Archive for Twins

Another case of a missing Rookie Card Logo

Posted in Misc. with tags , , , , , , , , , on May 17, 2016 by Cardboard Icons

A decade ago, the official “rookie logo” was instilled into the baseball card world following a rule change that no longer allowed card companies to create cards of players who had yet to serve time in the Major Leagues.  Topps’ rules were slightly different as they were grandfathered into the hobby and via various Bowman branded products could produce “prospect” cards. This changed the definition of a “rookie card” for many people as some saw the prospect cards as nothing more than an insert, or pre-rookie card, akin to a minor league issue. The debate over what collectors really want continues to this day.

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But the Rookie Card Logo was also designed to make it easier for collectors, especially novice ones, to easily identify a real rookie card from a player’s second- or third-year card.For the most part Topps, the only company with a Major League Baseball Properties license, has done a good job using the logo when needed.  However, it has been abused in the sense that the logo has basically been slapped on ever rookie player’s non-rookie cards — like subsets, inserts and checklists bearing their photo and name.

But there have been instances where the company seemingly has flat out missed the opportunity to correctly use the Logo.

In 2015, Giants utility man/third baseman, and eventual runner up for National League Rookie of the Year, Matt Duffy was added to the Topps Update Series without a Rookie Card Logo. And to make that worse, they have added the Logo to his 2016 Gypsy Queen card.

It should be noted that Panini has a license to create baseball cards through the Majoe League Players Association and uses a variation of the Rookie Logo on their cards. The 2015 Duffy cards created by Panini in fact have the Panini version of the Rookie Logo.

The reason this comes to mind today is I pulled a 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen Byung-Ho Park rookie card this morning and guess what … it’s missing a logo.Park signed with the Twins in November and to date is his only Major League card.

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Where’s the limit for the 2002 Bowman Chrome Joe Mauer rookie?

Posted in Newspaperman with tags , , , , , , on March 22, 2010 by Cardboard Icons

I’ll admit this, I had not been following the 2002 Bowman Chrome Joe Mauer autographed rookie since I acquired one about two years ago. After getting my copy, I figured the “pressure” was off, so there was no need to continue watching auctions on eBay. And then out of the blue last week I did a quick check and saw that raw copies were selling for nearly $250. That’s a whole lot more than what I paid for mine.

But this morning, a day after the Twins and Joe Mauer reportedly agreed to an eight-year $184 million contract extension, I am left wondering what the limit is for this card. Some will argue that the card would have a greater potential if Mauer moved to a larger market team, such as the Yankees or Red Sox. And I understand that argument. But I feel like Mauer is of a different breed. He’s already proven to be one of the best offensive catchers in the history of the game, and could very well end up being at the top of a list that includes Mike Piazza, Johnny Bench and Ivan Rodriguez. Mauer’s three batting titles and MVP award at the toughest position on the field, all before age 27, are huge accomplishments. Add to this that Mauer is a homegrown talent — he literally was born in Minnesota — and I feel the makings are there for a sustained level of success in terms of cardboard.

So without sounding like I just crowned him as the greatest player ever — I assure you, I do no feel that way — where do you think this card will top out, both long-term and short-term?

What has my mind spinning is that David Wright’s Bowman Chrome rookie from the same year once was SELLING at levels more than $500; and the same with Ryan Howard’s 2003 Bowman’s Best. Maybe the Mauer card is just starting draw the attention that it deserves, or perhaps it’s just peaking now.

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