Mail Day from Topps....

Yesterday the doorbell rings and I see the mail truck outside. Naturally I am suspicious of this considering the mailbox is outside. I open the door and the mailman tells me that I need to sign for a certified and registered letter. I ask where it is from before signing because who knows what the hell I could be signing for, and he tells me, "Tri-Star Fulfillment". Oh, that's oddly intriguing.

Now I'm thinking there is going to be some sweet ridiculous card inside if they need double signature and delivery confirmation on this envelope.... I even told the mailman, "there better be a Derek Jeter or Albert Pujols autograph in here." He chuckled, kind of in a ha-ha who? kind of laugh but whatever.

I shut the door, tear open the envelope, and......



I see this:



Sigh. eBay or trade bait is all I saw. I actually got good stuff in the mail recently for my PC which I'll show off when I have a chance to scan that stuff. Pretty sweet stuff unlike this junk.

2010 Topps Finest Rookie Redemption

Topps released the final checklist for the 2010 Finest Rookie Redemption program today. Here is the checklist:

1. Jayson Heyward, Atlanta Braves (10% autographed)

2. Ike Davis, NY Mets

3. Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs

4. Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds

5. Mike Stanton, Florida Marlins

6. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

7. Andrew Cashner, Chicago Cubs (autographed)

8. Dayan Viciedo, Chicago White Sox

9. Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies

10. Ryan Kalish, Boston Red Sox

Anyone planning on picking any of these up or already redeem yours? I'm still sitting on my Red Hot Rookie Redemption cards #2 (pulled at the National), and #10 (I hope it's good).

Strasburg Finest redemption #6

So, now that the news is trickling that Stephen Strasburg is Finest redemption #6, I'm sure eBay is going crazy.

Let's take a look together (link).

The Finest gold redemption is quickly escalating in price.

The Strasburg phenomena is becoming very interesting to me. He's drawing in casual and non-collectors to the scene, nevermind the ones who have never left.

The question I have though, are people collecting the cards for future investment (I don't see how you can profit on getting these cards) or do people just want to own the best Strasburg collection out there?

Red Hot Rookie Redemption #2 is .....

Jose Tabata.

I have a real sore spot for this guy that I have talked about a numbers of times. My first attempt at prospecting, mainly because he was a Yankee. He ended up going crazy and the Yankees traded him to Pittsburgh.

Glad to see him doing well and, hopefully, he has his head on his shoulders.

Ouch: Topps redemption #1 NOT Strasburg

Topps announced this morning the first redemption in 2010 Topps Series 2 Red Hot Redemptions. It was the card everyone has been waiting for, the card everyone has been paying a good chunk of money to get.

Drumroll .................................

Cleveland Indians rookie Carlos Santana!

We just wrote about this and the possibility that Stephen Strasburg would end up as rookie redemption #1. Those cards were selling for a good price on eBay just a few days ago.While auctions that are ending in a few hours are still going for good prices, I wonder if the seller learns about this before the auction is over if 1. the seller retracts their bid or 2. ends up just not paying.

I wish I were a bookie so I can start putting odds on the cards on which ones will be Strasburg.

Interesting to note (or not) is that the Finest Rookie Redemptions and the Topps Series 2 redemptions have yet to lap over. Five out of the 10 Finest rookies have been announced and just one for Topps Series 2, but so far we have six rookies and no Strasburg.