Cards of Future Fenway Stars

New England Collegiate Baseball Players to Watch: John Hochstatter

2012-02-25T19:53:00.004-08:00

The New England Collegiate Baseball League was founded in 1993 and played its first season in the summer of 1994. Since then, the NECBL has become one of the most respected and scouted collegiate wood-bat summer baseball leagues in the country, featuring some of the best college baseball players in the nation.

In recent years, a number of top prospects have spent their summers playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Recent NECBL alumbi include: RHP Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals #1 Pick 2009/2007 Torrington) and Top 2012 MLB Draft Prospects RHP Mark Appel (Stanford/2010 Newport), RHP Branden Kline (Virginia/2010 Newport), and INF Kenny Diekroeger (Stanford/2010 Newport).

As NECBL teams continue to announce their rosters for the 2012 season, one player worth keeping an eye on is John Hochstatter, a RHP from Stanford who will be playing for the Newport Gulls this summer. Hochstatter was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 47th round (1,438th overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft but chose to attend Stanford rather than turn pro.

Last summer, Hochstatter was named the #5 prospect in the Hawaii Collegiate Summer League after pitching for the Waimea Waves. (He was one of only five incoming freshman to be ranked among the HCSL Top 15 Prospects.)

In his first taste of college action last weekend, Hochstatter was called-upon to relieve Stanford’s struggling starter AJ Vanegas in the second inning and went on to pitch 6-and-two-third no-hit, shut-out innings against Vanderbilt. For his efforts, Hochstatter was named the CollegeBaseball360.com Primetime Performer of the Week.

What I Have Been Buying Lately: February 25, 2012

2012-02-25T12:10:00.003-08:00

What is this? Two 2012 Topps Daniel Bard Black Border Parallels (#22/61 and #25/61)
What did it cost? $3.99 (including shipping) for #25/61 and $7.00 (including shipping) for #22/61 on eBay.
Why did I buy it? After watching the first handful of Daniel Bard 2012 Topps Black Border cards sell for over $10.00, I was happy to secure one for myself for $7.00. Then, a few days later, I ended up lucking out and grabbing a second black border card for $3.99. These are nice additions to my Daniel Bard Super-Collection.

What is this? 2011 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Red Parallel Michael Lorenzen TR-ML (#20/25)
What did it cost? $3.24 with free shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? Michael Lorenzen was one of the most exciting freshmen in the country in 2011 for the Cal State Fullerton Titans and followed that up with an impressive summer with Team USA. In the first weekend of the 2012 college baseball season, Lorenzen went 5-for-13 at the plate, hitting two doubles, scoring two runs, stealing a base, and pitching one scoreless on Sunday to earn a save as the Titans took one-of-three games against #1 Florida. I had bought the Gold Parallel version of the card a few weeks ago for $9.55.

What is this? 2011 Bowman Chrome Team USA Michael Lorenzen Blue Refractor Autograph USABB11 (#17/99)
What did it cost? $9.00 (including shipping) on eBay.
Why did I buy it? As discussed above, I am a big Lorenzen fan. This card looks even better in person and is a nice new addition to my growing Michael Lorenzen collection.

What is this? 2011 Panini Gold Standard Golden Anniversary Game-Used Jersey BenJarvus Green Ellis 3 (#69/99)
What did it cost? $1.25 (shipped free with Lorenzen Blue Refractor Auto).
Why did I buy it? With the prospect of free shipping on the next four cards from the seller that I bought the Lorenzen card from, I was happy to find a sweet-looking card of Patriots' fan-favorite, "The Law Firm," Benjarvus Green-Ellis. A former undrafted-free agent, Green-Ellis has established himself as the Patriots' go-to rushing threat.

What is this? 2011 Bowman Draft Chrome 2011 XM All-Star Futures Game-Worn Jersey Austin Romine FGR-AR
What did it cost? $1.44 (shipped free with Lorenzen Blue Refractor Auto).
Why did I buy it? Like the Green-Ellis card, I was bargain hunting and glad to find this Austin Romine card for such a steal. The likely Yankees starting catcher of the future, Romine is a known to be a good signer and I hope to get this card autographed by him when the SWB Yankees come to Pawtucket this spring.

Additions to the Trade Stack: Cards of Note for Orioles Fans

2012-02-24T06:18:00.002-08:00

If you're interested, leave a comment or send me an email.

2006 Topps Turkey Red Nick Markakis RC Red Border
2009 Razor Freedom Cardboard National Card Show Promotional Matt Weiters FCB-5
2011 Topps Finest Finest Freshman Zach Britton FFR5
2008 Press Pass Silver Autograph Devin Thomas (#022/199)
2009 Upper Deck Gold Kevin Kouzmanoff 831 (#40/99)

2002 Topps 206 Series 3 Jim Palmer 448 Sweet Caporal Mini
2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's Ian Kinsler 324 A&G Mini
2011 Topps Allen & Ginter's Austin Jackson 54 A&G Mini
2010 Topps 206 Ian Desmond 171 RC Cycle Mini (#68/99)
2009 TriSTAR Obak Mike Stanton 16 Mini

2010 Topps Monsters of the Mesozoic Protoceratops
2010 Topps Monsters of the Mesozoic Pentaceratops
2010 Topps Monsters of the Mesozoic Spinosaurus
2010 Topps Monsters of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaurus Rex

2010 Upper Deck Celebrity Predictors Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz
2010 Upper Deck Celebrity Predictors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
2010 Upper Deck Celebrity Predictors Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
2010 Upper Deck Celebrity Predictors Paris Hilton and Christiano Ronaldo

Weekend In Review: College Baseball Opening Weekend 2.17.12 to 2.19.12

2012-02-19T18:14:00.001-08:00

Stanford (2) showed the nation that they are a force to be reckoned with after three convincing wins (8-3, 9-5, 18-5) against Vanderbilt (10). On Friday, Junior RHP Mark Appel, considered to be the most-likely #1 pick in June, threw 7 innings, strikeout out 5 and only allowing 1 run on 2 hits. The star of the series was Stanford Sophomore 1B Brian Ragira, who went 7 for 12 at the plate with 3 runs, 3 RBI, 2 walks. The best single-performance of the series was by Stanford Freshman pitcher John Hochstatter, who came in to relieve struggling starter AJ Vanegas and ended up tossing 6.1 hittless innings on Sunday, only facing 21 batters, striking out two.

Florida (1) won a hard-fought three game series against Cal State Fullerton (25), winning two-of-three (7-3, 5-2, 5-8). Florida Sophomore RHP Karsten Whitson (5 IP, 5H, 2 ER on Saturday) showed why he is considered a top prospect for the 2013 Draft while Mike Zunino (5 for 12, 1 run) proved that he deserves to be in the conversation to be the top-overall pick in June 2012. However, one of the most interesting stories of the series may be the two-way play of Florida’s 1B/RHP Brian Johnson (2 for 4 at the plate with 1 RBI and 4 IP, 2H, 5K, 0 ER on Sunday) UT/RHP Austin Maddox (1 for 5 at the plate and 4 IP, 1 H, 3K, 0 ER on Saturday) and Cal State Fullerton’s OF/RHP Michael Lorenzen (5 for 13 at the plate, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 1 stolen base, and 1 scoreless IP on Sunday to earn a save)

My 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus Autograph Collection

2012-02-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

Since buying 2008 TriSTAR PROjections Series 1 around Christmas time in 2009, I have done my best to get as many cards from the set signed as possible. I do not expect, and I am not really trying, to get every card signed, but I have done pretty well and don't plan on giving up anytime soon. I hope to add more signatures to this collection as more players from the 2008 MLB Draft get to Triple-A.

2 Pedro Alvarez
7 Yonder Alonso
17 Casey Kelly
24 Reese Havens
29 Carlos Gutierrez
31 Allen Dykstra
37 Brad Holt
41 Pete Hissey
43 Ray Kruml

51 Tim Federowicz
61 Jonathan Hee
95 Stephen Fife
104 Ryan Lavarnway
105 Kyle Weiland
109 Mike Lee
117 Jake Arrieta
136 Staten Island Yankees Teammates (signed by Ray Kruml and Addison Maruszak)
137 Boston's Top Pick Pitchers (signed by Kyle Weiland and Stephen Fife)
138 Boston's Top Pick Outfielders (signed by Bryan Peterson)
140 Lowell Spinners Teammates (signed by Mike Lee)
141 Lowell Spinners Teammates (signed by Kyle Weiland and Lance McClain)

Trade With Adam of Thoughts and Sox

2012-02-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Adam of Thoughts and Sox responded to my Cards for Trade post saying that he was interested in a 2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's Manny Ramirez A&G-back mini-card. After a few emails back and forth, we were having trouble finalizing a trade so Adam suggested that he send me some cards and that I eventually get around to completing the trade.

Last week, I got a yellow padded-envelope full of cards. Adam did a great job looking through what I collect and identifying cards that I did not have in my collection. Here were the highlights of what Adam sent:

-1996 SP Eddie George
-1996 SP Focus on the Future Eddie George
-1996 Metal Eddie George
-1996 Select Certified Edition Eddie George
-1995 SP Curtis Martin
-1993 Bowman Chrome Drew Bledsoe
-2009 Goudey Four-Square Justin Masterson w/Buchholz, Kennedy, Chamberlain

Thanks for the cards Adam and don't worry, I am assembling the Cards to be Named Later as we speak. I am also going to a card show on Monday and am hoping to pick-up some more cards to include in the package for a Tuesday or Wednesday shipment.

Suggestions to Fix What's Wrong with Rookie Cards

2012-02-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

The card collecting hobby is constantly changing, with companies, styles, fads, and tastes constantly changing. But, while the popularity of game-used, manufactured patches, insert sets, and short-printed parallel cards come-and-go, one type of card never seems to lose its luster: the Rookie Card.

We all have our favorite rookie cards: 1984 Topps Dan Marino and John Elway, 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan, 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr., 2001 Upper Deck Tiger Woods. These cards are iconic, they stand-out as timeless moments in time, images that stand apart and above all others. In fact, whenever I hear Ken Griffey, Jr.’s name mentioned, the first image that comes to my mind is that of his 1989 Upper Deck card.

But, despite the importance of rookie cards in the card collecting hobby, card companies do not seem to give them their due, especially in baseball.

Part of the problem is that the term “rookie” is more ambiguous in baseball than in other sports. While players in the NFL and NBA have a clearly-defined “rookie-season,” dozens of baseball players get called-up to the Majors and sent-down to the Minors multiple times during a single-season. And, with Topps releasing a Series One, Series Two, Topps Chrome, and Updates and Highlights series (in addition to Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft) throughout the season, it makes the decision of when to include a player’s “Rookie Card” all-the-more difficult.

Nevertheless, regardless of the difficulty associated with the “rookie-ambiguity,” I think that Topps’ handling of rookie cards in 2011 and 2012 has been ham-handed. To illustrate this point, consider these few recent examples:

- Mike Trout, the Angels outfielder and top-prospect, was included in 2011 Topps Update, 2011 Bowman Chrome, and 2011 Bowman Draft despite playing in only 40 Major League games after making his MLB debut on July 8, 2011. He was not included in 2011 Topps Chrome and, because of his debut date, was not included in 2011 Topps Allen & Ginter or 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen. If Topps had waited to issue his rookie card, Trout could have been a leading rookie in all of Topps’ 2012 products, which are inarguably weak on rookie talent.

- Ryan Lavarnway, who hit 54 homeruns over the last two seasons in the Minor Leagues and is considered a top-candidate to be the Boston Red Sox catcher of the future, was included in 2011 Bowman Draft, but not 2011 Topps Update, 2011 Topps Chrome, or 2011 Bowman Chrome. Lavarnway only played in 18 games for Boston after making his Major League debut on August 18, 2011 and would have been a prime candidate to wait to be included in Topps’ 2012 products. Instead, he will now only ever have one rookie card, his 2011 Bowman Draft card.

- Jacob Turner, the Detroit Tigers’ Top Prospect since he was drafted out of High School in 2009, only started three-games after making his Major League debut on August 7, 2012, but his “rookie card” was included in 2011 Topps Update and 2011 Bowman Draft, despite the fact that he had a “prospect card” in 2011 Bowman Chrome. Like Trout, Turner is a top-prospect whose rookie card could have waited until 2012 to be included in Topps’ Major League checklists.

- On the other hand, the inclusion of Tommy Hottovy, a relief pitcher who was drafted by Boston in 2004 and made his Major League debut on June 3, 2011 at the age of twenty-nine, in 2011 Bowman Draft makes perfect sense. Hottovy, who pitched four innings in eight appearances with a 6.75 ERA, is certainly “card-worthy,” but one rookie card might be enough. (As a side note: Hottovy was very nice and fan friendly when he played for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010 and 2011 and I wish him the best in Kansas City in 2012.)

To make better decisions when it comes to “rookie cards” in the future, I suggest these following guidelines:

-If a player is over the age of 26 years-old and makes his Major League debut during the season, he should be included in either/both Topps Update or/and Bowman Draft.

-If a player is a top-prospect, makes his Major League debut before July 31, and plays in at least 50 Major League games that season, he should be included in Topps Update, Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft.

-If a player is a top-prospect, and either makes his Major League debut after July 31 or plays in less than 50 Major League games that season, he should be included in the following year’s Topps Series 1 and Bowman products.

Look Who's Coming to Spring Training

2012-02-10T16:44:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing that I enjoy about professional baseball, it is that scouts and organizations will literally search the globe and under almost every rock looking for talent. Well, file the recent signing of Mitch Mustain by the Chicago White Sox as the "under a rock" sleeper-signing of the off-season.

If the name Mitch Mustain sounds familiar, it should: Mustang had an 8-0 record as a true-freshman Quarterback at the University of Arkansas in 2006 before being replaced as the starter by sophomore Casey Dick. After the season, Mustain decided to transfer to the University of Southern California, but he was never able to win the starting quarterback job, and instead ended-up backing-up Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley. In his one start, Mustain completed 21 of 38 passes for 183 yards and one interception in a loss to Notre Dame.

After graduating, Mustain went undrafted and unsigned in the NFL, instead signing try-out contracts with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League and the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League.

Now, Mustain is giving professional baseball a try. Despite not having played organized baseball since he graduated from Springdale High School (AR) in 2006, the RHP was signed the Chicago White Sox after attending a tryout camp.

The White Sox are widely-considered to have the worst farm-system in baseball, so the decision to roll-the-dice on a raw-athlete with a strong-arm is probably not a bad idea. It will be interested to see if/where he is assigned when Spring Training breaks and whether or not he can find the success in baseball that alluded him on the gridiron.

Good luck Mitch!

Three Providence Bruins Signing Autographs at Mansfield Card Show on Presidents' Day

2012-02-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Cardboard Promotions and the Providence Bruins will come together again on Presidents' Day (2.20.12) to offer fans the opportunity to meet, get autographs from, and take pictures with three Bruins Prospects at the Mansfield Holiday Inn Card Show from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m for FREE. Even better, the show promoters will provide FREE small-photos of the players in attendance. (While they last and with admission to the show.)

The three players who are currently scheduled to be in attendance are: Jamie Arniel, Craig Cunningham, and Nathan McIver.

Jamie Arniel is spending his third-season with the Providence Bruins and is ranked as the Bruins #9 overall prospect by Hockey's Future. Arniel was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2008 Draft and made his NHL debut with Boston during the 2010-11 season. According to Hockey's Future, Arniel is projected to be "a checking line forward along the lines of a Chuck Kobasew."

Craig Cunningham is ranked as the Bruins #15 overall prospect by Hockey's Future. Cunningham played in the Western Hockey League, a major junior hockey league in western Canada that is a part of the Canadian Hockey League, from the 2006-07 to the 2010-2011 season. He was drafted by Boston in 2010 and made his American professional hockey debut in 2011-12 with the Providence Bruins. According to Hockey's Future, Cunningham projects as "a third liner in the NHL."

Nathan McIver has played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks (18 games between 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons) and the Anaheim Ducks (18 games in the 2008-09 season). McIver signed a two-year contract with the Bruins this past off-season.

This is a great way to get some FREE and easy autographs of Bruins prospects. I hope to see you at the show.

Farewell Ricky! Wherever your journey takes you, farewell!

2012-02-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

Today, Ricky Williams announced his retirement from the National Football League after playing eleven seasons for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens. In addition, Williams also played one season in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts while he was serving a suspension for repeatedly violating the NFL's drug policy.

Williams will be remembered for many things: Being one of the most prolific running backs in the history of college football and winning the Heisman Trophy in 1998 at the University of Texas; being selected by the New Orleans with the fifth-overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft after the Saints traded away all of their 1999 picks and their first and third-round picks in the 2000 NFL draft to get him; posing in a Wedding dress alongside Saints head coach Mike Ditka on the cover of ESPN the magazine with the headline "For Better or Worse"; retiring from football in 2004 after testing positive for marijuana, after which he studied Ayurveda, an ancient form of Indian holistic medicine, in California; returning to the Miami Dolphins in 2005 only to be suspended for the entire 2006 season for another violation for the NFL's drug policy, during which time he played in Canada; and returning to the NFL in 2007 and playing until 2011, when, as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, he became only the twenty-sixth player in NFL history to rush for more than 10,000 yards.

What is less remembered about Williams' athletic career is that he also played four seasons of professional baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Williams was drafted by the Phillies in the eighth-round of the 1995 MLB draft and during his four seasons in the minors played for the Martinsville Phillies, Piedmont Boll Weevils, and Batavia Muckdogs. Despite his intentions to play football, Williams was actually selected in the 1995 Rule 5 draft by the Montral Expos and then traded to the Texas Rangers, who attempted to convince Ricky to pursue a baseball career rather than play in the NFL.

I have always respected Williams, both as an athlete and as an individual. He always made decisions that were in his own best interest and did not allow public opinion or pressure to dictate his actions. His public battle with anxiety and depression helped to de-stigmatize those diseases that impact millions of people and his advocacy for marijuana legalization is commendable.

In a statement, Williams said: "The NFL has been an amazing page in this chapter of my life. I pray that all successive adventures offer me the same potential for growth, success and most importantly fun. I want to thank all my fans, teammates, coaches and supporters for the strength they've given me to overcome so much."

Best of luck Ricky, wherever life takes you!

My 2008 TriSTAR PROjections Autograph Project

2012-02-05T15:12:00.001-08:00

Since buying 2008 TriSTAR PROjections Series 1 in the Spring of 2009, I have done my best to get as many cards from the set signed as possible. I do not expect, and I am not really trying, to get every card signed, but I have done pretty well and don't plan on giving up anytime soon.

Here are the cards that I have gotten signed thus far...

3 Josh Reddick
5 Ryan Kalish
7 Anthony Claggett
11 Yamaico Navarro
12 Ryan Pope (x6, 1 reflective)

18 Lars Anderson
19 Austin Jackson
26 Austin Krum (x3, 1 reflective)
29 Juan Francisco
32 Brock Huntzinger
33 Hunter Jones

36 Matt LaPorta
37 Jeff Manship
42 Aaron Bates
46 Michael Bowden
47 Jason Place
50 Jose Tabata
56 Jed Lowrie
61 Phillippe Aumont
62 Duane Below
82 Michael Fisher
85 Jimmy Gallagher
86 Todd Frazier

104 Cole Devries
110 Ben Revere
114 Joe Savery
122 Eduardo Nunez
123 Donald Veal
124 Matt Antonelli
127 Daniel Bard

130 George Kottaras
134 David Pauley
138 Kevin Whalen
161 Daniel Worth
170 Jordan Brown
171 Caleb Clay
172 Kris Johnson
175 Eric Duncan
184 Collin Balester
188 Brandon Erbe
189 John Mayberry Jr.
196 Kyle McCulloch
200 Brandon Snyder
205 Adam Carr

209 Andrew Brackman (North Carolina State Uniform, Yankees exclusive box)(x6)
213 William Middlebrooks
213 William Middlebrooks (Red Sox exclusive box)
216 Oscar Tejada
217 Adam Mills

221 Jacob Arrieta
223 Mark Wagner (Lancaster Jethawks Uniform, Red Sox exclusive box)
229 Billy "Bubba" Bell
229 Billy "Bubba" Bell (Lancaster Jethawks Uniform, Red Sox exclusive box)
233 David Bromberg
234 Ryan Dent
234 Ryan Dent (Lowell Spinners Uniform, Red Sox exclusive box)
264 Anthony Thomas
265 Dustin Richardson

292 Josh Bell
339 Justin Masterson (Lancaster Jethawks Uniform, Red Sox exclusive box TTM)
340 Zach McAllister
349 Rhyne Hughes
385 Chris Carter (Pawtucket Red Sox)
386 Neil Walker
388 Daniel Mayora
399 Desmond Jennings

My 2010 Topps Autograph Project

2012-02-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

Like my quixotic quest to get as many 2008 TriSTAR PROjections cards signed as possible, I am also working on getting as many cards signed from 2010 Topps signed as I can, within reason. For the purpose of this project, I am considering Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, Topps Update, Topps Chrome, Topps Pro Debut Series 1, and Topps Pro Debut Series 2 to be the complete 2010 Topps set.

Here are the cards that I have gotten signed thus far...

Topps Series 1

22 Anthony Swarzak
36 Tobi Stoner RC
62 Kevin Millwood (7/20/2011)
128 Garrett Mock (8/21/2011)
131 Dustin Richardson RC (x5)
193 Sharon Martis
194 Neil Walker RC
216 Mike Cameron
218 Fernando Martinez
259 Daniel Hudson RC
273 Pat Neshek
293 Brent Dlugach RC
305 Juan Francisco RC
312 Tyler Flowers RC

Topps Series 2

395 Jhenry Mejia RC
488 Delwyn Young (7/21/2011)
499 Michael Bowden
524 Dusty Hughes (9/5/2011)
565 Franklin Morales
568 Jarrod Saltalamacchia
494 Andrew Miller
585 Dioner Navarro
626 Glenn Perkins
628 Ross Detwiler

Topps Update

US-2 Dayan Viciedo RC
US-9 Danny Worth RC
US-69 Lance Cormier
US-87 Trevor Plouffe RC
US-109 Luke Hughes RC
US-149 Kevin Russo RC (9/2/2011)
US-175 Drew Storen RC
US-192 Daniel Nava RC
US-211 Daniel Hudson RC (no RC logo)
US-255 Kevin Millwood
US-271 Travis Wood RC (8/2/2011)
US-283 Kevin Frandsen (7/20/2011)
US-311 Felix Doubront (7/21/2011)
US-318 Domonic Brown (9/10/2011)
US-323 Ryan Kalish RC

Topps Chrome

196 Kevin Russo RC (9/2/2011)
216 Drew Storen RC

Topps Pro Debut Series 1
37 Stephen Fife
62 Miles Head
120 Alex Wilson (8/21/11)
163 Ryan Lavarnway
164 Drew Storen

Topps Pro Debut Series 1 All-Stars
DA-14 Joe Savery
DA-20 Jorge Jimenez
DA-26 Lars Anderson

Topps Pro Debut Series 2
267 Will Middlebrooks (8/20/11)
295 Ryan Dent (8/21/11)
364 Lars Anderson

Curtis Martin Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

2012-02-04T18:34:00.000-08:00

Today, it was announced that Running Back Curtis Martin, along with Linemen Cortez Kennedy, Chris Doleman, Willie Roaf, Dermontti Dawson, and Senior Selection Jack Butler have been elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Curtis Martin played in the NFL for eleven season, rushing for 14,101 yards and 90 touchdowns. When he retired, he ranked third all-time in NFL career rushing yards and twelfth all-time in NFL career rushing touchdowns.

While Martin is best known for his eight seasons as a New York Jet, Martin fans remember that he broke into the NFL as a New England Patriot.

Martin was selected by New England in the third-round of the 1995 NFL draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. Martin wasted little time before establishing himself as a leader on the Patriots offense, rushing for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.

The next season, Martin continued to lead the Patriots ground attack, rushing for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season. In the Patriots Divisional Round match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Martin set a franchise record by rushing for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Martin found his way into the endzone again in the Patriots AFC Championship Game victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars that sent New England to Super Bowl XXXI to face the Green Bay Packers. While the Patriots ultimately lost that game 35-21, Martin did manage 70 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

In 1997, despite missing three games, Martin managed to add another 1,000-plus yard season to his resume, but only found the endzone four times. At the end of the season, Martin became a restricted free-agent and was offered a six-year, $36 million contract by the New York Jets. When the Patriots failed to match New York's offer, Martin became a Jet and the Patriots were left searching for another franchise running back in vain.

As a New England Patriots fan, the loss of Curtis Martin after the 1997 provides the most troubling What If? in modern Patriots history. Had the Patriots kept Martin and not let him join their AFC East Rival Jets, could New England with Drew Bledsoe, Curtis Martin, Terry Glenn and a potent defense in their prime returned to and won the Super Bowl? How good could the Patriots have been from 2001 to 2005 with both Tom Brady and Curtis Martin in the backfield?

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to answer those questions. So, all that I am left with from the Curtis Martin-era in New England is this sweet 2005 Leaf Certified Materials Gold Mirror Game-Used Jersey Patch numbered 04/25.

Congratulations to Curtis. It's just too bad that you couldn't have spent a few more years in New England.

Daniel Bard and Justin Masterson Printing Plate Collections

2012-02-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

Just scanned my collection of Daniel Bard and Justin Masterson Printing Plates. I know that not all collectors are fans of Printing Plates, but I like that they are unique additions to player collections and that they are usually more affordable than Superfractors or Red Refractor 1-of-1s.

What do you think?

Michael Lorenzen is Coming to Brewster

2012-02-03T17:06:00.000-08:00

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I am a big fan of Cal State-Fullerton Titans/Team USA Centerfielder Michael Lorenzen. Well, recently I began experimenting with Twitter and, naturally, followed Michael (@Lorenzen55).

I decided to ask Michael what his plans were for Summer 2012: whether he was planning on playing for Team USA again or if he was considering heading to the Cape?

His answer was: "I'd love to play for team USA again this summer so thats my goal but I'm signed up to go to the cape as of now."

A few days later, the Cape Cod Baseball League released their initial rosters, but Michael was nowhere to be found. So, I asked Michael where he was planning on playing if he ended up going to the Cape.

Yesterday, I got a twitter response from Michael: "As of today I'm officially going to be a Brewster White Cap this summer."

Although I'm not sure if that means that he is 100 percent committed to playing on the Cape this summer, I am looking forward to the opportunity to see Lorenzen play and the chance to report some news via my twitter adventures.

Do I Have a Card You Want? Check Out My Cards for Trade

2012-01-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

I have combined my various cards for trade posts into one post, which I will update from time to time. If you see something that you're interested in, please leave a comment or send me an email and let's work out a trade.

Jason Heyward 2010 Topps 206 Baseball Caramels back mini
Jason Heyward 2010 Topps Allen & Ginter's A&G back mini
CC Sabathia 2002 Topps 206 Polar Bear back mini

Jeremy Giambi 2002 Topps T-206 Cycle Brand Mini
Mark Reynolds 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Red Gypsy Back Mini
Dustin McGowan 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter's A&G Back Mini
Ryan Ludwick 2010 Topps T-206 Baseball Caramels Mini
Manny Ramirez 2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's A&G Back Mini

Ryan Dempster 2010 Topps T-206 Polar Bear Back Mini
Scott Sizemore 2010 Topps T-206 Piedmont Back Mini Rookie Card
Travis Hafner 2010 Topps T-206 Baseball Caramels Back Mini
Mark Buehrle 2010 Topps T-206 Old Mill Back Mini
Raul Ibanez 2010 Topps T-206 Baseball Caramels Back Mini

I have picked up/rescued these cards bargain boxes over the course of the last few card shows that I have attended and think that they could all be awesome additions to the right collection.

Carlos Lee 2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's Rip Card (Ripped) #'d 92/99
Johan Santana 2005 Bowman's Best Refractor #'d 16/99
Matthew Kemp/Heath Totten 2005 Topps Total 744 LAD22
Frank Thomas 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones 3 #'d 120/150
Pedro Martinez 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones 141 #'d 110/150
Pedro Martinez 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones 141 #'d 141/150
Jose Bautista 2011 Topps Opening Day Blue Border 103 #'d 0353/2011
Todd Helton 2007 Topps Moments & Milestones 148 Black #'d 01/29
Jennie Finch 2008 Donruss Americana Sports Legends 123

Albert Pujols 2002 Topps T-206 200C Polar Bear Mini SP (traded away)
Chipper Jones 2009 Topps T-206 139 Polar Bear Mini SP
Frank Thomas 2002 Topps T-206 33 Polar Bear Mini SP
Mark Prior 2003 Topps T-206 350 Polar Bear Mini SP
Jorge Posada 2009 Topps T-206 184 Polar Bear Mini SP

Roy Halladay 1999 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion Edition 216G (BV $1)
Stephen Jackson 2004 Upper Deck Diamond Collection Freshman Class 98 (BV $4)
Freddy Sanchez 2008 Topps Moments and Milestones 108(#19/25) (BV $1.50)
Pedro Martinez 1998 Bowman Chrome International Edition (BV $1.50)
Manny Ramirez 1998 Bowman Chrome International Edition (BV $1.50)
Justin Verlander 2007 UD Spectrum Rookie Retrospectrum RR-JV (BV $2.50)
Steven Jackson 2009 Playoff Prestige Prestigious Pros (0254/1000) (BV $2.50)
Sammy Sosa 2003 Fleer Splendid Splinters SS 5 (BV $5)
Ken Griffey, Jr. 1992 Stadium Club Members Only (BV $3)

Josh Freeman 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition (344/999)(BV $15.00)
Mark Sanchez/Rey Maualuga 2010 Press Pass Teammates Gold (054/100)
Peyton Manning 2005 Playoff Honors Game Day (226/250)
Matt Schaub 2004 Press Pass Reflective (049/500)
Matt Schaub 2004 Score Scorecard (314/625)
Derrick Johnson 2005 Bowman (164/200) (BV $4.00)
Brandon Jacobs 2005 Donruss Elite Extra Edition (026/499)
Chad Greenway 2006 Press Pass Reflective (162/500)
Dantrell Savage 2008 Bowman Signs of the Future Autograph (BV $12.00)

What I Have Been Buying Lately: Trip to the Mansfield Card Show on 1.29.2012

2012-01-29T13:31:00.000-08:00

What is this? 2000 Sage Hit Autograph Jamal Lewis
What did it cost? $1.50
Why did I buy it? Jamal Lewis was one of the best running backs of the 2000s and was the NFL Offensive MVP in 2003. The fact that I could pick this card up for less than the cost of the plastic case that it was in is why I love bargain boxes.

What is this? Five Derek Jeter Minor League Baseball Cards
What did it cost? Three for $1.00
Why did I buy it? Derek Jeter is a member of the 3,000 hit club and a future Hall-of-Famer. I am a fan of Minor League and Prospect cards in general, and I love that I was able to pick up these five cards of a legendary player for so cheap.

What is this? 2010 Upper Deck Gold Kevin Kouzmanoff # to 99
What did it cost? 10 cents
Why did I buy it? I know that many Upper Deck Gold cards # to 99 sell pretty well. (In fact, his 2009 Upper Deck Gold card # to 99 is listed for $12 on COMC) I bought this card to add to my trade-stack and hope to use it to get a SP or parallel of a player that I collect. If you're interested in the card, it can be all yours.

What is this? 1991 Pawtucket Red Sox Mo Vaughn
What did it cost? 10 cents
Why did I buy it? I was a huge fan of Mo Vaughn growing up and an even bigger fan of the Pawtucket Red Sox. For 10 cents, I don't think that I can go wrong.

What is this? Two 2007 Josh Hamilton Rookie Cards
What did it cost? 50 cents each
Why did I buy it? Hamilton is one of my favorite players and these are two very sharp rookie cards from his short-time with the Reds. I have also had pretty good luck flipping Josh Hamilton cards, so for 50 cents I think that I will do just fine.

What is this? 2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Barack Obama Mini-card
What did it cost? 10 cents.
Why did I buy it? A nice-looking card of a historic President. I can only see the value of this card going up with time.

What is this? Three 2007 Tim Lincecum Rookie Cards
What did it cost? 50 cents each.
Why did I buy it? Like the Hamilton cards, I couldn't pass up the chance to grab Tim Lincecum rookie cards for 50 cents. If the Giants are willing to pay Lincecum $40.5 million for two years, I am confident that I can eventually get someone to pay me more than 50 cents to take these cards off my hands.

What is this? 1998 UD Collector's Choice Starquest Blue Peyton Manning
What did it cost? $1.00
Why did I buy it? A buck for a Manning rookie card? No brainer.

My Garin Cecchini Super-Collection

2012-01-28T09:44:00.001-08:00

I began collecting Garin Cecchini cards after he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the Fourth-Round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Cecchini was considered one of the top prospects in the draft, but his stock slipped due to high bonus demands, a strong committment to LSU, and a torn ACL. Fortunately, the Red Sox chose to roll-the-dice with Cecchini, giving him a $1.31 million signing bonus.

So far, the gamble looks likely to pay off. Although he missed some time due to a wrist injury, Cecchini was ranked the #2 overall prospect in the New York-Penn League after a strong 2011 debut with the Lowell Spinners.

Here is my Cecchini Collection:

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA-3
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Star Prospects Jersey GJU-3

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Winning Materials UWM-3 (#278, 301, 352, 411/499)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Auto Jersey USA-GC (#096/399)

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Big Sigs Autograph BS18U-SC (#03/75)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Future Watch Auto Jersey UFWA-26 (#463/899)

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA By the Letter Team USA Signatures U (079/100)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA By the Letter Team USA Signatures S (017/100)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA By the Letter Team USA Signatures A (028/100)
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set USA-25
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set USA Triple Jersey TJ18U-GC
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set USA Triple Jersey Auto TJA18U-GC

2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Autograph USA-96
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Autograph Patch USA-96 (#14,73/99)

2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Autograph Inscriptions IN18U-GC (J.C.+ and Rom: 8:28)
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Q&A Autograph QA18U-GC (#65/65)

2010 Bowman USA-18 BC-3
2010 Bowman USA-18 BC-3 Refractor (#008/777)
2010 Bowman USA-18 BC-3 Blue Refractor (#181/250)

2011 Bowman BP107
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP107
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP107 International Version
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP107 Purple Refractor (#376/700)
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP107 Blue Refractor (#174/250)
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP107 Autograph

2011 Bowman Topps 100 TP34
2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball 42
2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball Red Tint (#316/620)
2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball Black Border (#44/62)

Putting My Money Where My Prospecting Is: January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the autographed, game-used, and short-printed cards from my personal Red Sox prospect collection. (Note: This list does not include my Sean Coyle and Garin Cecchini player collections)

Lars Anderson 2005 Upper Deck Team USA Autograph LA #342/495
Matt Barnes 2010 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Card USAR-MB (white)
Matt Barnes 2010 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Card USAR-MB (blue)

Jackie Bradley, Jr. 2010 Bowman Sterling Jersey Card USAR-23
Jackie Bradley, Jr. 2010 Bowman Sterling Refractor Double-Jersey Card USAR-3 #104/199
Bryce Brentz 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Future Watch Jersey/Auto UFWA-5 #769/799
Bryce Brentz 2009 Upper Deck Team USA Triple Jersey TJNT-BB
Bryce Brentz 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars UD Game Jersey GJU-23
Bryce Brentz 2010 Bowman Chrome USA USA-BC3
Bryce Brentz 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Status Die-Cut #095/100
Drake Britton 2011 Bowman Chrome International BP94

Jeremy Hazelbaker 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Green Autograph #09/25
Jeremy Hazelbaker 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 93 Aspirations Die-Cut #010/200
Jeremy Hazelbaker 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 93 Autograph #503/640

Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Auto #341/690
Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Auto #580/690
Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut #174/200
Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Statue Die-Cut #094/100
Jose Iglesias 2010 Bowman Sterling Refractor #106/199
Jose Iglesias 2010 Bowman Chrome Topps 100 #019/999
Jose Iglesias 2010 Topps Pro Debut Blue Border #227/369
Jose Iglesias 2010 Bowman Platinum Refractor (150/999)

Brandon Jacobs 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut #069/200
Ryan Kalish 2010 Topps Finest Redemption
Ryan Kalish 2010 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor #26/50

Will Middlebrooks 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Throwback Threads
Will Middlebrooks 2009 TriSTAR Obak Autograph A21
Will Middlebrooks 2011 Bowman Draft Futures Game All-Star Jersey

Henry Owens 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Jersey USAR-12
Henry Owens 2010 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Card USAR-HO (blue)
Kendrick Perkins 2011 Topps Pro Debut Blue Border #090/309
Stolmy Pimentel 2010 Topps Pro Debut Futures Game Jersey FGR-SP #124/199

Matt Price 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 180 Aspirations Die-Cut (034/200)

Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Silver Autograph A-AR (X3)
Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Silver Autograph A-AR2 (X2)
Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Country of Origins Silver Version COO-AR

Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Game-Used Jersey Patch PJ-03
Anthony Ranaudo 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball America All-Star SP 229
Anthony Ranaudo 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Green Tint 34 #185/620
Anthony Ranaudo 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Black Border #50/62

Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 008/200
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 031/200
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 047/200

Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 118/200
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 125/200

Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 056/100
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Status Die-Cut 064/100
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Green Status Die-Cut 10/25
Josh Reddick 2009 SP Authentic Bronze SP #38/59

Blake Swihart 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Jersey USAR-18 (X3)
Blake Swihart 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Double-Jersey Refractor USAR-18 #150/199
Blake Swihart 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Triple-Jersey Gold Refractor #33/50
Blake Swigart 2011 Bowman Sterling Autograph

Kolbrin Vitek 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Game-Used Jersey PJ-08
Jose Vinicio 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 68 #191/200
Ryan Westmoreland 2008 Razor Exclusive Signature ES-39Ryan Westmoreland 2008 Razor Authentic Signature 151 #0614/1199
Ryan Westmoreland 2008 Razor Authentic Signature 151 #0728/1199
Ryan Westmoreland 2009 TriSTAR OBAK Mini
Alex Wilson 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Gold Autograph 91 #011/111
Alex Wilson 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Blue Autograph 91 #41/50
Alex Wilson 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Turn of the Century Autograph 14 #698/710
Brandon Workman 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Autograph 14 #372/450
Brandon Workman 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 14 Aspirations Die-Cut #148/200
Madison Younginer 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Blue Autograph 92 #04/50
Madison Younginer 2010 TriSTAR OBAK Autograph A46 #41/75

Blake "the Snake" Is Mad as Hell, and He Isn't Going to Take It Anymore!

2012-01-27T14:16:00.001-08:00

Well, I suppose that I should start by saying that (to my knowledge) nobody calls 2011 Red Sox First-Round Pick Blake Swihart "Blake the Snake." But, just take one look at his 2011 Bowman Sterling Autograph card and you can see that the nickname might fit.

When compared to the happy-go-lucky kid playing for Team USA on his 2010 Bowman Sterling card, the Blake Swihart version 2011 looks like he is about to kill somebody. (Which is exactly the attitude that I think a Red Sox catcher needs).

Either way, I think that Swihart's 2011 Bowman Sterling card is awesome. With the NHL Goalie mask and a "make my day" attitude on his face, Swihart looks like he could eventually replace Tim Thomas for the Bruins, if his plan to replace Jason Varitek for the Red Sox doesn't work out.

Which makes me wonder: How long before baseball catchers begin turning their bland catcher's masks into pieces of art, designed to terrify batters and rally the fans.

What I Have Been Buying Lately: January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T16:19:00.000-08:00

What is this? 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball America All-Stars Magenta Printing Plate.
What did it cost? $13.00 (including shipping) on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I am a big fan and collector of Sean Coyle, SoxProspects.com Red Sox Minor League Rookie of the Year. So, when I saw this card pop-up on eBay, I decided that I would definately be a player for it. I think that the card looks great and I am glad that I was able to add it to my collection for such a reasonable price.

What is this? 2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Q&A Autographs Sean Coyle.
What did it cost? $9.00 (including shipping) on eBay.
Why did I buy it? As mentioned above, I have built a large collection of Sean Coyle cards. Until I purchased this card, Coyle's Team USA Q&A Autograph was one of the few cards that I was missing from his time with Team USA. I think that the Q&A design is an interesting theme, and was pretty well executed by Upper Deck.

What is this? 2007 TriSTAR Elegance Showtime Game-Used Jersey
What did it cost? $2.50 (with additional shipping costs)on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I bought this card from the same seller that I purchased the Sean Coyle Q&A Autograph from. Jacoby Ellsbury was one of the few bright-spots in an otherwise disasterous 2011 Boston Red Sox team and I was happy to grab this Minor League jersey card for $2.50.

What is this? 2009 Upper Deck Goudey Goudey Graphs Justin Masterson
What did it cost? $7.25 (with shipping) on eBay.
Why did I buy it? Like Coyle, I have a large Justin Masterson Player Collection that I am always looking to grow. However, despite working on the collection for over two-years, I had never found the 2009 Masterson Goudey Graph offered at (what I considered) a reasonable price. I am very happy to cross this card off my want-list and add it to my collection.

What is this? 1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Michael Jordan Baseball
What did it cost? $1.00 (with free shipping) on eBay.
Why did I buy it? One of the many random things that I collect are cards of Michael Jordan playing baseball. I have been able to add a decent number of cards to my Jordan Baseball collection at my local card show, but I am always looking to pick some up for cheap on eBay. This card is pretty cool, especially for $1.00.

College Players to Watch: Michael Lorenzen

2012-01-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a huge fan of Michael Lorenzen, a sophomore outfielder at Cal State Fullerton who has also played for the Team USA 16U, 18U, and Collegiate Nations teams over the years. I met him this past June when the Team USA Collegiate Team played the NECBL All-Stars at Fenway Park. In addition to being very nice and personable to fans, I was amazed at his raw skills in the field and with the bat.

So, I was quite pleased to read that, as Baseball America began its Preseason coverage of College Baseball, Lorenzen has attracted some pretty high praise. In BA's Preseason College Top 25 Chat, Aaron Fit answered a question about Lorenzen's prospect status:

Aaron Fitt: Really like Lorenzen — great speed, fantastic arm, good feel for playing the game, and I like the bat. I think he'll grow into some power at some point, too. I think he'll be a blue-chip guy for next year's draft.

In addition, Lorenzen also received some positive attention in Cal State Fullerton's (Preseason #25) Team Capsule. Baseball America wrote that "Lorenzen should continue growing into some power," that he has "plus speed" and is "aggressive on the basepaths," and that he "has premium arm strength in center."

My Sean Coyle Super-Collection

2012-01-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

This is my Sean Coyle player collection. Sean Coyle is a Second Baseman who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the Third-Round of the 2010 Draft out of Germantown Academy (PA). In his first full-season of professional baseball, Coyle had an OPS of .826 playing for the Greenville Drive and was named SoxProspects.com Rookie of the Year.

I began collecting Sean Coyle's cards about a year ago and have been lucky enough to grab most of these cards for a reasonable price. So far the most that I have spent on any of Coyle's cards was the $17.50 that I spent on his 2011 Bowman Magenta Printing Plate. I am quite nervous about spending as much time, energy, and money on a prospect's cards, but I have had quite a bit of fun putting these cards together and I look forward to adding more cards to my collection.

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA-4
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Star Prospects Jersey GJU-4
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Star Prospects Jersey Patch GPU-4 (#15/25)

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Winning Materials UWM-4 (#170 and 456/499)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Auto Jersey USA-SC (#273/399)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Auto Jersey Patch USA-SC (#15/25)

2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Big Sigs Autograph BS18U-SC (#29/75)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Future Watch Auto Jersey UFWA-26 (#461 and 660/899)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA By the Letter Team USA Signatures U (048/100)
2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA By the Letter Team USA Signatures S (039 and 065/100)

2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set USA-26
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set USA Triple Jersey TJ18U-SC

2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Autograph USA-100
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Autograph Patch USA-100 #05 and 92/99
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Autograph Inscriptions IN18U-SC (Birdman JR)
2009-10 Upper Deck Team USA Box Set Q&A Autograph

2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 BC-4
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 BC-4 Refractor #584/777
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 BC-4 Blue Refractor #010 and 134/150

2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Full-Body At-Bat Autograph
2010-11 In the Game Heroes and Prospects Full-Body At-Bat Auto Gold Version (Limited to 10)
2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Close-Up Fielding Autograph
2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Lumbergraphs Autograph
2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Country of Origin Gold Autograph (Limited to 10)

2011 Bowman BP100
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 International Version
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Refractor #114 and 289/799
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Purple Refractor #134/700

2011 Bowman BP100 Blue Border #109/500
2011 Bowman BP100 Green Border #193/450
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Blue Refractor #120/250
2011 Bowman BCP100 Orange Border #107/250
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Gold Refractor #30/50
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Autograph
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Autograph Refractor #382 and 168/500
2011 Bowman BCP100 Magenta Printing Plate One-of-One

2011 Bowman Platinum BPP75 X-Fractor
2011 Bowman Platinum BPP75 Purple Refractor

2011 Topps Heritage Minor Leagues 91
2011 Topps Heritage Minor Leagues 91 Blue-Tint #014/620
2011 Topps Heritage Minor Leagues Baseball-America Minor League All-Star SP 246
2011 Topps Heritage Minor Leagues Baseball-America Minor League All-Star SP 246 Magenta Printing Plate One-of-One
2011 Topps Pro Debut 266
2011 Topps Pro Debut 266 Blue Border #064/309
2011 Topps Pro Debut 266 Gold Border #20/50

My Justin Masterson Super-Collection

2012-01-21T17:31:00.000-08:00

I was a fan of Justin Masterson since he first entered the Boston Red Sox Minor League system in 2006. With his quirky delivery and dominance on the mound, I had hoped that he would be a key member of the Red Sox rotation for years to come.

Alas, Justin was traded to the Cleveland Indians at the Trade Deadline in 2009. Nevertheless, I have continued to be a hugh Justin Masterson fan. He was the first player who I ever wrote to through the mail and he has been generous enough to sign many cards for me since.

I have been trying to assemble a Super-Collection of his cards since 2009 and I am very happy with what I have been able to assemble.

Please enjoy my Justin Masterson Super-Collection:

2006 Bowman Draft Picks DP12 (Signed TTM)2006 Bowman Draft Picks DP12 Gold
2006 Bowman Draft Picks DP12 Chrome
2006 Bowman Draft Picks DP12 Refractor
2006 Bowman Draft Picks DP12 XFractor (013/299)
2006 Bowman Draft Picks DP12 Blue Refractor (030/199)

2008 Bowman Chrome 210
2008 Bowman Chrome 210 Refractor
2008 Bowman Chrome 210 Xfractor (185/250)
2008 Bowman Chrome 210 Blue Refractor (077/150)(106/150)
2008 Bowman Chrome 210 Gold Refractor (45/50)
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter's 348 (Signed TTM)
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter's mini 348
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter's mini A&G SP back 348
2008 Topps Chrome CHR55
2008 Topps Finest Rookie Redemption 6
2008 Topps Heritage 545 (Signed TTM)
2008 Topps Heritage Rookie Performers RP14
2008 Topps Red Hot Rookie Redemption 2

2008 Topps Stadium Club 138 Portrait (520/999)
2008 Topps Stadium Club 138 Portrait First Day Issue (Signed TTM)
2008 Topps Stadium Club 138 Portrait Photographer's Proof Blue (90/99)
2008 Topps Stadium Club 138 Portrait Photographer's Proof Gold (48/50)
2008 Topps Stadium Club 138 Landscape First Day Issue
2008 Topps Stadium Club 138 Landscape Photographer's Proof Blue (40/99)
2008 Topps Stadium Club 162 Autograph
2008 Topps Stadium Club 162 Autograph Photographer's Proof Gold (06/50)

2008 Topps Updates and Highlights UH20 (Signed TTM)
2008 Topps Updates and Highlights UH20 Gold Foil Lettering
2008 Topps Updates and Highlights UH20 Gold Border (0019/2008)
2008 Topps Updates and Highlights UH20 Black (18/57)
2008 TriSTAR PROjections 339
2008 TriSTAR PROjections 339 (Exclusive Red Sox edition in Lancaster Uni)
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Autograph 339
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Autograph 339 Green Reflective (02/50)
2008 Upper Deck Ballpark Collection Rookie Autographs 138
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Rookie Autographs 140 (074/699)
2008 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Sweet Beginnings Autograph 135 (34/50)
2008 Upper Deck Timeline 67 (Signed TTM)
2008 Upper Deck Timeline 228 (Signed TTM)
2008 Upper Deck Timeline 346

2009 Bowman 49
2009 Bowman 49 Orange (248/250)
2009 Bowman 49 Xfractor (240/250)
2009 Bowman 49 Blue Refractor (081/150)
2009 Bowman 49 Gold Refractor (32/50)

2009 Bowman Sterling Autograph BS-JM
2009 Bowman Sterling Autograph BS-JM Refractor (178/199)
2009 Bowman Sterling Autograph BS-JM Gold Refractor (16/50)
2009 Topps 349

2009 Topps 206 275 (Signed TTM)
2009 Topps 206 275 mini Piedmont back
2009 Topps 206 275 mini Old Mill back

2009 Topps 206 Autograph FMA-23
2009 Topps Allen & Ginter's 348 (Signed TTM)
2009 Topps Allen & Ginter's mini No Number (13/50)
2009 Topps Allen & Ginter's mini Bazooka back (7/25)
2009 Topps Allen & Ginter's mini Magenta Printing Plate One-of-One
2009 Topps Allen & Ginter's Autograph

2009 Topps Chrome 96
2009 Topps Chrome 96 Refractor
2009 Topps Chrome 96 XFractor
2009 Topps Chrome 96 Blue Refractor (101/199)
2009 Topps Chrome 96 Red Refractor (08/25)
2009 Topps Chrome 96 Black Printing Plate One-of-One
2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom 200 (Signed TTM)
2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom 200 Blue (61 and 70/99)
2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom Game-Used Autograph TSAR-JM (259/489)

2009 Topps Triple Threads Rising Stars Game-Used Autograph 114 (45/75)
2009 Topps Triple Threads Rising Stars Game-Used Autograph 114 Green (14/50)
2009 Topps Unique 8 Red (0160/1199)
2009 Topps Unique 8 Bronze (95/99)

2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH110 (Signed TTM)
2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH110 Black (09/58)
2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH110 Cyan Printing Plate 1-of-1
2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champtions Autograph Series A-JU

2009 Upper Deck Goudey 24 (Signed TTM)
2009 Upper Deck Goudey 24 Green Mini
2009 Upper Deck Goudey 24 Blue Mini
2009 Upper Deck Goudey 24 Black Mini (02/21)
2009 Upper Deck Goudey Goudey Graphs GG-JU
2009 Upper Deck O-Pee-Chee 18

2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic Signatures S-JM
2010 Bowman 141
2010 Bowman Gold 141
2010 Bowman Blue 141 (425/520)
2010 Topps 109

2010 Topps 206 231
2010 Topps 206 231 mini Piedmont back
2010 Topps 206 231 mini American Caramel back
2010 Topps 206 231 mini Polar Bear back
2010 Topps 206 231 mini Old Mill back
2010 Topps 206 231 mini Cycle back (75/99)(78/99)

2010 Topps 206 Topps Vault 1/1
2010 Topps Heritage SP 431
2010 Topps Opening Day 50

2010 Topps Updates and Highlights Peak Performance Autograph
2010 Upper Deck 171
2011 Topps Indians Team Set CLE9
2011 Topps 544
2011 Topps Diamond Anniversary 544
2011 Topps Cognac Diamond Anniversary 544
2011 Topps Black Border 544 (45/60)

My Daniel Bard Super-Collection

2012-01-21T05:09:00.000-08:00

I have been a fan of Daniel Bard since I first met him at the 2009 Pawtucket Red Sox Hot Stove Party in January 2009. During his short-time with the Pawtucket Red Sox, he was always very nice to fans, willing to sign autographs, and a fantastic pitcher.

Daniel Bard made his Major League debut on May 13, 2009 and has not looked back since. He has twice led the American League in holds and with a 100-mph fastball has been one of the most exciting Red Sox players to watch.

Here is my Daniel Bard Super-Collection:

2004 Upper Deck SP Prospects National Honors Jersey NH-DB (blue)
2004 Upper Deck SP Prospects National Honors Jersey NH-DB (red)

2004-05 Upper Deck Team USA 32
2004-05 Upper Deck Team USA Game-Used Signed Jersey (blue) J-25 (144/275)
2004-05 Upper Deck Team USA Signatures S25 (black) (045/250)
2004-05 Upper Deck Team USA Signatures S25 (blue) (517/595)

2006 Just Rookies JR-01
2006 Just Rookies Preview JRPr-01
2006 Top Picks 28
2006 TriSTAR Prospects Plus 16
2006 TriSTAR Prospects Plus Farm Hands Autograph FH 3
2007 Bowman Sterling Autograph BSP-DB

2007 Team USA Baseball Draft Picks Autographs DP-11
2007 Team USA Baseball Alumni Patch AL5 (12/20)
2007 TriSTAR Elegance 20
2007 TriSTAR Elegance Signature Marks Autograph SM-DB1

2008 Bowman Chrome Autograph BCP259
2008 Bowman Chrome Autograph BCP259 Refractor (307/500)
2008 Bowman Chrome Autograph BCP259 Xfractor (105/250)
2008 TriSTAR PROjections 127
2008 TriSTAR PROjections 127 Reflective
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Green Border 127 (12/50) (10/50)
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Gold Border Reflective 127 (20/25)
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Autograph 127
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Autograph Green Border (27/50)
2008 TriSTAR PROjections Autograph Gold Border (20/25)

2008 TriSTAR SignaCuts Rising Star (22/50)

2009 Bowman Chrome 174
2009 Bowman Chrome 174 Refractor
2009 Bowman Chrome 174 X-Fractor (157/250)
2009 Bowman Chrome 174 Blue Refractor (036/150)
2009 Bowman Chrome 174 Gold Refractor (20, 26, and 31/50)

2009 Bowman Sterling BS-DB
2009 Bowman Sterling BS-DB Refractor (165/199)
2009 Bowman Sterling BS-DB Gold Refractor (23 and 50/50)
2009 Bowman Sterling BS-DB Black Refractor (09 and 15/25)
2009 Bowman Sterling BS-DB Magenta Printing Plate 1-of-1
2009 eTopps 39 (591/749)
2009 Topps 206 Yellow Printing Plate 1-of-1
2009 Topps 206 232 mini Piedmont back
2009 Topps 206 mini Black Printing Plate 1-of-1
2009 Topps Chrome Refractor CHR9
2009 Topps Heritage 550
2009 Topps Heritage Chrome CHR182(0440/1960)

2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH33
2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH33 Gold (0649/2009)
2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH33 Black (02/58)
2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH33 Silk Collection (36/50)
2009 Topps Updates and Highlights UH33 Cyan Printing Plate 1-of-1

2009 TriSTAR PROjections 294
2009 TriSTAR PROjections Green Border (24/50)
2009 TriSTAR PROjections Gold Border (07/25)
2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic 140
2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic 140 Gold (171/299)
2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic 140 Silver (11/59)
2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection 60 (426/599)(431/599)
2009 Upper Deck Update U22
2010 Topps 633
2010 Topps Boston Red Sox Team Set BOS16

2010 Topps Peak Performance Autograph PPA-DB
2010 Topps Opening Day Autograph ODA-DB
2010 Upper Deck Gold (73/99)
2011 Topps Gypsy Queen 262 Mini Gypsy Queen Red Back
2011 Topps Gypsy Queen 262 Mini Leather (#10/10)
2011 Topps Series 2 464

2011 Topps Diamond Anniversary 464
2011 Topps Cognac Diamond Anniversary 464
2011 Topps Hope Diamond Anniversary 464 (#53/60)

2011 Topps Series 2 464 Black Printing Plate 1-of-1
2011 Topps Series 2 464 Magenta Printing Plate 1-of-1
2011 Topps Series 2 464 Black Border # to 60

2011 Topps Series 2 Topps 60 Memorabilia T60R-DB (white fabric)
2011 Topps Series 2 Topps 60 Memorabilia T60R-DB (gray fabric)
2011 Topps Update Topps 60 Topps Certified Autograph T60A-DB

What I Have Been Buying Lately: Trip to the Mansfield Card Show on 1.16.2012

2012-01-16T13:34:00.001-08:00

What is this? 1973 Topps Pete Rose
What did it cost? $3.00
Why did I buy it? I have been slowly assembling an impressive Pete Rose collection and this is a nice new addition to that effort.

What is this? 2010 Topps 206 Buster Posey RC
What did it cost? Three cards for $1.00 box (33 cents)
Why did I buy it? Are you kidding me? A Buster Posey rookie card for 33 cents? If the dealer was stupid enough to put it in the box, I am damn-well going to take it home.

What is this? 2010 Topps Allen & Ginter's Mini A&G Back SP
What did it cost? Three cards for $1.00 box (33 cents)
Why did I buy it? It was an embarrasment of riches in that bargain box, and I am sure that many Atlanta Braves fans would be Fenway-Green with envy that I was able to add this card to my collection for so cheap. This card is availible for trade.

What is this? 1996-97 NBA Hoops Kobe Bryant RC
What did it cost? $1.50
Why did I buy it? Kobe Bryant is one of the best players of his generation and very collectible. So, adding another of his rookie cards to my collection/trade pile for $1.50 was an easy decision.

What is this? 1935 Player's Cigarettes William III (of Orange)
What did it cost? Three cards for $1 box (33 cents)
Why did I buy it? I am always interested in adding old and unique cards to my collection, so, when I saw this vintage-looking William III card, I decided that the price was right and it was coming home with me. It was not until I got home that I learned that the card was from the British 1935 John Player & Sons Kings & Queens of England set. I can only imagine the history of this card: Was it owned by a Brit living through the Battle of London? When/How did it make its way across the Atlantic Ocean? Either way, it's mine now.

What If? the New MLB CBA Had Existed in 2008

2012-01-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

QB LEE LEADS LSU OVER ALABAMA IN LAST MINUTE STUNNER

January 10, 2012- The Louisiana State Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in a game for the ages in New Orleans last night. Led by the fourth-quarter heroics of Sophomore Quarterback Zach Lee, the 20 year-old, 6-foot 4-inch passer stood in the pocket and delivered a 40-yard pass to Rueben Randle as time expired to win the Allstate BCS National Championship game.

Zach Lee embraced his role as the Tigers’ signal caller the moment he stepped on campus as a true freshman in August 2010. Although he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2010 MLB Entry Draft, Lee walked away from a promising career on the diamond in favor of gridiron glory.

“A couple hundred thousand dollars is nothing compared to what I have already experienced at LSU,” said a smiling Lee during a media event last Saturday. “When you compare spending three, four, five years driving across the country in cramped buses, playing in half-empty stadiums like in places like Pawtucket, RI or Modesto, CA to playing in front of tens of thousands of Tigers’ fans in New Orleans, well, there’s no comparison,” said Lee.

Lee’s roommate , Garin Cecchini, a star sophomore for LSU’s baseball team, was on hand to celebrate the Tigers’ victory with Lee. Ironically, Cecchini and Lee were roomed together because both were expected to play professional baseball after being drafted in the 2010 MLB Draft, Cecchini by the Boston Red Sox. But, when both turned down modest contract offers, their coaches had to scramble to find a room for them, settling on a converted lounge for the two prized recruits.

As Lee hoisted the National Championship trophy above his head, NFL Draft Experts Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay were already comparing him to Casey Kelly, who had led his Tennessee Volunteers to a BCS National Championship before being selected by the Carolina Panthers with the first-pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Kelly, like Lee, had also been drafted in the First-round of the MLB Draft as a pitcher, but chose gridiron glory over diamond dreams, especially after Major League Baseball instituted new rules restricting the amount of money that teams are allowed to pay draft picks.

(For the record, I am against the new MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement, think that it is fundamentally un-American, and will ruin baseball.)

What I Have Been Buying Lately: January 14, 2012

2012-01-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

What is this? 2009 Topps Update Justin Mastersosn Cyan Printing Plate
What did it cost? $17.49 with shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I am always looking to add printing plates to my player collections and when I saw his card show up as "Buy It Now," I didn't want to risk letting it slip away, so I bought it immediately. Justin Masterson is one of my favorite baseball players, and his 2009 Topps Update card is one of my favorite cards in my whole collection. The retro Indians uniform looks great and I am thrilled to add this card to my collection.

What is this? 2010 Topps Peak Performance Autograph Justin Masterson.
What did it cost? $6.45 with shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I have wanted this card since it first came out in 2010, but the price was never right and then I didn't see it pop-up again on eBay for a few months. $6.45 is a bit more than I wanted to spend, but it definately won't break the bank. The card looks cool, and it is even better because the "Peak Performance" was his complete-game shut-out of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway in 2010.

What is this? 2011 Topps Triple Game-Worn Jersey Gold Michael Lorenzen #07/10
What did it cost? $9.55 on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I have been a huge fan of Michael Lorenzen, a Sophomore at Cal State- Fullerton, since I saw him play with the 2011 Team USA Collegeiate National Team at Fenway Park last June. A toolsy Centerfielder, I expect him to be a top pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. It's always nice to add a card numbered to 10 to a play collection and this one looks cool.

What is this? Two 2011 Topps Team USA team sets.
What did it cost? $16.50 with shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I have been buying the Team USA box set for three years now, and the past two years I have stepped it up to two sets. These cards are great for getting autographs and you can usually recover some/all of your investment when one of the prospects in the set gets hot. The Team USA set may be my favorite product each year and the 2011 set may be the best looking set in years.

What is this? 2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects set
What did it cost? $11.98 with shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? Like the Team USA set, 2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects is an annual "must have" in my collection. For $12, I picked up a rookie card of the top rookies in 2011 and draft pick cards of most of the top picks in the 2011 draft. For $11.98 with shipping, this was an easy and cheap buy. I also really like the look of this year's set.

International League Beware: The 2012 Pawtucket Red Sox Are a Team to Fear

2012-01-11T16:14:00.000-08:00

With just over a month until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, the Red Sox have been very busy acquiring new players to fill-out their Major League and Triple-A rosters.

With at least one spot in the starting rotation and a couple bullpen roles still open on the Major League roster, the Red Sox have been able to lure a number of Major and Minor League veterans to Red Sox Spring Training with the promise of competing for a spot on the 25-man roster. That also means, whoever wins those spots, the Pawtucket Red Sox will benefit from the presence of the odd-men-out on their Opening Day roster.

Earlier in the off-season, the Red Sox re-signed 2011 Paw Sox leaders RHP Brandon Duckworth, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Tony Pena, Jr., and UT Nate Spears. In addition, the Red Sox added a number of Minor League veterans, including: LHP Justin Thomas, RHP Will Inman, LHP Jesse Carlson, RHP Chorye Spoone, and RHP Dough Mathis.

To that collection, the Red Sox have now added RHP Carlos Silva, RHP Aaron Cook, RHP Justin Germano, UT Brad Emaus and IF Pedro Ciriaco.

Carlos Silva and Aaron Cook are Major League veterans who figure to compete for the last spot in the Red Sox rotation. However, one or both of them could very well find themselves left out of the rotation and sent to Pawtucket to get some work and wait for things to "work themselves out" on Boston's Major League roster.

And, while Boston's roster decisions are months away from being made, one thing is clear: the 2012 Pawtucket Red Sox, with an ideal mix of experienced veterans and talented prospects, will be a team to be feared and a favorite to repeat as International League Eastern Division champions.

Providence Bruins Signing Free Autographs at Mansfield Card Show

2012-01-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned a few days ago, four Providence Bruins will be signing free autographs at the Mansfield Holiday Inn Card Show on Martin Luther King, Jr Day from 10:30 to 12:30. Those four players will be: Andrew Bodnarchuk, Carter Camper, Josh Hennessy, Matt Bartkowski.

Matt Bartkowski is rated as the #8 prospect and Carter Camper is rated as the #17 prospect in the Bruins organization by Hockey's Future. Andrew Bodnarchuk is mentioned as a "notable" prospect by Hockey's Future and Josh Hennessy has played twenty games for the Ottawaw Senator, scoring one NHL goal, before signing with the Bruins this season.

2008 TriSTAR PROjections Daniel Bard Rainbow

2012-01-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to write about today, so I thought that I would share my collection of Daniel Bard 2008 TriSTAR PROjections parallel cards. 2008 TriSTAR PROjections was the first set that I bought when I got into prospecting and Minor League autograph collecting in the spring of 2009, and Daniel Bard was the first player whose autograph I got that season, when he was a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

The picture of Daniel Bard in a Greenville Drive uniform is fantastic and I think that these look awesome, especially when they are together.

Two Great Free Autograph Opportunities This Weekend

2012-01-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

If you are going to be in Rhode Island or Southern Massachusetts next weekend, there will be two opportunities to score some free autographs from members of the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Providence Bruins.

First, on Friday, January 13, from 6 pm to 9 pm, the Pawtucket Red Sox will host their 2012 Hot Stove League Party at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. The event is free and open to the public (although season-ticket holders will be allowed in early at 5:30), and will feature RHP Alex Wilson, C Luis Exposito, OF Alex Hassan, RHP Brandon Duckworth, and PawSox Manager Arnie Beyeler. Fans will be able to meet, greet, and get autographs from the players and dine on some FREE (YES FREE!) food and drinks.

While the quantity and quality of the players attending may not be what it has been in recent years (which featured Justin Masterson, Hanley Ramirez, Daniel Bard, Casey Kelly, Ryan Lavarnway, Lars Anderson, etc.), the annual Hot Stove League Party is a fun event and a good opportunity to get some free autographs and get a look inside McCoy Stadium.

Then, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 16), Big Sport Card & Autograph Shows and Cardboard Promotions will be hosting a card show at the Mansfield Holiday Inn in Mansfield, MA. Admission for the show is $2 (but you can print off a free pass on the Cardboard Promotions website), and there will be "at least" 3 Providence Bruins players (specific players to be announced shortly) signing free autographs from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Making the deal even better is the fact that you get free small photos of the players for them to sign. Meaning that all you have to do is show up, go to the show, and you get three free signed photos of Providence Bruins players.

So, if you're around and have a chance to go to either or both of these FREE events, I highly suggest that you do.

Where Are They Now? 2010 Bowman Chrome Baseball Team USA 18 & Under

2012-01-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

All to often, when collectors open packs or boxes of Bowman products, cards of players in the low-minors or Team USA get thrown into a shoebox, not to be seen again for years.

Well, for those of you who may have opened packs of 2010 Bowman Chrome Baseball last fall and found cards of players from the Team USA 18 & Under Team, here is what they have been upto:

USA-1 Albert Almora- Still in high school, Almora is considered a top-prospect in the 2012 MLB Draft.
USA-2 Daniel Camarena- Selected and signed by the Yankees in the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-3 Nicky Delmonico- Selected and signed by the Orioles in the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-4 John Hochstatter- Incoming Freshman at Stanford.
USA-5 Francisco Lindor- Selected and signed by the Indians in the First-Round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-6 Marcus Littlewood- Selected and signed by the Mariners in the 2010 MLB Draft.
USA-7 Christian Lopes- Selected and signed by the Blue Jays in the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-8 Michael Lorenzen- Baseball America Freshman All-America at Cal State Fullerton in 2011. Member of the Team USA Collegiate National team in 2011.
USA-9 Dillon Maples- Selected and signed by the Cubs in the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-10 Lance McCullers- Still in high school, McCullers is considered a top-prospect in the 2012 MLB Draft.
USA-11 Christian Montgomery- Selected and signed by the Mets in the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-12 Henry Owens- Selected and signed by the Red Sox in the First-Round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-13 Phillip Pfeifer III- Incoming Freshman at Vanderbilt.
USA-14 Brian Ragira- Pac-10 Freshman of the Year at Stanford in 2011.
USA-15 John Simms- Conference USA All-Freshman Team at Rice in 2011. 0.00 ERA in 24.2 innings pitching for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2011.
USA-16 Elvin Soto- Incoming Freshman at Pittsburgh.
USA-17 Bubba Starling- Selected and signed by the Royals in the First-Round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-18 Blake Swihart- Selected and signed by the Red Sox in the First-Round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
USA-19 A.J. Vanegas- Pitcher for Stanford.
USA-20 Tony Wolters- Selected and signed by the Indians in the 2010 MLB Draft. A 2011 New York-Penn League (SS A-League) All-Star.

Must Read: Baseball America's Jim Callis discusses Red Sox Prospects

2012-01-06T15:04:00.001-08:00

Today, Baseball America officially released their Red Sox Top 10 Prospect list on their website.

Here is Baseball America's Top 10

1. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
3. Blake Swihart, C
4. Anthony Ranaudo, RHP
5. Bryce Brentz, OF
6. Brandon Jacobs, OF
7. Garin Cecchini, 3B
8. Matt Barnes, RHP
9. Ryan Lavarnway, C
10. Jackie Bradley, Jr. OF

Although that list had been circulating for some time now, Jim Callis' discussion of the Top 10 and the Red Sox system is a must read for prospect enthusiasts.

The link is here.

Among the more notable things that Callis said are:

- He considers pitchers Chris Hernandez and Chris Martin "deep sleepers" to help the Boston Red Sox at the Major League level in 2012.
- He picked 3B Garin Cecchini and P Kyle Stroup as potential "Breakout" candidates for 2012.
- He thinks C Blake Swihart and IF Xander Bogaerts have the highest-ceilings in the Red Sox system.
- He said of Williams Jerez: "He's one of the better athletes in the system, but is too raw at this point to make the Top 30. Five-tool potential if it all works out, though."

Read the whole thing. If you have read this whole post, the discussion is definately worth your time.

What I Have Been Buying Lately: January 3, 2012

2012-01-03T13:42:00.001-08:00

What is this? 2011 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor Autograph Sean Coyle #035/150
What did it cost? $20.58 on eBay
Why did I buy it? I have been slowly (and crazily?) been building a Sean Coyle player selection since shortly after he was drafted by the Red Sox in 2010. As part of that collection, I have assembled a rainbow collection from 2011 Bowman, and the Blue Refractor autograph is a fine addition to that cardboard diversity.

What is this? 2008 TriSTAR PROjections Gold Autograph Daniel Bard #20/25
What did it cost? $17.48 (including three other TriSTAR Bard autographs)
Why did I buy it? The 2008 TriSTAR PROjections Gold Autograph was a nice addition to the Red and Green Autographs that I already had from that set. And, for the price and the fact that it came with three other Daniel Bard cards (which I hope to re-sell to cover the full-purchase price), I didn't want to let this deal slip away.

What is this? 2002 UD Sweet Spot Sweet Impressions Autograph Drew Bledsoe
What did it cost? $10.50 on eBay
Why did I buy it? Drew Bledsoe was my favorite player growing-up and I have loved the look of this Sweet Impressions Autograph card since I first saw it at a card show in 2002. When I saw it pop-up on eBay, I was more than happy to snag it, especially for $10.50.

What is this? 2010 Topps Chrome Tim Tebow
What did it cost? $5.28 on eBay
Why did I buy it? Over the last month, I have had terrific luck selling Tebow cards. I am hoping that I can easily flip this card and double my money before the Broncos get eliminated from the playoffs.

What is this? 2011 Bowman Draft Futures Game Relics Will Middlebrooks
What did it cost? $3.49 on eBay
Why did I buy it? I love the look of 2011 Bowman Draft Futures Game Relics cards and Will Middlebrooks is a Top Prospect and genuinely nice guy. I was very happy to grab this card at a very reasonable price and hope to get it signed by Will in April.

Cards of Future Fenway Stars Goals for 2012

2012-01-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

Cards of Future Fenway Stars Goals for 2012

Refocus my attention on providing the best information on new product releases and sales of Red Sox Prospect cards on the secondary market.

Provide the best source of information on baseball prospects, cards, and autographs in New England—at all levels.

Continue to share my collecting experiences and build my player collections.

Continue to add to my Pete Rose collection and add every one of his Topps cards from the 1970s.

Add at least one more Printing Plate to my Daniel Bard, Justin Masterson, and Sean Coyle player collections.

Expand the blog’s multimedia offerings by providing videos of Top Prospects in the International League, New York-Penn League, Cape Cod Baseball League, and New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Any additional suggestions?

Previewing the 2012 Cape Cod Baseball League Season

2011-12-31T13:23:00.001-08:00

Each summer, the Cape Cod Baseball League plays host to some of the best college players in the country. Judging by some early roster announcements, 2012 will be no different.

Although there will be few college stars playing in New England during the regular season, the 2012 CCBL is already shaping up as a Who's Who of College Baseball.

One team to watch will be the Bourne Braves. Now under the direction of former CCBL Vice President Chuck Sturtevant and his son-in-law Dan Dunn, the Braves will welcome back at least five players from their 2011 team, including Baseball America's 2011 Freshman of the Year Colin Moran (North Carolina), Ryan Eades (LSU), and Tommy Coyle (North Carolina). In addition, the Braves will also feature 2011 Team USA Pitcher Ryne Stanek (Arkansas) and Catcher Chris Harvey (Vanderbilt), an 18-year-old who graduated from high school early to catch for the Commodores this spring.

The Cotuit Kettleers will also feature young prospects from Vanderbilt: RHP Tyler Beede and INF Connor Castellano. Beede was selected in the first-round of the 2011 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, but turned down their $2.5 million offer to attend Vanderbilt.

More CCBL teams are expected to annouce their 2012 rosters in January. The CCBL regular season will begin on June 14 with five games. I will keep you posted on what college stars will be spending their summer on the Cape in 2012.

The Forgotten: Those Who Were Left Off the Top Prospect Lists

2011-12-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

Alex Wilson- There may be no more conspicuous snub from both Baseball America and Fangraphs than Alex Wilson, a RHP who was named the 2011 Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year. At 25 years-old, he may be old by some prospect standards, but Wilson has proven his worth at every level of the Minor League ladder since he was drafted by the Red Sox in the Second-Round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Texas A&M.

While other prospects may have higher-ceilings, Wilson may be the next Red Sox prospect to make the jump to the Majors. With the recent departure of Kyle Weiland, and Felix Doubront and Michael Bowden both out of options, Wilson could see significant time in Boston in 2012, either at the back of the rotation or as a power arm out of the bullpen.

Sean Coyle- The 2011 SoxProspects.com Rookie of the Year, Coyle is a toolsy Second Basemen who performed well against age-advanced South Atlantic League competition as a member of the Greenville Drive. Listed at a generous 5' 8", Coyle showed some surprising pop, generating an .826 OPS with 14 HRs, 7 triples, and 27 doubles.

Despite that superb performance as a 19 year-old playing his first season of professional baseball in Single-A, Coyle has been conspicuously overlooked by the prospecting community. Perhaps another year of play against more advanced competition will finally be enough to push Coyle over-the-top of the Red Sox prospect rankings.

2012 New England College Baseball Preview

2011-12-27T20:04:00.001-08:00

If you were looking forward to an exciting 2012 spring of college baseball in New England, filled with prospects and teams competing for the College World Series, you are likely to be disappointed.

But, don't get too down, there will still be some worthwhile baseball to be had. For example:

While UConn will be without 2011 First-round picks Matt Barnes and George Springer, they still have Junior Second Baseman LJ Mazzilli, who was recently named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association First Team Preseason All-American. An superb athlete, Mazzilli batted .338 with 23 doubles for UConn last spring before joining the USA Collegiate National Team as an alternate and playing for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

The highlight of UConn’s home schedule will be when they host Notre Dame from May 17 to May 19.

Although Boston College may lack star-power on their roster, the Eagles will play host to some of the best teams and top prospects at Chestnut Hill this spring.

Boston College will square-off against Georgia Tech and pitching prospect Luke Bard from March 23 to March 25; an intriguing Maryland team with incoming freshmen Andrew Amaro K.J. Hockaday, both of whom were picked in the 2011 MLB Draft from March 30 until April Fools’ Day; Connecticut and LJ Mazzilli on April 3; Florida State from April 13 to April 15; and Duke and pitcher Marcus Stroman from May 17 to May 19.

Fangraphs Red Sox Top 15 List

2011-12-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

Marc Hulet of Fangraphs recently released their Top 15 Red Sox prospect list. Here's the list:

1. Xander Bogaerts
2. Will Middlebrooks
3. Garin Cecchini
4. Blake Swihart
5. Matt Barnes
6. Anthony Ranaudo
7. Jackie Bradley Jr.
8. Ryan Lavarnway
9. Henry Owens
10. Brandon Jacobs
11. Jose Iglesias
12. Bryce Brentz
13. Kolbrin Vitek
14. Junichi Tazawa
15. Miles Head

In my opinion, putting Xander at #1 looks like an effort to generate some buzz and discussion, rather than a serious ranking. Sure, he could be the next Hanley, but he could also become the next Michael Almanzar. But I admit that he is an exciting prospect, nonetheless.

In addition, Henry Owens at #9 and Junichi Tazawa at #14 is laughable. Sure Owens is projectable, but so was Madison Younginer, and Tazawa is 25 and doesn't really have any plus pitches.

On the bright side, it is good to see Cecchini and Swihart ranked highly. Although neither has an extensive professional resume (Cecchini has only played in 32 games for Lowell and Swihart only played in two games in the GCL), both have elite tools and high-ceilings.

Notably missing from the list is Sean Coyle who, despite being named SoxProspects Rookie of the Years, was left off both Baseball America's Top 10 and Fangraphs' Top 15.

What this list, when considered with the Baseball America list, illustrates about the Red Sox farm-system is that there is an abundance of talent, but no single prospect who stands head-and-shoulders above the pack.

What I Have Been Buying Lately: Trip to the Mansfield Card Show on Dec. 26, 2011

2011-12-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

The morning after Christmas, after sleeping through my alarm, I dragged myself out of bed at 7:45, brushed my teeth, threw on some clothes, and headed over to the Cardboard Promotions Card Show at the Mansfield Holiday Inn in Mansfield, MA. I spent about $21.00 over the course of two hours at the show, and here are some of my more noteable pick-ups.

What is this? 1975 Topps Pete Rose
What did it cost? $3.00
Why did I buy it? I have been assembling a Pete Rose collection for bargain boxes for almost a year now and have basically gotten as far as I can go from the nickel, dime, and quarter boxes. When I saw this 1975 Topps card in a 10% of book box for $3.00, I jumped at the opportunity to add it to my collection. Although it is not in mint condition, it still looks great (in a really tacky 1970s' way).

What is this? 1977 Topps Strikeout Leaders Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver
What did it cost? $1.00
Why did I buy it? The card is a nice-looking 1970s card of two Hall-of-Fame pitchers and had a $15.00 sticker on it (from when, I do not know). So, when I found it in a $1.00 box, it was an easy decision to add it to my pile. The card is available for trade if anyone is interested.

What is this? 1989 Topps Traded Barry Sanders
What did it cost? $1.00
Why did I buy it? Growing-up, there was nobody more exciting to watch on Sundays than Barry Sanders, who did some of his best work against my beloved New England Patriots. So, seeing his Topps Traded Rookie Card in excellent condition, I jumped at the opportunity to add this card to my collection.

What is this? 1999 Topps Traded Josh Hamilton
What did it cost? $1.00
Why did I buy it? In the same box where I found the 1977 Topps Strikeout Leaders and 1989 Topps Sanders cards, I came across this (in my opinion) iconic Josh Hamilton card. I have bought and sold a handful of 1999 Topps Traded Hamilton cards, and $1.00 is a steal for this card.

What is this? 2003 Topps Traded Hanley Ramirez
What did it cost? 50 cents, I think.
Why did I buy it? For Red Sox fans today, Hanley Ramirez is the star-that-got-away (Albeit the Red Sox did get Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, both key parts of the 2007 World Series team back in return). I have collected and re-sold a number of different Hanley prospect and rookie cards, and have not come across this card very often.

What is this? 2010 Topps Chrome John Elway and Tim Tebow Gridiron Lineage.
What did it cost? $2.00
Why did I buy it? Finding Tim Tebow cards at the card show today was not easy. So, when I tracked down this card for $2.00, I didn't let it slip away. I am planning on flipping this card.

What is this? 2010 Topps Tim Tebow
What did it cost? $6.00
Why did I buy it? I have bought and sold eleven 2010 Topps Tim Tebow cards for a profit so far, and $6.00 is a good (if not great) price. I am hoping to double my money on this card in a week with a little "Tebow Magic."

What is this? A Bill Monbouquette Autographed 8" by 10" photo.
What did it cost? Free with admission (which I used a free pass for).
Why did I buy it? The first hundred or so customers at the card show were given the opportunity to choose a free "Christmas Gift" with admission to the show today. Given the option of choosing from some junk wax, commemorative jerseys, or an autographed photo, I dug through the autograph pile and found this signed Bill Monbouquette picture. He was a four-time All-Star with the Red Sox, threw a no-hitter on August 1, 1962, and was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2000. Not bad for the price.

My Baseball Relics Collection

2011-12-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

What is this? A Wareham Gatemen #32 Player-Worn Jacket.
Where did I get it? At a Wareham Gatemen game last summer.
How much did it cost? I paid $25 for the jacket.

Why is it special? The Wareham Gatemen are a team in the historic and elite Cape Cod Baseball League. In recent years, #32 has been worn by Ben Crockett in 2000 and 2001, Alan Horne in 2004, Carson Kainer in 2005, John Ely in 2006, and Matt Barnes in 2008 and 2009.

While I am not sure when or for how many seasons this jacket was worn, it is likely that at least one future Major Leaguer wore this jacket in the Wareham dugout or bullpen during the Cape Cod League season.

But, no matter who wore it, the jacket is unquestionably cool and, for $25, certainly worth adding to my collection.

If anyone happens to have attended Wareham Gatemen games and remember seeing players wear this style of jacket, I would love to hear from you.

Baseball America Leaks Red Sox Top 10 List

2011-12-22T04:39:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Baseball America's Red Sox Top 10 Prospect list was released on a number of Prospect Blogs, weeks before it will be reported on BaseballAmerica.com

Here is Baseball America's Top 10

1. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
3. Blake Swihart, C
4. Anthony Ranaudo, RHP
5. Bryce Brentz, OF
6. Brandon Jacobs, OF
7. Garin Cecchini, 3B
8. Matt Barnes, RHP
9. Ryan Lavarnway, C
10. Jackie Bradley, Jr. OF

Overall, I am satisfied with the Baseball America list, although I think that ranking Jackie Bradley, Jr. at #10 is ambitious and the Jose Iglesias snub ignores his obvious defensive skills and his advanced placement at Triple-A in 2011.

On the positive side, I like the rankings of high-ceiling young prospects like Swihart, Cecchini, and Jacobs, but I think that Swihart may be a bit high given that he has almost no professional experience.

In addition, I like that Baseball America included Anthony Ranaudo (first-round pick 2010) and Matt Barnes (first-round pick 2011) in the Top 10. Both have high-ceilings and project to at least be middle-to-back of the rotation starters. Ranuado, who pitched for Greenville and Salem in 2011, could be ready for the Majors by 2013 with Barnes, who has yet to pitch professionally, not far behind him.

From a card collector's perspective, I think that the list also closely mimics the market's evaluation of the Red Sox prospects. Blake Swihart's autographed, game-used, and parallel cards are selling very strong, especially for a player who has only had a handful of professional plate appearances in the GCL. Garin Cecchini's cards, from his time with the Team USA 18U squad and 2011 Bowman, are also strong sellers, especially for autographs, patches, and parallels.

In addition, Anthony Ranaudo's autographed and parallel cards continue to be highly-valued and Matt Barnes' cards are also selling well.

Will Middlebrooks, on the other hand, does not seem to attract much attention on cardboard. His TriSTAR and In The Game autographs and Donruss Elite Extra Edition and Bowman game-used cards are inexpensive.

Xander Bogaerts does not have any officially licensed cards. I expect that he will make his cardboard debut in 2012 Bowman.

Any thoughts on Baseball America's list?

Sox Roster Moves Make 2012 Team Picture Clearer

2011-12-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

The Red Sox continued to make roster moves this week to finalize their 2012 roster.

Most notably, the Red Sox sent RHP Kyle Weiland and IF Jed Lowrie to Houston in exchange for RHP Mark Melancon. Melancon, who was a Yankees prospect before being traded to the Astros for Lance Berkman, had a very good 2011 season and projects to be a key part of the 2012 Red Sox bullpen, and could even be the Red Sox closer if Boston fails to find a better option.

While it is sad to see Weiland and Lowrie go, the move looks like it could help all parties involved. Boston gets a proven arm out of the bullpen and Houston gets both a solid (when healthy) infielder in Lowrie and a potentially valuable starter or reliever in Weiland.

The deal should also work out well for all of the players involved. Melancon has the potential to become a popular pitcher for a team that competes for the World Series every year; Lowrie has the opportunity to get a fresh start as a starter for a team whose fans are not jaded by his injury history; and Weiland now has a great opportunity to break camp in Houston's starting rotation, while he was almost certain to begin 2012 with Pawtucket if he stayed with the Red Sox.

In addition, the Red Sox also added some Major League depth by signing Catcher Kelly Shoppach and Infielder Nick Punto. Shoppach, who was drafted by Boston in 2001 and made his Major League debut with Boston in 2005, is a solid defensive catcher and Punto helps make-up for the loss of Lowrie.

Noteworthy News For Sox Minor League Fans

2011-12-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

This past week brought a flurry of news for fans of the Red Sox Minor Leagues.

First, the Red Sox re-signed Andrew Miller, who pitched for both the Pawtucket Red Sox and Boston Red Sox in 2011, to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract. The big-lefty, who was used as both a starter and reliever last season, is poised to compete for the fourth or fifth spot in the Red Sox rotation, but could also be used out of the bullpen.

Given the Red Sox lack of pitching depth in the Upper-Minors, Miller, who is out of options, is very likely to stick on the Red Sox Major League roster. If he ends up as an odd-man-out after Spring Training, I'd expect Miller to begin the year on the Disabled List, giving him the opportunity to get some work in Pawtucket and let the Major League roster sort itself out.

In addition to re-signing Miller, the Red Sox also added Minor League veterans LHP Jesse Carlson and RHP Doug Mathis. Carlson has spend his entire career in the Blue Jays organization, but missed the entire 2011 season with a rotator cuff injury. Doug Mathis, who was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers, has spent the last few years bouncing around different organizations, and ended up pitching in Korea in 2011. Although Carlson will have a chance to earn a spot in the Red Sox bullpen, both are likely to begin the season with Triple-A Pawtucket.

As for departures, LHP Cesar Cabral was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft and then traded to the New York Yankees. Cabral has a good chance to stick with the Evil Empire, probably as their second lefty specialist.
In addition to Cabral, a number of former Red Sox prospects have found new homes.

First, UT Yamaico Navarro, who the Red Sox traded to the Kansas City Royals last summer to acquire Mike Aviles, was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for RHP Brooks Pounders and SS Diego Goris.

In addition, P Daniel Turpen, who was acquired by the Red Sox from San Francisco in July 2010 and then traded to Rockies for Catcher Michael McKenry in March 2011, was traded again. This time, the Rockies sent Turpen to the Twins in exchange for RHP Kevin Slowey.

Lastly, OF Brett Carroll, who was signed late in the 2011 season and played for the Pawtucket Red Sox, signed a Minor League deal with the Washington Nations.

What I Have Been Buying Lately: December 4, 2011

2011-12-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

What is this? 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Status Die-Cut #095/100
What did it cost? $1.99 on CheckOutMyCards.com
Why did I buy it? Bryce Brentz had a tremendous college career at Middle Tennesse State and after an awful debut season with Lowell in 2010, bounced back in 2011. A power-hitter with the potential to be a Major League-caliber corner outfielder, Brentz is one of the most exciting prospects in the Red Sox Minor League System.

What is this? A 2010 Bowman Sterling USA Baseball Relics Gold Refractor #34/50
What did it cost? $4.25 on CheckOutMyCards.com
Why did I buy it? Michael Lorenzen had a tremendous freshman season playing for Cal State Fullerton and followed that up with an impressive showing for the Team USA Collegiate team. I was fortunate enough to meet Michael when he was playing for Team USA at Fenway Park last June and have bought a number of his cards since. I love the Bowman Sterling Relics cards, and the Gold Refractor cards are even better.

What is this? A 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut #010/200.
What did it cost? $0.75 on CheckOutMyCards.com
Why did I buy it? Jeremy Hazelbaker was drafted by the Red Sox out of Ball State in 2009 and has put together three solid Minor League seasons since, flashing excellent speed on the basepaths, developing power, and good defense. I am especially glad to have this card because it is numbered #010/200, his jersey number in college.

What is this? 2009 Topps Update Daniel Bard Cyan Printing Plate.
What did it cost? $20.00 on CheckOutMyCards.com
Why did I buy it? I have a Daniel Bard Super-Collection and am always looking to add Printing Plates. This Printing Plate of his Topps Rookie Card was listed for $35.00, but I was fortunate enough to get the seller to agree on $20.00.

What is this? 2011 Topps Series 2 Daniel Bard Black Printing Plate.
What did it cost? $20.00 on eBay.
Why did I buy it? Again, I am always looking to add Bard Printing Plates to my collection, and $20.00 seems to be the market price at the moment. (The market being me, basically)

What is this? 2009 Philadelphia Football Barry Goldwater
What did it cost? $1.00 on CheckOutMyCards.com
Why did I buy it? Barry Goldwater was the Republican Presidential Nominee in 1964 and his Conscience of a Conservative was one of the most important books that I read in the development of my political philosophy. This card looks fantastic, and I was very happy to get it at a good price.

2011 Bowman Sean Coyle Rainbow

2011-12-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

I am very open to the suggestion that baseball card collectors (and especially player collectors) are a little crazy. And I certainly do not exclude myself from that diagnosis. However, I will never be persuaded that a "Rainbow Collection" of parallel versions of a card is not at least a little bit cool, if not beautiful.

One of the most complete parallel collections that I have assembled is Sean Coyle's 2011 Bowman cards. My parallel collection includes:

2011 Bowman BP100
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 International Version
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Refractor #114 and 289/799
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Purple Refractor #134/700
2011 Bowman BP100 Blue Border #109/500
2011 Bowman BP100 Green Border #193/450
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Blue Refractor #120/250
2011 Bowman BCP100 Orange Border #107/250
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Gold Refractor #30/50
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Autograph
2011 Bowman Chrome BCP100 Autograph Refractor #382 and 168/500
2011 Bowman BCP100 Magenta Printing Plate One-of-One

Too Good To Be True?

2011-11-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever gotten such a great deal on a card(s) that you began to question whether or not the deal was too good to be true?

Well, for the first time in my collecting life, I am confronted with that question.

Here's the situation: A week or so ago, I was looking at eBay for Daniel Bard cards, a basically daily routine for me. To my suprise, I saw a listing for three Daniel Bard autographed cards for cheap. One of those three cards was a 2007 Upper Deck Team USA Alumni Game-Worn Patch card, numbered 12/20.

While I am almost always 100% against buying any autographed cards without a Certificate of Authenticity (or even with a COA for the most part), I decided that the opportunity to acquire the Patch Card (signed or unsigned) for less than $50 was too good to pass-up.

So, trying not to think of all of the reasons why I should stay away, I put in a bid for $10 (plus $3 shipping), and forgot all about it. Then, a few days later, I got an email saying that I had won the auction for $7.05 (plus $3 shipping). I was overjoyed, but still skeptical about the authenticity of the autographs, or if I would even ever get the cards.

The cards arrived in the mail yesterday, only two days after I paid for them, and I absolutely love the patch. I was also pretty happy to pick up his 2007 Lancaster JetHawks team set card, which I did not have in my collection.

On a side note, I am also a huge fan of the fact that Upper Deck included a picture of the game-used Team USA jersey that the patch came from. In a time when the fine-print on so many pieces of "game-used memorabilia" cards lead me to wonder whether or not they were ever touched or worn by the player, the Upper Deck design is a breath of fresh air.

So, what do you think: Is this purchase too good to be true? Or was this a once-in-a-player-collecting-lifetime opportunity?

Potential Rule 5 Losses

2011-11-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

While most fans are focused on the Boston Red Sox search for a new Manager and some starting pitchers, another annual event is scheduled for December 8th that could have a major impact on the Red Sox Minor League rosters: the 2011 Rule 5 Draft.

The Rule 5 Draft is simple enough to understand: Major League teams may select any player from another team who (1) is not on the 40-man roster, and (2) were 19 or older when they signed their first professional contract and have played four seasons of professional baseball or where 18 years-old or younger and have played five seasons of professional baseball.

Once selected, the player is added to the 40-man roster of his new club and must remain on his new team's active 25-man roster for the entire next season or be returned to his original team. Some of the most successful players to be drafted in the Rule 5 draft are: Roberto Clemente, Josh Hamilton, Johan Santana, and Dan Uggla.

In order to protect some of their most prized prospects, the Red Sox recently added 3B Will Middlebrooks, OF Che-Hsuan Lin, and P Drake Britton to their 40-man roster. In addition, the Red Sox had previously added C Ryan Lavarnway and P Kyle Weiland to the 40-man roster and traded away P Stephen Fife, C Tim Federowicz, and OF Chih-Hsien Chiang, all of whom would have been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. (Fife and Federowicz have since been added to the Dodgers' 40-man, while Chiang was added to the Mariners' 40-man.)

However, despite those roster aerobics, the Red Sox still have a number of players who may be selected by other teams on December 8th.

P Cesar Cabral (22)- Originally signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2005, Cabral is a hard-throwing lefty who was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2010 Rule 5 Draft and received a long look in Spring Training before being returned to Boston. Playing for High-A Salem and Double-A Portland in 2010, Cabral showed that he can perform at a high-level against more advanced competition, and could merit consideration as a lefty-specialist at the end of a small-market bullpen.

OF Daniel Nava (28)- Signed to a Minor League deal from the Independent Golden League in October 2007, Nava completed his storybook journey to the Majors with his Grand Slam on the first pitch that he saw in 2010. Since then, Nava was removed from Boston's 40-man roster and spent all of 2011 with Triple-A Pawtucket. A productive hitter who can play multiple outfield positions, Nava could fit nicely onto a team's roster as a fourth or fifth outfielder.

1B Reynaldo Rodriguez (25)- First signed by the Yankees out of his native Colombia, Rodriguez spent five years in the Yankees' farm-system before being released in 2008. He then played in the Independent Golden Baseball League before being signed by the Red Sox in October of 2009. Rodriguez has been productive against younger competition, hitting .317 for Salem and .253 with Portland in 2011. While he projects to be an organizational role player at best, Rodriguez could be selected by a team for a look-see, a la Jorge Jimenez by the Florida Marlins in the 2009 Rule 5 draft.

P Ryan Pressly (22)- Selected in the 11th round of the 2007 Draft, Pressly has flown under-the-radar as he quietly moved up the Red Sox system. Pitching for High-A Salem in 2011, Pressly started 26 games and had a 4.50 ERA, but, according to some sources, impressed scouts from other Carolina League organizations. Pressly could project as an average pitcher out of the bullpen that a team could hide at the end of the bench for 2012 before optioning him to the Minors in 2013 to finish his development.

Red Sox Say Good-Bye to Some Familiar Faces, Welcome Some New Arms

2011-11-25T16:26:00.000-08:00

While Major League free-agency and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement have been getting the most attention, the Red Sox made a number of notable signings.

The Red Sox began the month by re-signing Minor League veterans UT Nate Spears, P Brandon Duckworth, P Tony Pena, Jr., and C Matt Spring. Spears, Duckworth, and Pena were all key pieces on the 2011 Pawtucket Red Sox International League Eastern Division winning team and should continue in their roles in 2012.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox were unable to retain other members of their 2011 Pawtucket team. Specifically, P Matt Fox signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, P Tommy Hottovy signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, and UT Drew Sutton signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves.

According to multiple reports, Fox, who spent all of 2011 with the Pawtucket Red Sox but did make three appearances for Boston in 2010, signed with the Mariners despite the fact that the Red Sox had offered him more money to return to Pawtucket. Fox's decision to sign elsewhere for less illustrates the difficulty of assembling a Triple-A team: players want to play for a team that gives them the best opportunity to get to the Majors, and teams want to stockpile their Triple-A rosters with players who are ready and able to compete in the Majors whenever it's necessary. Given that Fox spent all of 2011 in the Minors while his teammates Andrew Miller, Michael Bowden, Kyle Weiland, Rich Hill, Tommy Hottovy, Alfredo Aceves, Felix Doubront, Junichi Tazawa, and Scott Atchison all saw some time with Boston, it was probably not an unreasonable decision on his part that he has a better chance with the Mariners than he does with the Red Sox.

However, the loss of Hottovy could be the most disappointing departure. Drafted by Boston in the fourth-round of the 2004 Draft, Hottovy had overcome Tommy John surgery and a couple difficult years in the Minors to make his Major League debut in 2011, pitching in eight games. While he is no longer considered a legitimate prospect at 30-years-old, Hottovy is a serviceable lefty-specialist who still has options remaining. Of all of Boston's departed Minor Leaguers, Hottovy may have the best chance of spending a significant amount of time in the Majors in 2012.

To make up for those departures, Boston signed Minor League veterans RHP Chorye Spoone, RHP Will Inman, and LHP Justin Thomas.

Chorye Spoone has spent his entire professional career in the Baltimore Orioles organization, reaching Triple-A for the first time in 2011, starting eight games for the Norfolk Tides. Spoone could begin the 2012 season with either Portland or Pawtucket.

Will Inman was selected in the third-round of the 2005 Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, but was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2007. Inman has pitched for San Diego's Triple-A affiliate in each of the last three seasons, both starting and working out of the bullpen in 2011. Inman will almost certainly begin the 2012 season in Pawtucket, where he will either start or relieve depending upon need.

Justin Thomas may be the most valuable Minor League free-agent signing thus far. Thomas, who will be 28 on Opening Day in 2012, has pitched in the Majors with Seattle in 2008 and Pittsburgh in 2010. Thomas spent all of 2011 with the Indianapolis Indians, making 63 appearances in relief and posting a 3.89 ERA. With two options remaining, Thomas provides Boston with a reliable lefty emergency-option in Triple-A and makes the loss of Hottovy more manageable.

Pawtucket Red Sox Christmas Party on December 3rd

2011-11-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 3, 2011, the Pawtucket Red Sox will be hosting their Annual Christmas Party for Fans from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI.

In addition to having the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2012 season, fans will also be able to meet Paw Sox players Nate Spears and Brandon Duckworth, enjoy complimentary hot dogs and refreshments, and tour the inside of McCoy Stadium, including the clubhouses, batting cages, and museum.

Still not enough to convince you to make the trip to McCoy? Well maybe this will persuade you: every fan who attends the Christmas Party will also receive a free ticket to a 2012 game.

You do not need to register in advance. Simple visit McCoy Stadium and enter through the main-entry tower in left field.

I have attended the last two Pawtucket Red Sox Christmas Parties, and they were both a blast. As great of an event as it is, it is never too crowded and fans have a wonderful opportunity to interact with a few players, take a look around McCoy Stadium, and talk some baseball.

I cannot wait to attend, and hope to see you there!

What I Have Been Buying Lately: November 20, 2011

2011-11-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

A quick look at some of my recent purchases...

What is this? 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Green Status Die-Cut #10/25
What did it cost? $5.31 with shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? Anthony Ranaudo is one of the top prospects in the Red Sox minor league system and I jumped at the opportunity to grab this low-numbered parallel card from DEEE to go with the Aspirations and Red Status Die-Cuts that I already had in my collection.

What is this? 2011 Topps Chrome Orange Refractor Clay Buchholz.
What did it cost? $1.75 shipping on eBay.
Why did I buy it? I mistakenly believed that this card was a low-numbered parallel, but it turns out that it is not. Alas, when it comes to buying colored refractors from Topps, buyer beware.

What is this? 2011 Topps Update Hope Diamond Anniversary Daniel Bard #53/60.
What did it cost? $3.25 with shipping on Sportlots.com.
Why did I buy it? I am a Daniel Bard Super-Collector and could not wait to add a Hope Diamond Anniversary card to my collection. After watching some of the first Hope Diamond cards to hit eBay fetch over $20, I was thrilled to find this card waiting for me on Sportlots. Very satisfied with my purchase.

What is this? 2005 Topps Turkey Ronald Reagan.
What did it cost? 10 cents in a bargain box at a local card show last week.
Why did I buy it? I am a Reagan Republican, and I could not turn down the opportunity to add this card to my Presidential Card Collection, especially for 10 cents.

What is this? 2009 Topps World Baseball Classic Rising Star Redemption Refractor Yoennis Cespedes.
What did it cost? $5.75 with shipping on Sportlots.com.
Why did I buy it? After hearing the buzz begin to build about Cespedes in recent weeks, I decided that it was time to get myself some Cespedes on cardboard. After checking out prices on eBay and other sites, I settled on this sweet-looking card on Sportlots.

Random Stuff That I Collect

2011-11-19T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have shared some of my Super-Collections--my Daniel Bard, Justin Masterson, Sean Coyle, and Garin Cecchini cards-- but I also collect some other, more random stuff. All of these collections began in bargain boxes, usually when one card caught my eye and I decided to collect more of the same.

Nomar Garciaparra Prospect and Rookie Cards:

1992 Topps Traded
1994 Classic 4-Sport 173
1994 Topps Stadium Club '94 Draft Pick 69
1995 Classic 5-Sport 121
1995 Topps 587
1995 Topps Stadium Club 97
1995 UD Collector's Choice Future Foundation 29
1995 Upper Deck Minors 205
1995 Upper Deck Top Prospect 10
1996 Topps 211
1997 Donruss 362
1997 Select 106
1997 Score 473
1997 Score 473 Hobby Reserve

Terry Francona Cards:

1982 Topps 118 (Expos Future Stars w/Brad Mills and Bryn Smith)
1984 Topps 496 (Expos)
1985 Topps 578 (Expos)
1988 Topps 686 (Reds)
1990 Topps 214 (Brewers)
2007 Topps 609 (Red Sox)
2010 Topps Heritage 221 (Red Sox)

Cards of Danny Ainge Playing Baseball:

1981 Fleer 418
1982 Donruss 638
1982 Fleer 608
1982 Topps 125

Cards of Michael Jordan Playing Baseball:

1994 Ted Williams DG1 51510
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice 23
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Silver Signature 23
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Special Edition 238
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Up Close & Personal 635
1994 Upper Deck Minors Michael Jordan's Scrapbook MJ3
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 1
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 2
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 3
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 4
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 6
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 7
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 8
1995 Upper Deck Minors One-On-One 10
1999 SP Top Prospect Retrospectives R10

Drew Henson Cards:
2001 Fleer Legacy Rookie Autograph 91 (636/799) (Yankees)
2004 Bowman 160 (Cowboys)
2004 Bowman Chrome 145 (Cowboys)
2004 Fleer 336
2004 Fleer Greats 84 (451/999)
2004 Fleer Platinum Youth Movement YM7
2004 Fleer Ultra Lucky 13 Gold Medallion 204
2004 Playoff Prestige 213
2004 Score 412
2004 SkyBox Limited Edition Future L.E.gends FL24
2004 Topps 335
2004 Topps 1st Edition 335
2004 Topps Chrome 190
2004 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects 125
2004 Topps Finest 80
2004 Topps Finest Gold Xfractor 80 (#059/150)
2004 Topps Total 410
2006 Topps Total (w/ Tony Romo) 77

2010 Topps T-206 No Numbered Blank Backs

Zach Greinke- Kansas City
Austin Jackson- Detroit RC
Adam Jones- Baltimore
Pablo Sandoval- San Francisco

2011 Topps Allen & Ginter's Ascent of Man
AOM 10 Sarcopterygii
AOM 16 Hominoidea
AOM 18 Homininae
AOM 21 Australopithicus

2011 Topps Pro Debut Game-Used Memorabilia

MM-AC Angel Castillo
MM-BB Brandon Belt
MM-BJ Brett Jackson
MM-CA Chris Archer
MM-DG Dee Gordon
MM-DS Domingo Santana
MM-JV Josh Vitters
MM-JS Jerry Sands
MM-MM Mike Moustakas
MM-MT Mike Trout
MM-NF Nick Franklin
MM-TS Tony Sanchez
MM-ZB Zach Britton

2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Worn Jersey Cards

USAR-2 Daniel Camarena
USAR-4 John Hochstatter
USAR-7 Christian Lopes (Refractor Double-Jersey #066/199)
USAR-8 Michael Lorenzen
USAR-8 Michael Lorenzen (Gold Refractor Triple-Jersey #34/50)
USAR-9 Dillon Maples (Refractor Double-Jersey #163/199)
USAR-12 Henry Owens
USAR-14 Brian Ragira
USAR-17 Bubba Starling
USAR-18 Blake Swihart
USAR-18 Blake SWihart (Refractor Double-Jersey #150/199)
USAR-18 Blake Swihart (Gold Refractor Triple-Jersey #33/50)
USAR-20 Tony Wolters (Signed at 2011 NY-Penn League All-Star Game)
USAR-23 Jackie Bradley, Jr.
USAR-23 Jackie Bradley, Jr. (Refractor Double-Jersey #104/199)
USAR-24 Gerrit Cole
USAR-24 Gerrit Cole (Refractor Double-Jersey #040/199)

What is going on with the Topps RC Logos?

2011-11-14T18:18:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, I discussed the curious case of missing Rookie Card logos from Topps Series 1, Series 2, and Update Series cards. While I was thoroughly annoyed by Topps' lack of quality control, I was prepared to put it all behind me, at least for the 2011 season.

So, imagine my frustration when my set of 2011 Topps Chrome arrived today and I found another half-dozen examples of Topps' continued incompetence in the RC logo department. Specifically, Domonic Brown, J.P. Arencibia, Mike Minor, and Andrew Cashner (all of whom had 2010 Topps Rookie Cards) had RC logos on their non-rookie cards; and, magically, Brett Wallace and Alexi Ogando (rightly) acquired RC logos that they had lacked all year.

Message to Topps: If you're going to have an exclusive MLB license, you should also have some degree of quality control.

Are other collectors as annoyed by this as me? Or am I simply crazy and alone in my frustration?

Minor League Cards of Yesteryear: 1994 Classic 4-Sport

2011-11-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

What set is this? 1994 Classic 4-Sport.
What kind of product was it? A licensed NCAA product featuring cards of the top draft picks of the day.

What's the verdict? Although Classic is often thought of as a low-end Draft and prospect set from the junk-wax era, I think that the photography of this card speaks for itself. Featuring a fantastic close-up action-shot with an otherwise simple design, 1994 Classic 4-Sport avoided the gimmicky look and feel of other early-90's sets and achieves a timeless design.

In fact, given the clarity and quality of the photo, it is hard to believe that this card is almost old enough to vote. Card companies could (and often) do much worse than to try to replicate 1994 Classic 4-Sport when they are designing Minor League sets.

Rollin' the Dice on Yoennis Cespedes

2011-11-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

Yoennis Cespedes is the 26 year-old Cuban defector that has begun to make major waves in the card collecting hobby since he began working out for Major League teams over the last week.

According to the Beckett Blog, Cespedes had 44 cards (21 of which are memorabilia cards), released in Topps and Bowman products after the 2009 World Baseball Classic. And, with his expected signing this off-season, all of those cards have begun to rocket in price.

After reading a report that likened Cespedes' athleticism to Bo Jackson, I decided that it probably wasn't the worst idea to roll the dice a little and get myself a piece of the Yoennis pie. After looking around a little on eBay and SportLots, I decided to invest $5.75 (including shipping) for a 2009 Topps World Baseball Classic Rising Star Redemption #6 Yoeniss Cespedes.

I also plan on looking for as many Cespedes Bowman base and Chrome cards as I can find tomorrow at my local card show. I will let you know how my little treasure hunt goes.

Daniel Bard Makes BA List of Best Prospects Who Slipped in the Draft

2011-11-10T19:15:00.000-08:00

In the Ask BA? section of BaseballAmerica.com last week, Jim Callis answered a question about "some recent draft picks who slid because of their asking price and how giving into those demands worked out?"

One of the players that Jim Callis identified as a Top 15 prospect who slid because of signability was Daniel Bard, who was ranked as the #15 prospect in the 2006 draft coming out of the University of North Carolina, but fell to pick #28 and eventually agreed to a $1.55 million signing bonus with the Red Sox.

Jim Callis wrote: "Of the 15 players from the 2000-07 drafts (who slid because of signability concerns), only Kazmir and Weaver became all-stars...Drew and Guthrie have been solid regulars...while Bard has been a quality set-up man who may become a closer. Coincidence or not, none of those five players slid out of the first round."

While Bard often gets overlooked in discussions of the best relievers in baseball, he has shown quite a bit of talent and productivity in his first three seasons in the Majors. Working with a 100+ mph fastball and good secondary offerings, Bard led the American League in Holds in 2010 (32) and 2011 (34), posting a career 2.88 ERA and 9.31 strikeouts per nine-innings pitched.

Wanted: 2009 Topps Mayo United States Governors Bobby Jindal

2011-11-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

Bobby Jindal is the Governor of Louisiana and a graduate of Brown University, where my wife graduated in 2009. If you have this card and are willing to trade it, please contact me. I am prepared to make a more than fair offer for the card.

Minor League Cards of Yesteryear: 1995 Upper Deck Minors

2011-11-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

What set is this? 1995 Upper Deck Minors.
What kind of product was it? A licensed Minor League Baseball product featuring cards of the top Minor League prospects of the day.

What's the verdict? 1995 Upper Deck Minors reminds us all of what we all lost when Upper Deck went under: great photography, simple designs, and a solid checklist.

This card of Nomar Garciaparra is fantastic, featuring a close-up shot of the young Garciaparra sliding into home as a member of the Sarasota Red Sox. In-game photos in Minor League and Collegiate sets are rare, making the fantastic photography in the set all the more remarkable.

The only unfortunate aspect of 1995 Upper Deck Minors is knowing that, in 2011, Upper Deck has been reduced to basically only having an NCAA license, but still can't manage to create a 1995 Upper Deck Minors-esque baseball Draft set of top picks in their collegiate uniforms. I can only hope that someday they can recapture their 1995 skills, and release another Minor Leauge product worth collecting.

The Preview Isn't Always the Real Thing

2011-11-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Of the dozens of Daniel Bard cards that I have collected, I think that my favorite card in my Bard collection is my 2010 Topps Opening Day Autograph card. I love the way that the flag background accentuates the Red, White, and Blue Red Sox home uniform and the Patriotic look of the card. Although Topps Opening Day is one of the lowest-end products to be released each year, autograph cards from the set are hard to come by, and I have only seen two copies of the 2010 Topps Opening Day Daniel Bard autograph card ever pop-up on eBay.

So, imagine my suprise a few weeks ago when I stumbled upon the 2010 Topps Opening Day Sell Sheet with preview images of what the cards would look like and prominantly displayed on the first page of the PDF was a preview of Daniel Bard's Opening Day Autograph. However, as you can see, not only is the preview image not the same card that was later released, but the preview image did not even feature Daniel Bard's autograph. I have well over a dozen Daniel Bard autographs that go back to his time with the Team USA Collegiate Team until this past season, and his signature never looked anything like the "autograph" that appeared on the preview image.

While I'm sure that this isn't too uncommon, I can only recall one other time that this happened. Last fall, Will Middlebrooks was card was featured in the preview of 2010 Bowman Chrome. The preview image was a posed close-up photo of Middlebrooks swining the bat and stoically looking into the distance in the Red Sox white home-uniform.

However, when 2010 Bowman Chrome was released, Will Middlebrooks was no longer staring at his bright future as a Fenway Star, but instead was preparing to hustle down the first base line wearing the Red Sox red jersey during a Spring Training game.

Although a certainly prefer the 2010 Topps Opening Day Daniel Bard Autograph card that was released rather than the preview image, I much prefer the 2010 Bowman Chrome Will Middlebrooks preview image over the card that was released.

Has anyone else noticed this happen to cards of a player that they collect?

If I Were the Red Sox GM: 2011-12 Off-Season Shopping #1

2011-11-05T16:33:00.001-07:00

The Red Sox began their 2011-12 free agency period by re-signing Minor League veterans Nate Spears, Brandon Duckworth, Tony Pena, Jr, and Matt Spring. Spears, Duckworth, and Pena were key members of the 2011 Pawtucket Red Sox playoff team and Spears saw some late season action with the Boston Red Sox.

If I were the Red Sox General Manager, I would continue to focus on building the Pawtucket Red Sox pitching staff by signing Andrew Brackman, who recently opted for free-agency after the New York Yankees did not exercise the final year on his contract.

Brackman was the Yankees First-Round pick in the 2007 draft, 30th overall, from North Carolina State, where he also played basketball. Despite needing Tommy John surgery, Brackman was signed to a Major League contract and received a $3.5 million signing bonus.

In three Minor League seasons, Brackman has found some success, but also struggled with control issues. That mixed-bag can be seen in his 2011 season, where he both struck out and walked 75 batters pitching for the Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees. Brackman made his Major League debut late in the season for New York, pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

While the Yankees may have given up on the big (6-10) righty, I think that there is enough upside to bring Brackman to camp, kick the tires, and see if the Red Sox pitching coaches and instructors can work on his mechanics and help him reach his potential.

Like many other big pitchers, it is taking Brackman longer to adopt and repeat pitching mechanics that can succeed. But, given the ability of the Red Sox to work with and improve the mechanics of pitchers like Daniel Bard and Clay Buchholz, I think that Brackman's upside is certainly worth the effort.

Furthermore, picking Brackman from the Yankee's scrap heap and helping him reach his potential would be a sweet little jab at the Evil Empire, especially after the success that ex-Yankee Alfredo Aceves had with the Red Sox in 2011.

Someone is certain to take a chance on Brackman, why not the Red Sox?

2011 Leaf Metal Draft: Big on Shine, Short on Design

2011-10-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

2011 Leaf Metal Draft Baseball is the most recent attempt by a card company to create a high-end, autograph-centric set Minor League Baseball set. Retailing for between $75 and $85, collectors get six cards with on-car autographs, with an average of two of those six being parallel autographs. Those parallels include Rainbows numbered to 99, Rainbow Blues numbered to 25, Rainbow Reds numbered to 5, Rainbow Gold 1-of-1s, and Printing Plates.

While collectors are sure to like the on-card autographs, I find the basic design uninspiring. The shiny metal design is a bit overwhelming, and the lack of any additional design features to accentuate the metal makes the card design look rushed and low-end.

In addition, the fact that 2011 Leaf Metal Draft is not licensed by the NCAA, Minor League Baseball, or Major League Baseball means that the uniform designs and logos are airbrushed out, further exacerpating the uninspired design. Making matters worse, Leaf made the foolish decision to use pictures of players in white uniforms for many of their cards that almost fade into the background.

On the positive side, Leaf did assemble a solid checklist of top 2011 Draft Picks and some of the top Minor League prospects. As far as Red Sox collectors are concerned, Leaf couldn't have done much better as far as 2011 Draftees go, offering autographed cards of First-Round picks Matt Barnes, Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, and Jackie Bradley, Jr, in addition to 2010 Second-Round pick Brandon Workman.

In addition to those Future Fenway Stars, 2011 Leaf Metal Baseball also offers autographed cards of Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, Bubba Starling, Anthony Rendon, Dylan Bundy, and Manny Machado.

The cards seem to be selling well on the secondary market (eBay), but like most Minor League and Draft products, I would expect those prices to come down over time. So, for collectors looking to pick-up an autographed card of one of these Red Sox prospects, I would recommend waiting for 2011 Bowman Draft Picks or 2011 Donruss Elite Extra Edition to be released in the coming months.

Ultimately, I think that 2011 Leaf Metal Baseball will come up short compared to both of its major fellow-unlicensed prospect set competitors: Donruss Elite Extra Edition and In the Game Heroes and Prospects. Donruss Elite Extra Edition offers an non-autographed base set to go along with its extensive collection of autographed cards and has a history of giving prospect collectors what they want. And while In the Game Heroes and Prospects was, like 2011 Leaf Metal Baseball, an all-hits set, it offered a variety of autograph and game-used subset designs, all of them better than Leaf Metal.

In the end, if you like shiny cards with on-card autographs of recent draft picks, you could do worse than picking up a box of 2011 Leaf Metal Baseball. Fortunately, you can also do a lot better, and I would seriously recommend that you save your money and wait for the release of 2011 Donruss Elite Extra Edition or 2011 Bowman Draft instead.

What do you think? Has anyone opened a box of 2011 Leaf Metal Baseball yet or purchased any singles? How do they look in person? Do you think that they will hold their value over time?

The Curious Case of the Missing Rookie Card Logos

2011-10-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

With the release of 2011 Topps Update Baseball, the 2011 Topps Baseball experience is complete. But, despite all that I like about Topps Series 1, Topps Series 2, and Topps Update, I can't get my mind off one annoying fact: why are there no Rookie Card Logos on what should be the Rookie Cards of Pedro Alvarez, Alexi Ogando, Justin Smoak, and Brett Wallace. (Somewhat related note: Pedro Alvarez, Brett Wallace, and Jason Castro are also missing the RC Logo on their Bowman Cards.)

All of these players are/were top prospects and are some of the most exciting players for their respective teams. Although most of them, with the exception of Ogando, had Minor League cards, none of them had a regular issue Bowman or Topps Major League Card before the 2011 season. Although I think the idea of Rookie Card Logos are unecessary, the fact that they exist but are not on these cards significantly lowers their value (for now at least) and will leave these players forever without official Rookie Cards, confusing and frustrating collectors forever.

Does anyone know why these cards are Logo-less?

My Garin Cecchini Collection

2011-10-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Product Review: 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball

2011-10-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

While I may be a month late to the 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball party, I hope that for what I lack in promptness I make up for with insight. To be honest, this has been a very busy month and, between teaching Special Ed Middle School during the day, teaching Night School two nights a week, having my Appendix removed, and taking classes for teaching English Language Learner Students, keeping up with new releases and actually buying cards have taken a back seat.

Fortunately, over the past week and a half, I was able to find enough time and money to seek out and purchase some singles from 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball that have helped give me a good enough perspective to offer the following thoughts:

Speaking solely as a Red Sox collector, Topps did a good, but not great, job of choosing players for the set. The Red Sox minor leaguers who are featured in this set are Anthony Ranaudo (34), Garin Cecchini (42), Drake Britton (68), Sean Coyle (91), and Kolbrin Vitek (147). In addition, Ranaudo and Coyle were also featured in Baseball America Minor League All-Star High-Numberered Short Print cards, numbers 229 and 246, respectively. While the inclusion of Ranaudo, Cecchini, and Coyle-- three of the Red Sox highest-ceiling and interesting prospects--is great, I honestly could have done without Britton and Vitek. Drake Britton, who was already featured in 2011 Bowman and 2011 Topps Pro Debut, had a horrendous 2011 season and is now considered highly suspect. Vitek, on the other hand, has risen through the system steadily but lacks star power and is probably the "King of Cardboard" in the Red Sox Minor League system, with base or autograph cards appearing in 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition, 2010 Bowman Draft Picks, 2011 Bowman, 2011 Goodwin's Champions, 2011 ITG Heroes and Prospects, 2011 Topps Pro Debut, and 2011 Bowman Platinum.

However, my quibbles with the checklist notwithstanding, the design of 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball is unmatched for a Minor League Baseball card set in recent memory. Employing the iconic 1962 Topps design used earlier this year for the 2011 Topps Heritage, the Minor League variety captures the beauty of the wood-panel design without the unfortunate "Mug-Shot" picture styling of the original 1962 set mimicked by the Major League set earlier this year. The game-action photos of the prospects in their Minor League uniforms are simple and capture the understated majesty of Minor League baseball in America.

Finally, while many have panned the Green, Red, and Blue tinted parallel versions of the cards numbered to 620, they do offer something different and unique for player collectors. In addition, the Black Bordered Parallels numbered to 62 are a nice addition and could become very collectible for prospects that someday make it big.

While 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball may not be for every collector, it is certainly a welcome set for all Minor League enthusiasts and prospectors.

Putting My Money Where My Prospecting Is

2011-10-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the autographed, game-used, and short-printed cards from my personal Red Sox prospect collection.

Lars Anderson 2005 Upper Deck Team USA Autograph LA #342/495
Matt Barnes 2010 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Card USAR-MB (white)
Matt Barnes 2010 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Card USAR-MB (blue)

Jackie Bradley, Jr. 2010 Bowman Sterling Jersey Card USAR-23
Jackie Bradley, Jr. 2010 Bowman Sterling Refractor Double-Jersey Card USAR-3 #104/199
Bryce Brentz 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars USA Future Watch Jersey/Auto UFWA-5 #769/799
Bryce Brentz 2009 Upper Deck Team USA Triple Jersey TJNT-BB
Bryce Brentz 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars UD Game Jersey GJU-23
Bryce Brentz 2010 Bowman Chrome USA USA-BC3
Bryce Brentz 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Status Die-Cut #095/100
Drake Britton 2011 Bowman Chrome International BP94

Jeremy Hazelbaker 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Green Autograph #09/25
Jeremy Hazelbaker 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 93 Aspirations Die-Cut #010/200
Jeremy Hazelbaker 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 93 Autograph #503/640

Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Auto #341/690
Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Auto #580/690
Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut #174/200
Chris Hernandez 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Statue Die-Cut #094/100
Jose Iglesias 2010 Bowman Sterling Refractor #106/199
Jose Iglesias 2010 Bowman Chrome Topps 100 #019/999
Jose Iglesias 2010 Topps Pro Debut Blue Border #227/369
Jose Iglesias 2010 Bowman Platinum Refractor (150/999)

Brandon Jacobs 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut #069/200
Ryan Kalish 2010 Topps Finest Redemption
Ryan Kalish 2010 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor #26/50

Will Middlebrooks 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Throwback Threads
Will Middlebrooks 2009 TriSTAR Obak Autograph A21
Will Middlebrooks 2011 Bowman Draft Futures Game All-Star Jersey

Henry Owens 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Jersey USAR-12
Henry Owens 2010 Topps Team USA Triple-Jersey Card USAR-HO (blue)
Kendrick Perkins 2011 Topps Pro Debut Blue Border #090/309
Stolmy Pimentel 2010 Topps Pro Debut Futures Game Jersey FGR-SP #124/199

Matt Price 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 180 Aspirations Die-Cut (034/200)

Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Silver Autograph A-AR (X3)
Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Silver Autograph A-AR2 (X2)
Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Country of Origins Silver Version COO-AR

Anthony Ranaudo 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Game-Used Jersey Patch PJ-03
Anthony Ranaudo 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball America All-Star SP 229
Anthony Ranaudo 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Green Tint 34 #185/620
Anthony Ranaudo 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Black Border #50/62

Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 008/200
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 031/200
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 047/200

Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 118/200
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 125/200

Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 056/100
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Red Status Die-Cut 064/100
Anthony Ranaudo 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Green Status Die-Cut 10/25
Josh Reddick 2009 SP Authentic Bronze SP #38/59

Blake Swihart 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Jersey USAR-18 (X3)
Blake Swihart 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Double-Jersey Refractor USAR-18 #150/199
Blake Swihart 2010 Bowman Sterling Team USA Triple-Jersey Gold Refractor #33/50
Blake Swigart 2011 Bowman Sterling Autograph

Kolbrin Vitek 2010-11 In The Game Heroes and Prospects Game-Used Jersey PJ-08
Jose Vinicio 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Aspirations Die-Cut 68 #191/200
Ryan Westmoreland 2008 Razor Exclusive Signature ES-39Ryan Westmoreland 2008 Razor Authentic Signature 151 #0614/1199
Ryan Westmoreland 2008 Razor Authentic Signature 151 #0728/1199
Ryan Westmoreland 2009 TriSTAR OBAK Mini
Alex Wilson 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Gold Autograph 91 #011/111
Alex Wilson 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Blue Autograph 91 #41/50
Alex Wilson 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Turn of the Century Autograph 14 #698/710
Brandon Workman 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Autograph 14 #372/450
Brandon Workman 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition 14 Aspirations Die-Cut #148/200
Madison Younginer 2011 TriSTAR Pursuit Blue Autograph 92 #04/50
Madison Younginer 2010 TriSTAR OBAK Autograph A46 #41/75

The GM is Gone, Long Live the GM

2011-10-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

In the MLB.com article "Epstein reportedly has deal with Cubs," Ian Browne reports:

"When Epstein came to the Red Sox, he proclaimed that the franchise would turn into a scouting and player-development machine.

He backed that up, as Boston produced homegrown stars like Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester over the past decade."

And he also produced Hanley Ramirez for Florida, Justin Masterson for Cleveland, Anthony Rizzo for san Diego, Casey Kelly for San Diego, and David Murphy for Texas, among others.

Although many national publications fail to recognize it, the Boston Red Sox currently have one of the deepest and most talented farm systems in all of Major League Baseball. And, now that Theo is in Chicago, there is some hope that most of those future stars can become Future Fenway Stars, and not future trade chips.

Theo is gone. Farewell.

One More Addition to My 2009 Topps Justin Masterson Rainbow Thanks to a Trade

2011-10-12T05:01:00.001-07:00

While in the hospital after having my appendix removed, I received an email from Kyle, who had read my blog and seen that I am a Justin Masterson SuperCollector. Kyle informed me that he had a 2009 Topps Chrome Justin Masterson Red Refractor numbered 08/25 and asked if I would be interested in working out a trade for the card. I certainly was.

After a few emails back and forth, when he informed me that he collected Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, and Kansas City Royals, I made my offer. In exchange for the Justin Masterson Red Refractor Card, I offered:

Ryan Braun 2008 Topps Allen and Ginter boxtopper N43-RB
Albert Pujols 2002 Topps T-206 200 Polar Bear SP Mini (holding bat)
Albert Pujols 2006 Topps Allen and Ginter The Dick Perez Collection 26
Albert Pujols 2009 O-Pee-Chee Retro Blue Border RM29
Danny Duffy 2008 Bowman BP25
Mike Moustakas Bowmans Best BBP7
Eric Hosmer 2008 TriSTAR Prospects Plus 3

And Kyle accepted.

Yesterday the Masterson card arrived, along with a stack of other Red Sox cards including a number of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Jonathan Papelbon cards that I did not have.

Unfortunately, I have not been given permission by my doctor to begin driving after my surgery, and thus have not mailed Kyle his cards yet. However, I have my follow-up appointment around noon today and will be able to stop at the Post Office on the way back and make this trade complete.

In a somewhat related note: I also have the Black Printing Plate for the 2009 Topps Series 2 Justin Masterson card; one of my two Justin Masterson Printing Plates along with a 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter's Mini Printing Plate.

PS: If you have a 2009 Topps Chrome Justin Masterson Gold Refractor, I want it.

Not All Bargain Boxes Are Created Equal: 2011 Bowman Futures Game Triple Jersey Jeurys Familia

2011-10-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

What is this? A 2011 Bowman Futures Game Triple Jersey Jeurys Familia card. The card is FGTR-JF and serial numbered 27 of 99.
Where and When did I get it? I got this card at the 2011 Columbus Day card show at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield, MA.
How much did it cost? I basically stole this card for $1.00.

Why is this such a great bargain? Jeurys Familia is one of the New York Mets top pitching prospects and went a combined 5-5 in 23 starts with a 2.90 ERA with the St. Lucie Mets (Class A Advanced) and Binghampton Mets (Double-A) in 2011.

As a matter of fact, this was the first card that I saw upon walking through the doors into the main room of the card show. I saw the distinctive design of the 2011 Bowman Futures Game Triple Jersey card and, upon seeing that it was in a dollar bargain box, decided to buy it before I even looked to see whose card it was. When I quickly went to the box and grabbed the card, I was doubly happy to see that it was Jeurys Familia.

My hope is that I can get Jeurys to sign this card for me next year if he is playing with the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bison, when they open up the 2012 season against the Pawtucket Red Sox in early April. I will report back with my results when the time comes.

More Mini Cards for Trade

2011-10-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

I've picked up a bunch of short-print back mini cards at the last few card shows that I attended, and was wondering if anyone was interested in them. Leave a comment or send me an email if you see one that interests you and we can work something out.

Jeremy Giambi 2002 Topps T-206 Cycle Brand Mini
Mark Reynolds 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Red Gypsy Back Mini
Dustin McGowan 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter's A&G Back Mini
Ryan Ludwick 2010 Topps T-206 Baseball Caramels Mini
Manny Ramirez 2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's A&G Back Mini

Ryan Dempster 2010 Topps T-206 Polar Bear Back Mini
Scott Sizemore 2010 Topps T-206 Piedmont Back Mini Rookie Card
Travis Hafner 2010 Topps T-206 Baseball Caramels Back Mini
Mark Buehrle 2010 Topps T-206 Old Mill Back Mini
Raul Ibanez 2010 Topps T-206 Baseball Caramels Back Mini

New Cards For Trade: Short-Print City

2011-10-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have picked up/rescued these cards bargain boxes over the course of the last few card shows that I have attended and think that they could all be awesome additions to the right collection.

Carlos Lee 2007 Topps Allen & Ginter's Rip Card (Ripped) #'d 92/99
Johan Santana 2005 Bowman's Best Refractor #'d 16/99
Matthew Kemp/Heath Totten 2005 Topps Total 744 LAD22
Frank Thomas 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones 3 #'d 120/150
Pedro Martinez 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones 141 #'d 110/150
Pedro Martinez 2008 Topps Moments & Milestones 141 #'d 141/150
Jose Bautista 2011 Topps Opening Day Blue Border 103 #'d 0353/2011
Todd Helton 2007 Topps Moments & Milestones 148 Black #'d 01/29
Jennie Finch 2008 Donruss Americana Sports Legends 123

If you are interested in any of these cards, leave a comment or email me and we can work out a deal. I would love for some of these cards to find their way to a super collection.

Prospect or Suspect: 2011 Season in Review #6

2011-10-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard of Jeremy Hazelbaker yet, don't feel bad, neither have most Red Sox fans. But, if you take just one look at Hazelbaker and his performance over the past three seasons, you might scratch your head and ask why Hazelbaker hasn't been getting more attention.

Drafted in the Fourth-round of the 2009 Draft out of Ball State, where he played with 2010 Red Sox top pick Kolbrin Vitek, Hazelbaker quickly signed, made his debut with Lowell, and went on to be named the 2009 Red Sox Fall Instructional League Top Player. In 2010, playing for the Greenville Drive, Hazelbaker stole 63 bases and batted .267, with 29 doubles and 9 triples. It didn't matter; no matter what he did, he was still too skinny to make most opinion makers notice.

Then, this happened:

Jeremy hit the weight room and began to transform himself into the physical product that turns scouts' eyes. And, more importantly, he continued to be productive against higher-levels of competition.

Beginning the season with High-A Salem, Hazelbaker had a .279/.389/.864 (BA/OBP/OPS) line, swiping 12 bases and hitting 5 homers in 34 games before earning a promotion to Double-A Portland. There, playing against truly advanced competition, Hazelbaker more than held his own, posting a line of .266/.350/.785 with 35 stolen bases and 12 homeruns.

If Hazelbaker continues to perform that well against top competition, it will only be a matter of time before more scouts and prospect watchers take notice. A centerfielder with speed who can hit and has some pop, Hazelbaker ought to be a prospect to watch.

Prospect or Suspect: 2011 Season in Review #5

2011-10-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

Stolmy Pimentel is a textbook example for all budding prospectors that not all that glitters is gold, at least not for sure. Pimentel had as impressive of a start to his professional career as could be imagined: 2007 Dominican Summer League All-Star and Red Sox Minor League Latin Program Pitcher of the Year; 2008 New York-Penn League All-Star; 2010 Futures Game All-Star.

Throughout that early part of his career, Pimentel was praised for his outstanding changeup, mound presence, and ability to outplay age-advanced competition. To most observers, Pimentel appeared destined to be the next great pitcher to graduate from the Red Sox Minor League system that had recently produced Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Jonathan Papelbon, and Daniel Bard.

Unfortunately, a not-so-funny thing happened on the way to Fenway greatness: Pimentel had a disastrous 2011 campaign. While he had had isolated moments of inconsistency in the past, 2011 was an uninterrupted disaster. Beginning the year with Double-A Portland, Pimentel went 0-9 with a 9.12 ERA in 15 starts, striking out 30 while walking 23 for a career worst 1.3 K/BB ratio. Unable to turn things around, Pimentel was demoted to High-A Salem, where he continued to struggle before eventually finding some success and ended the year 6-4 with a 4.53 ERA and a 2.19 K/BB ratio.

Where does that leave Stolmy going forward? That’s anyone’s guess.

Still enormously talented, Pimentel’s elite ability is unquestioned, even while his consistency and ability to reach his potential are an open question. But, with only two options remaining, it might be sink-or-swim time for Pimentel, who is likely to return to Portland to begin 2012 with the hope that he regains the consistency that allowed him to be a rising star and leaves behind the struggles that have held him back thus far.

Prospect or Suspect: 2011 Season in Review #4

2011-10-07T09:44:00.001-07:00

Entering the 2011 season, Christian Vazquez was thought of as an organization filler, under-sized (5'9") and unable to prove that he was deserving of a permanent starting role. Following the 2011 season, Vazquez is a prospect on the rise.

Drafted in the nineth-round of the 2008 draft out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Vazquez spent his first three professional seasons in relative obscurity. Presented with his first opportunity to catch full-time for the Greenville Drive, Vazquez took advantage of his chance and posted career bests in games (105), average (.283), slugging (.505), OPS (.863), doubles (27), homeruns (18), and RBIs (84).

In addition, Vazquez drew praise for his work behind the dish, earning the recognition as the 2011 Red Sox Minor League Defensive Player of the Year.

All of that should be enough to give Vazquez the opportunity to handle the bulk of catching duties for the 2012 Salem Red Sox of the High-A Carolina League. Playing against more advanced competition in 2012 should provide Vazquez the opportunity to test whether or not he is truly a prospect on the rise or if 2011 was just a flash in the pan from a player who was better than his Low-A competition.

Only time will tell.

My Sean Coyle and Garin Cecchini Jersey Patch Autographs

2011-10-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

Since the Red Sox drafted Garin Cecchini and Sean Coyle in 2010, I have been actively collecting as many of their cards as I can (afford to) get my hands on. Some of my favorite cards from that collection are their 2010 Upper Deck Team USA Jersey Patch Autograph Cards, numbered to 99.

While I certainly enjoy the Coyle patches, the Red, White, and Blue Triple-Colored Cecchini patches are out of this world. I especially love the card numbered 14/99 with the prominant Red stripe in the middle and the Blue on the side.

For my money, there is nothing cooler than a patch card of a player that you collect. While game-used jersey cards are cool, the multi-colored patches take it to another level.

What do you think about the cards?

Prospect or Suspect: 2011 Season in Review #3

2011-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

In a 2010 Red Sox draft class that included star collegiate pitchers Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman, Chris Hernandez was an afterthought; however, it was Hernandez who found the most success in his first full season of professional baseball.

A left-handed pitcher with above-average control, Hernandez was the ace of the University of Miami’s staff for three years and a member of the Team USA Collegiate team. With a mid-¾ arm slot and a penchant for getting batters to ground out, he reminds me of Justin Masterson.

His advanced feel for pitching earned him an advancement placement with Salem of the High-A Carolina League, where he earned All-Star honors while holding batters to a .241 BAA, posting a 3.18 ERA and an 80/51 K/BB ratio.

Despite that success, Hernandez has still not received much kudos from the prospect community. Hernandez has been almost completely ignored by national publications and is ranked as Sox Prospect’s #46 prospect. If you’re looking for a sleeper in the Red Sox farm system, you need not look any further than Hernandez.

Prospect or Suspect: 2011 Season in Review #2

2011-10-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

Quick: Other than Casey Kelly, who was the only high schooler from the 2008 Draft Class to begin the 2009 season with Greenville? If your answer was Pete Hissey, you’re correct.

Unfortunately, after that fast start, Hissey, whose quick feet make him a skilled center fielder, has stalled out with High-A Salem. After batting .234 with 127 strikeouts during his first season in the Carolina League in 2010, Hissey showed little improvement during his second go-around: batting .241 with 93 strikeouts.

A fourth-round pick who was given a $1 million signing bonus in 2008, Hissey has now become an afterthought and will have to show significant improvements if he wants to hold onto his starting spot in Salem, to say nothing of earning a promotion to Portland. Perhaps more than any other prospective prospect in the Red Sox system, 2012 might be a “make-it-or-break-it” season for Hissey. For now, he looks much more suspect than prospect.

Two Triple-A Free Agents to Consider for 2012

2011-10-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

On October 21, twenty-two Triple-A players elected free agency. Of those twenty-two, I believe that two would be fabulous additions to the 2012 Boston Red Sox: pitchers Armando Galarraga and Pat Neshek.

Given the Red Sox pitching struggles down the stretch, and the supposed reluctance of Red Sox ownership to spend big on pitching after being burned by budget-busting free agents John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Armando Galarraga could offer inexpensive starting pitching depth. While he struggled at times in 2011, nobody can forget his brush with perfection in 2010. A starter with experience pitching in the American League, Galarraga could, if necessary, begin the season with Pawtucket, continue to work out the kinks, and be prepared to join the Red Sox rotation when he is needed/ready.

Pat Neshek has had a good deal of success pitching in the American League as a member of the Minnesota Twins bullpen before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, Neshek has had a tough time recapturing that success since coming back. But, Neshek could be a good bullpen insurance option for the Red Sox and, given the number of pitchers that have had a chance with the Sox in recent years, the Red Sox could be a good opportunity for Neshek to re-establish himself as a solid Major League reliever.

Your thoughts?

My Daniel Bard 2009 Topps Heritage Ad Panel Collection

2011-10-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

For player collectors, the same-old, same-old process of trying to acquire every version of a Topps T-206 Mini or color of Bowman Chrome can get dull. Thus, it is exciting when card companies introduce a new design element that can give a player collection a new and unique dimension.

Topps does just that with its inclusion of vintage-looking Ad Panels in each box of Topps Heritage. I have been fortunate enough to acquire all three versions of Ad Panels featuring Daniel Bard's rookie card from 2009 Topps Heritage High Numbers and I consider them some of my favorite pieces of my Daniel Bard collection.

I'm curious to hear what other player collectors think about Ad Panels or other unique designs that make collecting a little more fun.

Prospect or Suspect: 2011 Season in Review #1

2011-09-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

With the 2011 Minor League season now in the record books, it is time to look back and see how some of the most interesting talents in the Red Sox system fared and look at whether they are real prospects, or still suspect.

The first three in an installment of who knows how many:

Miles Head- Miles may have had the best season of any player in the Red Sox farm system when it comes to jumping up top prospects lists. While he had a respectable first professional season in 2010 as a member of the Lowell Spinners, it was his power surge at the plate in 2011 that has opened the eyes of fans and scouts alike.

Playing for both the Greenville Drive and Salem Red Sox, Head hit a combined .299 with a .877 OPS and 37 homeruns as a 20 year-old. While he may open the 2012 season with Salem, an early-season call-up to Portland is not out of the question and Head could quickly become the next Top Prospect on the fast track to Fenway.

David Renfroe- Few prospects enter the Red Sox organization with more fanfare or higher expectations than Renfroe when he was drafted by Boston in the third round of the 2009 draft and agreed to a $1.4 million deal rather than pursue a football scholarship at Ole Miss. Nor have many prospects fallen as hard as Renfroe did in his first professional season in 2010 as a member of the Lowell Spinners when he could only manage to hit a paltry .190 with 2 homeruns in 58 games.

Despite those struggles, Renfroe was promoted to Greenville to begin 2011 and had a much improved, if still not stellar, second professional season. Playing in 107 games as a member of the Drive, Renfroe batted .240 with eight homeruns. While his improvement offers some hope that Renfroe will someday reach the lofty expectations that many placed on him when he was drafted, at the moment he is still below Will Middlebrooks and Kolbrin Vitek on the organizational ladder and may have to show more if he wants to avoid being passed by Garin Cecchini.

Kolbrin Vitek- Since the moment he was drafted, the critics have said that Vitek was not worthy of the first round pick that Boston used on him, and that with below-average power and no clear defensive position, Vitek projected as a utility player with little upside.

In his first full professional season, Vitek hit .281 with a .350 on base percentage, but continued to struggle to generate much power as a member of the High-A Salem Red Sox. Of his 133 hits, only 31 were extra-base hits and he still struggled at times at Third Base.

As he looks to begin his third season in the system in 2012, Vitek will have to prove that he can handle himself at Third and show improved power if he is going to continue on the prospect path and prove the critics wrong.

Cards for Trade: Topps T-206 Mini Shortprints

2011-09-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

These ares are now, always have been, and always will be the best. And they can be yours if you're interested in a trade.

Albert Pujols 2002 Topps T-206 200C Polar Bear Mini SP (traded away)
Chipper Jones 2009 Topps T-206 139 Polar Bear Mini SP
Frank Thomas 2002 Topps T-206 33 Polar Bear Mini SP
Mark Prior 2003 Topps T-206 350 Polar Bear Mini SP
Jorge Posada 2009 Topps T-206 184 Polar Bear Mini SP

Prospect Cards: Henry Owens

2011-09-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

If highly projectable lefties with live arms are your thing, you could certainly do worse than Henry Owens. Boston's third pick in the 2011 First-Round, Owens stands at 6 feet, 7 inches and already boasts a solid fastball and has the potential for four above-average pitchers.

Although he is considered the rawest of Boston's top picks, Owens, a product of Edison High School in California, has already drawn comparisons to Madison Bumgarner.

Here are his cards...

2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Blue Refractor # to 150
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Gold Refractor # to 50
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Orange Refractor # to 25
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Autograph
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Autograph Refractor # to 199
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Autograph Blue Refractor # to 99
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Autograph Gold Refractor # to 50
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-12 Autograph Orange Refractor # to 25
2010 Bowman Chrome USA Dual Autograph (w/Phillip Pfiefer) # to 500
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Jersey
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Double Jersey Refractor # to 199
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Triple Jersey Gold Refractor # to 50
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Autograph Black Refractor # to 25
2010 Bowman Sterling USA Dual Autograph (w/Phillip Pfiefer III)
2010 Topps USA USA-12
2010 Topps USA Triple-Jersey
2010 Topps USA Triple-Jersey Autograph # to 219
2010 Topps USA Autograph
2010 Topps USA Red Autograph # to 99
2010 Topps USA Green Autograph # to 25

Cards for Trade

2011-09-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Roy Halladay 1999 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion Edition 216G (BV $1)
Stephen Jackson 2004 Upper Deck Diamond Collection Freshman Class 98 (BV $4)
Freddy Sanchez 2008 Topps Moments and Milestones 108(#19/25) (BV $1.50)
Pedro Martinez 1998 Bowman Chrome International Edition (BV $1.50)
Manny Ramirez 1998 Bowman Chrome International Edition (BV $1.50)
Justin Verlander 2007 UD Spectrum Rookie Retrospectrum RR-JV (BV $2.50)
Steven Jackson 2009 Playoff Prestige Prestigious Pros (0254/1000) (BV $2.50)
Sammy Sosa 2003 Fleer Splendid Splinters SS 5 (BV $5)
Ken Griffey, Jr. 1992 Stadium Club Members Only (BV $3)

Shoot me an email or leave me a message if you're interested in any of them for trade. I just included the book value for reference, I am not concerned about dollar-for-dollar trading.

Prospect Cards: Blake Swihart

2011-08-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Blake Swihart was drafted with the twenty-sixth overall pick in the first-round of the 2011 draft and agreed to a $2.5 million signing bonus minutes before the deadline on August 15, 2011. If he makes a successful transition to professional baseball, Swihart could quickly become the best position player prospect that the Red Sox have had since Nomar Garciaparra or Hanley Ramirez.

A switch-hitter with an elite bat and athleticism, Swihart is projected to play Catcher, but has the potential to play a corner infield or outfield position.

Just how good is his bat? So good that he led the 2010 Team USA 18U National Team (a squad that included Bubba Starling and Francisco Lindor) in both batting average and homeruns.

Here are his cards...

2010 Bowman AFLAC Autograph
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Blue Refractor # to 150
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Gold Refractor # to 50
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Orange Refractor # to 25
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Autograph
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Autograph Refractor # to 199
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Autograph Blue Refractor # to 99
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Autograph Gold Refractor # to 50
2010 Bowman Chrome USA-18 Autograph Orange Refractor # to 25
2010 Bowman Chrome USA Dual Autograph (w/Elvin Soto) # to 500
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Jersey
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Double Jersey Refractor # to 199
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Triple Jersey Gold Refractor # to 50
2010 Bowman Sterling Game-Used Autograph Black Refractor # to 25
2010 Bowman Sterling USA Dual Autograph (w/Daniel Camarena)
2010 Topps USA USA-18
2010 Topps USA Triple-Jersey
2010 Topps USA Triple-Jersey Autograph # to 219
2010 Topps USA Autograph
2010 Topps USA Red Autograph # to 99
2010 Topps USA Green Autograph # to 25
2011 Bowman Team USA Replica Hat Patch # to 25

Not All Bargain Boxes Are Created Equal: 2005 Topps Chronicles Pope John Paul II

2011-08-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Who is this? Pope John Paul II, born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Poland.

What is this? Two 2005 Topps Chronicles Pope John Paul II cards, numbered TC14.
Where and When did I get it? I got this card last winter at a card show at the Mansfield Holiday Inn in Mansfield, MA.
How much did it cost? I think I paid 10 or 15 cents each.

Why is this such a great bargain? Pope John Paul II was the spiritual leader of millions of Catholics for more than 26 years and is well on his way to Sainthood. In addition to being a religious leader, Pope John Paul II was also one of the most important world leaders to fight against the evil of the Soviet Union and communism, working to free his native Poland from the Iron Curtain.

When all is said and done, Pope John Paul II may be considered one of the greatest leaders for freedom, truth, and dignity in the twentieth-century and is sure to be an inspiration for people of all faiths for generations to come.

In addition to the importance of Pope John Paul II, the card is beautiful and captures the essence of JPII's spirit with a great picture and a simple design.

My Daniel Bard Printing Plate Collection

2011-08-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

I know that collectors have different opinions on printing plates, some thinking that they are one of the coolest things to happen to cards in decades while other think that they are pieces of scrap metal that do not belong in a cardboard hobby, but for player collectors like me, printing plates hold a special place in a collection.

I consider myself lucky for having been able to acquire these four Daniel Bard printing plates over the past year and a half or so. Going clockwise, these are the 2009 Bowman Sterling Magenta Printing Plate, the 2009 Topps T-206 Mini Black Printing Plate, the 2011 Topps Magenta Printing Plate, and the 2009 Topps T-206 Yellow Printing Plate.

While I have seen many printing plates fetch enormous prices, I have been fortunate enough to buy all of these cards for less than $20 each.

My question to other player collectors: What place do printing plates have in your collection? Do you have a printing plate of your favorite player? How much are you willing to spend to get a printing plate of your favorite player?

I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

My Josh Hamilton Rookie Collection

2011-08-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

1999 Just 93
1999 Just Memorabilia JTF05
1999 Topps Traded T66
2000 Bowman 328
2000 South Atlantic League Top Prospect 15
2000 SP Prospects Destination The Show S4
2000 Team Best 147
2000 Topps (w/ C. Chen, C. Patterson) 362
2000 Topps Finest 81
2000 Topps Opening Day (w/ Corey Myers) 104
2000 Topps Gold Label Class 3 82
2000 Topps Tek 38-14
2000 Topps Traded T172
2001 Stadium Club 183
2001 Topps Gold Label 49
2001 Upper Deck Minor League Baseball 19
2002 Fleer Tradition 448
2007 Topps Heritage 78
2007 Topps '52 85
2007 Topps Turkey Red 55

Two-Sport Stars: Drew Henson

2011-08-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

Who is this? Drew Henson.
What sports did he play? Football and Baseball.
What teams did he play for?
Henson was one of the most prized and sought after baseball and football prospects in the nation as a high schooler. The 1998 Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year and one of the best Quarterback recruits in the country, Henson decided to play football and the University of Michigan while playing professional baseball.

Henson spent most of his six seasons of professional baseball in the Yankees Minor League system. Henson was drafted in the third round of the MLB draft by the Bronx Bombers and agreed to a $2 million signing bonus, at the time the most money the Yankees had ever given to a draft pick. He made his professional baseball debut at the age of 18 in 1998 with the Yankee’s rookie-level team in the GCL.

After making his baseball debut, Henson reported to Ann Arbor where he was the highly-touted backup to junior Quarterback Tom Brady, an uninspiring placeholder between the graduated star Brian Griese and the freshman pheonom Henson. Although a backup, Henson played in seven games, including Michigan’s Citrus Bowl win over Arkansas. Many expected Henson to return in the fall for his sophomore year and win the starting job from the senior, Brady.

His first year of college football behind him, Henson made his full-season debut the next season as a member of the Yankees’ High-A affiliate, the Tampa Yankees. Henson performed so well during his second year of professional baseball that he was rated the 24th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America after the season.

While things were looking up for Henson in baseball, he was unable to beat-out Tom Brady for the starting job and the two Quarterbacks ended up beginning the season as “co-starters” until Brady won the primary role by outperforming Henson. Nonetheless, Henson still managed to nearly double his playing time from his freshman to his sophomore season and, with Brady graduating, was the unquestioned starter entering the 2000 season.

Henson began the 2000 baseball season with tremendous expectations and earned a promotion to the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate in Norwich. While he was performing well on the diamond and getting closer to his goal of earning his pinstripes, the business of baseball took over and Henson was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in a deal for Denny Neagle. Interestingly, after playing in only 16 games for Cincinnati’s Double-A Chattanooga team in 2000, Henson was traded back to the Yankees prior to the 2001 season.

Now the unquestioned starter in Ann Arbor, Henson led the Wolverines to a share of the Big Ten Title and a 38-26 win over Ohio State in the season finale. In his last collegiate game, Henson guided the Wolverines to a 31-28 win over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl.

In a strange twist of circumstances, just months after leading Michigan to victory over Ohio State, Henson found himself playing for the Yankees’ AAA affiliate the Columbus Clippers, the home of the Buckeyes, and the Wolverine Quarterback was often booed by Columbus fans at homegames. Nevertheless, Henson demonstrated enough ability to be ranked as the #9 overall prospect in the minors by Baseball America prior to the 2002 season and he looked well on his way to reaching his potential as a superstar.

Although he only played in the Minor Leagues until he was 23 years-old, Henson managed to play in over 500 games with over 200 plate appearances, 460 hits, 111 doubles, 67 homeruns, 274 RBIs, and a career .248 batting average.

Henson made his Major League debut with the New York Yankees in 2002. In total, Henson played in 8 Major League games during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, going 1-for-9 and scoring three runs. Henson’s last Major League game was on September 28, 2003.

Although he was still pursuing his baseball career as a member of the Yankees organization and had not expressed any interest in returning to football, Henson was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth-round, 192-overall, in the 2003 NFL draft. That choice ended up foreshadowing Henson’s decision the next year to retire from baseball and try his luck under center.

Unfortunately, Henson’s football career was no more inspiring than his Major League baseball career, playing in a total of just nine games, starting once, seven with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004 and two with the Detroit Lions in 2008. Overall, Henson completed 11 passes in 20 attempts for 98 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

New CFFS Top 40 Prospect List

2011-08-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

With the recent departure of a number of prospects in trade deadline deals and the signings of 2011 draft picks, here is the newest Cards of Future Fenway Stars Top 40 Prospects List.

The list features Will Middlebrooks now at the top perch, claiming the title from Anthony Ranaudo. In addition, Matt Barnes makes his debut as the #3 prospect and fellow 2011 first round picks Blake Swihart (#10), Jackie Bradley, Jr. (#19), Henry Owens(#24) also making their first appearances on the list.

Some notable moves. Oscar Tejada, who has had a mediocre season with Double-A Portland, moved from #5 down to #13, while Xander Bogaerts, who has been impressive with Greenville in his first season playing in the United States, jumping into the Top 10.

Let me know what you think.

1. Will Middlebrooks (Third Base, AA Portland)
2. Anthony Ranaudo (Starting Pitcher, High A Salem)
3. Matt Barnes (Starting Pitcher, 2011 Draft Pick)
4. Jose Iglesias (Shortstop, AAA Pawtucket)
5. Xander Bogaerts (Shortstop, 18 years-old, A Greenville)
6. Sean Coyle (Second Base, A Greenville)
7. Miles Head (First Base, A Greenville)
8. Kyle Weiland (Pitcher, AAA Pawtucket)
9. Brandon Jacobs (Outfielder, A Greenville)
10. Blake Swihart (Catcher, 2011 Draft Pick)
11. Garin Cecchini (Third Base, SS Lowell)
12. Kolbrin Vitek (Third Base, A+ Salem)
13. Oscar Tejada (Second Base, AA Portland)
14. Felix Doubront (Pitcher, AAA Pawtucket)
15. Bryce Brentz (Outfield, A+ Salem)
16. Drake Britton (Starting Pitcher, A+ Salem)
17. Lars Anderson (First Base, AAA Pawtucket)
18. Alex Wilson (Pitcher, AA Portland)
19. Jackie Bradley, Jr. (Center Field, 2011 Draft Pick)
20. Chris Hernandez (Pitcher, A+ Salem)
21. Ryan Lavarnway (Catcher, AAA Pawtucket)
22. Stolmy Pimentel (Pitcher, AA Portland)
23. Brandon Workman (Pitcher, A Greenville)
24. Henry Owens (LHP, 2011 Draft Pick)
25. Jeremy Hazelbaker (Outfielder, AA Portland)
26. Williams Jerez (Outfield, 2011 Draft Pick, GCL Red Sox)
27. Chris Balcolm-Miller (Pitcher, AA Portland)
28. Che-Hsuan Lin (Outfield, AAA Pawtucket)
29. Madison Younginer (Pitcher, A Greenville)
30. Alex Hassan (Outfield, AA Portland)
31. Henry Ramos (Outfield, A Greenville)
32. David Renfroe (Third Base, A Greenville)
33. Jose Vinicio (Shortstop, 17 year-old, GCL Red Sox)
34. Noe Ramirez (Pitcher, 2011 Draft Pick)
35. Dan Butler (Catcher, A+ Salem)
36. Jordan Weems (Catcher, 2011 Draft Pick)
37. Ryan Dent (Infield, AA Portland)
38. Adalberto Ibarra (Catcher, A+ Salem)
39. Ryan Pressly (Pitcher, A+ Salem)
40. Kendrick Perkins (Outfielder, GCL Red Sox)

Two-Sport Stars: Sammy Baugh

2011-08-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

With the recent enshrinement of Deion Sanders into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the high-profile decision of Bubba Starling to sign with the Royals rather than play Quarterback at Nebraska, I thought that it would be fun to look at some of the better known, and lesser known, athletes who found success in multiple sports at the collegiate and professional levels.

Who is this? Sammy Baugh.
What sports did he play? Football and Baseball.
What teams did he play for? Baugh was a two-time football All-American at Texas Christian University before going on to play Quarterback for the Washington Red Skins from 1937 until 1952. Baugh was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's charter class in 1963.

In addition to his success on the Gridiron, Baugh was also a star third baseman at Texas Christian. In fact, it was Baugh's play on the diamond that earned him the nickname "Slingin' Sammy." After college, Baugh signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and played for the Minor League Columbus Red Birds and a team in Rochester, NY before he decided to focus his full-attention on football.

Football Cards for Trade

2011-08-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Josh Freeman 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition (344/999)(BV $15.00)
Mark Sanchez/Rey Maualuga 2010 Press Pass Teammates Gold (054/100)
Peyton Manning 2005 Playoff Honors Game Day (226/250)
Matt Schaub 2004 Press Pass Reflective (049/500)
Matt Schaub 2004 Score Scorecard (314/625)
Derrick Johnson 2005 Bowman (164/200) (BV $4.00)
Brandon Jacobs 2005 Donruss Elite Extra Edition (026/499)
Chad Greenway 2006 Press Pass Reflective (162/500)
Dantrell Savage 2008 Bowman Signs of the Future Autograph (BV $12.00)

If you're interested in any of the cards, leave a comment or send me a message and we can work out a trade.

Please note, the line across the Manning card is from the scanner, not the card.

Not All Bargain Boxes Are Created Equal: 2010 Topps Update Steve Carlton US-45 SP

2011-08-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Who is this? Hall of Fame Pitcher Steve Carlton in his Philadelphia Phillies uniform.
What is this? A 2010 Topps Update Steve Cartlon short-print.
Where and When did I get it? I got this at the card show at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield, MA on August 14, 2011.
How much did it cost? I bought this card for five cents.

Why is this such a great bargain? Sometimes a bargain is obvious to all card collectors; sometimes a bargain is only apparent to those who do their homework. This 2011 Topps Update Steve Carlton card fits into the latter category. Given how often Topps inserts Hall of Famers and legendary players into their base sets, I am certain that the dealer and most collectors simply flipped by this Steve Carlton card, thinking that it was just another overproduced card of a great player.

I, however, having bought 2010 Topps Series 1, Series 2, and Update sets, knew that I had never seen the card before and that Topps had produced short-printed versions of cards featuring legendary players with the same number as other cards in the set. (The base US-45 card is a David Price All-Star card.) Guessing that this Carlton card must be one of those shortprints, I added it to my pile of junk-box gold and looked forward to seeing what it was worth when I got home.

To my suprise and satisfaction, when I looked up what the card was selling for on eBay and SportLots, I found that the card that I paid five cents for was selling for anywhere between $10.00 and $15.00 shipped. This purchase is a clear example of the fact that if you do your homework and are willing to invest the time in digging, you are certain to find great cards no matter where you look.

If anyone is interested in the card, please let me know and we can work out a fair trade or sale.

Sox acquire Bedard for Federowicz, Chiang, Fife, and Rodriguez

2011-07-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

A day after trading for Mike Aviles and calling-off a trade for Rich Harden, the Red Sox sent four Minor Leaguers west in exchange for LHP Erik Bedard and AAA RHP Josh Fields. In a three-way deal with the Mariners and Dodgers, the Red Sox sent C Tim Federowicz (CFFS #22 Prospect), RHP Stephen Fife (CFFS #24 Prospect), and RHP Juan Rodriguez to the Dodgers, the Mariners received Dodgers' OF prospect Trayvon Robinson and Chih-Hsien Chiang (CFFS #36 Prospect), and the Red Sox got Erik Bedard and RHP Josh Fields.

Bedard had been considered a likely trade target for the Red Sox since it was clear that he would be on the market a few weeks ago. This move became more likely after the Red Sox cancelled a deal yesterday evening that would have sent 1B Lars Anderson to Oakland for Rich Harden, citing Harden's health issues. While Bedard has not had the injury history of Harden, he has missed significant time in recent years due to injuries.

While the Red Sox did part with some mid-level prospects in order to get Bedard, they managed to avoid losing any top prospects (like 3B Will Middlebrooks or RHP Anthony Ranaudo) that had been discussed in other possible trades. In addition, none of the players that the Red Sox included in this trade were on Boston's 40-man roster, meaning that they would have had to been added or would have been eligible for the Rule V draft this winter. This move should make the Red Sox 2011-2012 off-season roster construction much easier.

Federowicz has been known as a plus-defensive catcher since he was drafted out of the University of North Carolina by the Red Sox in 2008. Federowicz had shown improvement at the plate with the Sea Dogs this season and at worse should eventually be a solid Major League backup.

Fife is a solid pitching prospect who was drafted out of Utah in 2008. Fife has drawn some comparisons to Justin Masterson and projects to be a Major League bullpen arm, but has performed well as a starter during his Minor League career. Of Federowicz, Fife, and Chiang, Fife was considered the least likely to be added to the Red Sox 40-man roster this off-season, but one of the most likely prospects to stick on another team's 25-man roster next season.

Chih-Hsien Chiang is perhaps the most interesting prospect to be moved in this trade. Signed as an International Free Agent from Taiwan, Chiang had struggled at the plate and in the field during his first few seasons, but had really turned a corner with AA Portland this season. Many point to Chiang's work with a Chinese-speaking nutritionist to control his diabetes as a crucial step in reaching his potential. While he still lacks a clear defensive position, Chiang has the bat to make him a possible part of Seattle's youth-driven turnaround.

While I am not happy to see the Red Sox part with three interesting prospects, the Sox did manage to snag a decent fourth starter who should be able to help them down the stretch without losing any top prospects. So long as Erik Bedard does not become the next Eric Gagne in Fenway, Boston fans should not be too bitter about parting ways with Federowicz, Fife, and Chiang.