2011 Rookie Class

While spying around the internet/stalking baseball cards, whichever you prefer, I discovered an interesting little tidbit on Topps website. The reason I want to share their post here is because we are dong the 2010 Bowman Chrome case break, and well, there are plenty of other good products on the horizon that we can consider ordering if the "price is right".

The following is somewhat of a "teaser" list, if you will, of some of the included autographs that will be included in future releases from Topps.

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2010 Topps Chrome Autographed Rookie Cards

Jason Heyward

Mike Stanton

Carlos Santana

Starlin Castro

Stephen Strasburg

Brian Matusz

Austin Jackson

Ike Davis

Ivan Nova

2010 Bowman Chrome Autographed Prospect Cards

Aroldis Chapman

Miguel Sano

Adeinis Hechavarria

Kyle Gibson

Shelby Miller

Arodys Vizcaino

Stephen Strasburg

2010 Bowman Draft Picks Autographed Prospect Cards

Jameson Taillion

Zach Lee

Deck McGuire

Delino DeShields JR

Jake Skole

Stephen Strasburg

And more to be announced….

2010 Bowman Sterling Autographed Rookie & Prospect Cards

Aroldis Chapman

Mike Minor

Jason Heyward

Carlos Santana

Domonic Brown

Logan Morrison

Carlos Santana

Jameson Taillion

Zach Lee

Deck McGuire

Delino DeShields JR

Jake Skole

Stephen Strasburg

2010 Bowman Platinum Autographed Rookie & Prospect Cards

Aroldis Chapman
Jesus Montero
Mike Trout
Josh Vitters
Miguel Sano
Jerry Sands
Jason Heyward
Stephen Strasburg
Jose Tabata

It only take one person to ruin the fun

First, I would like to start by saying I do not condone this video. I do not want people following what this guy does. I'm extremely disappointed that people would do this, however, not even a little bit surprised.

In the end, you, sir, are a douche.

Apparently, in the Wal-Mart value boxes, it's easy to find out which of the chrome refractors you will be getting because these cards are loose in the box. And, of course, there are people out there to exploit this fact.

Topps pimping out Strasburg

Several collectors have stumbled upon a Wal-Mart exclusive Stephen Strasburg (ebay auctions) card while card hunting recently. The card is a chrome refractor that Topps has putting retail boxes over the last couple of years.

The cards were found in a Topps value box ($14.98) where you get one 2010 Allen and Ginter pack and six Topps Series 2 packs.

There are three guys found in this mini-set. The other two are Cal Ripken Jr., and Babe Ruth. The cards fall one per box.

Good to know where Strasburg stands in place of baseball history.

Lucky enough to get Strasburg's first RC? ... Get it signed, for a price

Topps released this information this morning on the Stephen Strasburg 2010 Topps RC #661:

On June 8, the day of Rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg’s MLB debut, the Topps Company released a special rookie card exclusively available through code cards found in Topps baseball packs. Today, the company has announced that 300 collectors can have Stephen Strasburg personally autograph their limited edition rookie card!

“We are thrilled to offer baseball fans yet another opportunity to memorialize Stephen’s spectacular MLB debut. This very limited autograph card will be an incredible collectible for years to come”, said Warren Friss, Topps GM. “This is another way we can use our successful online million card giveaway program and get MLB fans even closer to the game”.

In order to purchase this autographed version you must have Stephen's rookie card in your collection at www.toppsmillion.com. Code cards that may unlock the Strasburg rookie card can be found in packs of 2010 Topps Baseball Series 1and 2. Each autographed card will be sequentially numbered and certified. The autograph will cost $350 each. The offer is limited to the first 300 people that have the rookie card and purchase the autograph.

That leads us to believe there will be at least 300 cards of his released on the Topps Million site. That information was actually never given out. However, at last look only 119 of them have been unlocked.

If all 300 cards get signed, that's over $100K in Topps pocket from Strasburg. I don't know what he charges Topps, but I see the exclusive baseball card company making a nice profit.

2010 Topps National Chicle

I took a trip to my favorite card shop today to see what 2010 Topps National Chicle was all about. Upon my arrival I was presented with a pile of singles to flip through, of which I snagged a great many of players I enjoy watching and collecting. I got a Pujols, Posada, Jeter, Kouz (for Sooz), Braun, Gordon, and some other Yankees.

When I first saw the preview for the set online I swore them off and was very turned off by the design. However, in person they are pretty cool looking, in an Allen & Ginter meets Goudey kind of way. The checklist that comes in the box shows you all the artists that have contributed to the set which honestly makes me like it if for no other reason than the fact that Topps actually thought this set out. The other thing that is cool about it are the variations despite the fact that for the set builder could make it tricky (Run DMC music here). For the player collector like myself, I find the variations fun at first but then when I can't find them or can't afford them I end up hating them.

I scanned some of the cards I left with in my haul, along with the Cabinet card that I was given for funsies.

Albert Pujols

Kevin Kouzmanoff

Joe Saunders

Jorge Posada

Babe Ruth

Robinson Cano
Derek Jeter

James Loney Bazooka Back Short Print

Buster Posey SP (National Chicle back)

Cabinet Card Johnny Mize



I like the Short Prints in the set, and I am definitely interested in hunting down the Cano and Lind ones but the Pujols SPs may fall into the impossible category. We'll see.

Overall, I think that with the different artists doing the cards and signing the ones they did so you know was a great idea and it's a nice looking set..... but.... I feel like this is Topps version of Goudey in a sense. While a nice change from the same old sets we see every year, it is kind of the same old set in a sense.

P.S. The bazooka one is the coolest.