2004 was an awesome year to prospect.

[Austin]

I only prospected in 2003, 2004 and 2005, but I had fun doing it and actually came out ahead since I sold at the right times.

My favorite year by far was 2004. What an incredible year for prospect sets, after the market was dominated by only Bowman and UD Prospect Premieres, and to a lesser extent, USA cards, which I loved.

But 2004 was the pinnacle to me, with Bowman Chrome/Prospects, Upper Deck SP, Donruss Elite Extra Edition and Fleer Hot Prospects.

There were so many big name prospects too. Remember when SP cards of Eric Campbell sold for $100?

As a Rangers fan, I invested heavily in pitcher, Thomas Diamond. Fortunately, I sold to a big Diamond collector before he had Tommy John surgery and I made out okay.
Unfortunately, I kept the '04 Bowman Chrome Prospects Gold Autograph that I paid $180 for (Doh!) and now it's worth hardly anything.

I can't believe it's been 8 years since that great year of prospect cards.
What are your memories of the 2004 sets?

 

[moxacaine]

i remember making a bunch of money on felix hernandez and zach duke. lol

 

[Jaypers]

Ah, yes. The year of Matt Tuiasosopo and Mitch Einertson. Them's the good ol' days.

 

[AmishDave]

I still collect Maholm from '04, lol. I remember, from the football side, spending WAY too much on Greg Jones & some Chris Perry. My PC's are just of brutal players ...

 

[moxacaine]

Ah, yes. The year of Matt Tuiasosopo and Mitch Einertson. Them's the good ol' days.

ha i still have two bowman sterling tuiasosopo.

 

[bear0555]

2004 was a time when I tried to get a game used card of any decent major leaguer. I also wanted a "nice" rookie card of anyone who might be a solid big leaguer someday. It was also the year I learned about trading online. What the hell was I doing???

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

Bowman Chrome Blue Refractors on ThePit.com...they were awesome. Carlos Gonzalez, Quentin, Jackson, and so many more.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

2004 Aflac redemptions

Nothing better than making a TON on parallels and the auto sets (after the fiasco).

 

[Austin]

Crazy '04 UD SP Prospects prices from a 2007 Beckett:
(I included busts with stars to show what they were worth then)

Matt Bush: $30
Mark Rogers: $25
Homer Bailey: $80
Chris Nelson: $50
Thomas Diamond: $40
Scott Elbert: $40
Josh Fields: $60
Phil Hughes: $120
Richie Robnett: $30
Blake DeWitt: $40

Gio Gonzalez $30 (he's a star now, but his rookies sell for the same or less after 20 wins than when he was a minor leaguer)

Reid Brignac: $125!!!

Yovani Gallardo: $60
Hunter Pence: $90
Dustin Pedroia: $50
Eric Campbell: $70
Adam Lind: $70
M. Tuiasosopo: $50
Charles Lofgren: $30
Mark Lowe: $40
Joe Koshansky: $60
Jeremy Sowers: $50
Mark Trumbo: $30

 

[smapdi]

2004 was a big year for me in prospect town. For years afterwards I was finding some gold dust in my monster box. Just last year I sold a Wade Davis SP TP autograph for $15. I didn't go real deep on any one guy, but had a nice variety of cards. Reid Brignac was my pick to click, and I guess he still is, considering I still have all those cards. But they are some nice ones. An Elite auto #1/50, IIRC, a Bowman Heritage Mahogany #/25 (3/25, the number on his jersey in the pic, IIRC), and a couple other things. I still have a couple BDP boxes in the closet.

Ah, forgot Angel Salome and Ben Harrison. Salome was a good sleeper for a while. Ben Harrison was someone I took a flyer on. I had (have) about 60 Chromes and a handful of parallels. Based strictly on the college numbers on the back of his card, I decided he was the one I'd turn into a car. Hasn't happened yet, but hey, he's still playing, and only 30. Come on, Harrison!

 

[Yadier2004]

I only prospected in 2003, 2004 and 2005, but I had fun doing it and actually came out ahead since I sold at the right times.

My favorite year by far was 2004. What an incredible year for prospect sets, after the market was dominated by only Bowman and UD Prospect Premieres, and to a lesser extent, USA cards, which I loved.

But 2004 was the pinnacle to me, with Bowman Chrome/Prospects, Upper Deck SP, Donruss Elite Extra Edition and Fleer Hot Prospects.

There were so many big name prospects too. Remember when SP cards of Eric Campbell sold for $100?

As a Rangers fan, I invested heavily in pitcher, Thomas Diamond. Fortunately, I sold to a big Diamond collector before he had Tommy John surgery and I made out okay.
Unfortunately, I kept the '04 Bowman Chrome Prospects Gold Autograph that I paid $180 for (Doh!) and now it's worth hardly anything.

I can't believe it's been 8 years since that great year of prospect cards.
What are your memories of the 2004 sets?

2004 was a great year!

Here's what Ive been looking for since 2004! All Yadier Molina!

2004 DONRUSS ELITE EXTRA EDITION STATUS GOLD #273 /10

2004 DONRUSS WORLD SERIES HOLOFOIL 10 #199 /10

2004 FLEER HOT PROSPECTS DRAFT #112 /1000

2004 LEAF CERTIFIED CUTS EMERALD MARBLE #300 /5

Sent from my MB865 using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

 

[Exposfan]

From 2004 Bowman Draft I pulled 3 Red 1/1 from various places. Josh Fields, Taylor Tankersley, and someone else.

 

[CatdaddysCards]

The one thing I remember, from 2004, was anytime I busted wax (pack or box) it seemed like I pulled a King Felix auto. It was awesome.

Who remember those awesome green refractor from 2005 Chrome?

I loved those.

 

[ccouch (Chad)]

That was indeed a very good year for "prospecting". I made a ton of money on Nick Adenhart, as I sold probably 75% of my stash at the peak of the market (almost all to one buyer that frequents the board at times -- wonder if he still has those cards?).

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

Greg Golson...sure did spend stupid money on that bust.

Still have large piles of Reid Brignac and Josh Fields too.

 

[ccouch (Chad)]

I know I still have a dozen or so Mike Rozier Elite autos. And a beautiful Jon Zeringue PSA graded Aspirations auto. After a good first year, that guy flamed out FAST.

 

[WaxPax]

Ugh, I still have 134 of these on The Pit....

The one thing I remember, from 2004, was anytime I busted wax (pack or box) it seemed like I pulled a King Felix auto. It was awesome.

Who remember those awesome green refractor from 2005 Chrome?

I loved those.

 

[Ian Stewart]

Nostalgia makes me sad.



Definitely the best times of the hobby.

 

[Austin]

I forgot about the 2004 Bowman's Best set. That set is gorgrous, although it was a XXXXX to find mint cards since the bedazzled glittered edges and corners chipped so much.

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

I have 119 Scott Mathieson on ThePit. Thankfully he's still pitching well....in Japan...

Ugh, I still have 134 of these on The Pit....