2013 Leaf Power Showcase Baseball

[Leaf]

Does a card company's signing high school kids affect their amateur status or prevents the kid from playing college ball?

No.. Kids are NOT paid

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I am not saying I will buy, but all Leaf is doing is giving what some people seem to want. There is a constant push to get the first auto of this player or that player (USA, AFLAC, etc.). If people buy it, they will make it. If they don't then Leaf won't make any more. I think it would be cool to have a David Wright or Dustin Pedroia card from when they were at this stage of their career (if they went to events like this). I am sure the buyers know that very few of these guys will really make it. But, for those who do, it seems like a cool card to have.

The thing is, from an investment standpoint, the first card isn't the best anymore. That's the way it used to be. . . but with the USA cards, whcih used to be money... those USA autos drop DRASTICALLY once a player gets a MLB auto.

Props to Leaf for getting the license and bringing something new to the table. And obviously, distributors are buying it. As an investor or collector, do you want to rip it? I certainly don't, as it will likely take 2-5 years for there to be an actual ROI on most of these kids... and that's the ones that go to college and are drafted.... HIGH HIGH HIGH risk product... with not that great of a reward.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

A "6-tool talent"?

They questioned some high school girls as well.

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

The thing is, from an investment standpoint, the first card isn't the best anymore. That's the way it used to be. . . but with the USA cards, whcih used to be money... those USA autos drop DRASTICALLY once a player gets a MLB auto.

Props to Leaf for getting the license and bringing something new to the table. And obviously, distributors are buying it. As an investor or collector, do you want to rip it? I certainly don't, as it will likely take 2-5 years for there to be an actual ROI on most of these kids... and that's the ones that go to college and are drafted.... HIGH HIGH HIGH risk product... with not that great of a reward.

I'm not so sure that this is such a high risk product. Every card is numbered to 50 or less. Depending upon your buy in price, you're looking at under $6 per auto with every card being in essence incredibly rare.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I'm not so sure that this is such a high risk product. Every card is numbered to 50 or less. Depending upon your buy in price, you're looking at under $6 per auto with every card being in essence incredibly rare.

It's high risk in that most of these kids won't get drafted. And, it's minimal reward as this set has a few things going against it --

1) It's Leaf -- I'm not going to bash the company, but I'm a huge buyer of a player who has a Chrome auto, an Elite auto, and 3 Leaf autos. The 3 leaf autos pale in comparison to the Elite, which pales in comparison to the Chrome. Leaf gets minimal market love.

2) USA, an established "brand", sees it's cards drop drastically once a guy gets drafted. This is an unestablished brand.

 

[TBTwinsFan]

Finally. I've asked Power Showcase for a couple years if they had any plans to do cards. I'm glad they were able to do it.

 

[smapdi]

They questioned some high school girls as well.

Winner.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Seems there's a new product being released every other day.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Seems there's a new product being released every other day.

This is a good thing.

 

[sportscardtheory]

lol at anyone who has no problem with cards of 16-19 year-olds but act like cards of 14-15 year-olds is just pure craziness.

 

[Dilferules]

"Nothing is sexier to collectors and prospectors than the power hitter." Really? Brian you need to fire your copywriter. And if you wrote that sentence, fire yourself.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

lol at anyone who has no problem with cards of 16-19 year-olds but act like cards of 14-15 year-olds is just pure craziness.

Personally, I don't want a card of a player until he's affiliated with a major league team -- i.e. drafted. People want USA cards and high school cards. . . if the market wants it, it'll be made. I don't get it, and I can't see putting $ into a 15 year old kid, but what do I know...

 

[Bob Loblaw]

"Nothing is sexier to collectors and prospectors than the power hitter." Really? Brian you need to fire your copywriter. And if you wrote that sentence, fire yourself.

At least he didn't say that "Nothing is sexier to collectors and prospectors than the 14-16 year old power hitter."

Happy prospecting!

 

[WJCIII]

It's hilarious how people are making jokes about how young these guys are but don't say anything about Topps making a 16U USA auto set.

 

[Dilferules]

At least he didn't say that "Nothing is sexier to collectors and prospectors than the 14-16 year old power hitter."

Happy prospecting!

I saw the first draft of the sell sheet:

"Nothing is sexier to collectors and prospectors than the 14-16 year old power hitter. Bulging muscles. Young, firm skin. Beads of sweat collecting on their wispy beginnings of a mustache. They lick their lips in anticipation as the white ball inches closer. Ever closer. It will be there soon my young friend. Oh so soon. I can feel it. Product releases early April 2013, orders due 2/28 (or prior sell out), 12 boxes per case, 12 autographed cards per box."

I think they made a good choice replacing most of that with product details.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Personally, I don't want a card of a player until he's affiliated with a major league team -- i.e. drafted. People want USA cards and high school cards. . . if the market wants it, it'll be made. I don't get it, and I can't see putting $ into a 15 year old kid, but what do I know...

I wouldn't touch any of these cards UNTIL the players are playing in the Minors. But it would be neat to be able to have a professional card of someone 1 to 3 years before they even start playing professionally.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

This is a good thing.

Anyone who doesn't think there's a tipping point is sorely mistaken.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Anyone who doesn't think there's a tipping point is sorely mistaken.

The sales speak for themselves. People who simply talk a lot about the so-called "danger" in collectors having options are just blowing smoke. Look at National Treasures. It's not even MLB licensed and is already probably a better product than any Topps product released in 2012.

 

[jbhofmann]

The uniforms they are wearing....

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

The sales speak for themselves. People who simply talk a lot about the so-called "danger" in collectors having options are just blowing smoke. Look at National Treasures. It's not even MLB licensed and is already probably a better product than any Topps product released in 2012.

A single new release doesn't speak for all new releases... nor does it mean that what people are interested in and buying now will be what they're interested and buying five years from now.

Like I said, there's clearly a tipping point.