average or slightly below, that big massive bat will carry him wherever he wants to go.
#7 Bryce Brown Donruss / Panini Autographs
It’s always sunny in Philadelphia right? Maybe not, as the Eagles fans certainly have a cloudy outlook on this waste of a season. Here comes a bright spot though as Bryce Brown looks to be a draft day steal. He’s elusive and explosive and he’s finally giving the Philly Faithful something to smile about. He needs to learn a bit about ball security as turn overs are a problem, and there are doubts about where he fits into the long term plans of the eagles. They already have a franchise running back in Lesean McCoy who does not get enough carries as it is.
His Panini rookies and stars auto shot up to $90 as he had a bit of a coming out party this weekend. Collectors can also find a pre rookie of his as Leaf (then razor) launched it’s US Army All American Game set with autographs of Bryce Brown and it can be had for about $100. I look for that one to spike as the market dries up but only if he continues to perform. That fumble at the end of the game was huge, but the excitement over the new talent is obviously there.
You may also want to check out the Panini Prizm inserts as they are selling for a pretty penny as well. They will probably get a strong mention in next weeks hot list if the market keeps adjusting like it is. I can see prices going up once the cards dry up. The nicest thing about basketball is that numbered inserts of stars sell for major bank. That isn’t really true of any other sport.
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