It’s that time again! With the gift-giving holidays just around the corner, I have put together a “Top 10” list of sports card-related gifts that would be sure to please any collector, even though they might not quite fit in your Christmas stocking:
2003 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks & Prospects Baseball – The most anticipated trading card product of the year! With autographed rookie cards of Delmon Young, Rickie Weeks and Ryan Harvey, this set is as good as it gets. Unopened boxes contain 24 packs consisting of 10 cards each. You are also promised at least one autograph and game-used relic card per box. Expect to shell out anywhere from $65-85 per box and $3-4 per pack.
2003 Upper Deck Legendary Cuts Baseball – Legendary Cuts is the cream of the crop when it comes to autographs. There are 1,000’s of “cut” autographs randomly inserted in packs of this product. Some of the possibilities include Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. WOW! Packs should set you back $10 with boxes pushing $120-125.
2003 Fleer Hot Prospects Football – This is a brand spanking-new football set that is sure to please! Each box that I have opened thus far has been loaded! Look for 3-4 game-used memorabilia and/or autographs per box. Packs retail for $9.99.
2003-04 Bowman Signature Basketball – LeBron James! Those 2 words are music to collector’s ears. Well, you can find his rookie card randomly inserted in a pack of Bowman Signature. In addition, look for encased uncirculated rookie autograph and autograph jersey cards of top rookies like Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Jarvis Hayes. Packs retail for $40.
2004 Topps Baseball Series 1 – Can you say Timeless Treasures autographs? Now, can you say “1/1” presidential cut autographs? Well, put those 2 together and you have Timeless Treasures presidential cut autographs that are serial-numbered 1/1. In fact, the Thomas Jefferson cut autograph was pulled and the last time I checked was on eBay with a current price of $27,000 or so. While the chances of pulling one of these cut signatures are extremely slim, the product is still a doozer. Boxes are selling well for $40-50.
2003 Playoff Prime-Cuts Baseball - $175-200 per pack. One BGS-encased memorabilia/autograph card serial-numbered to 50 or less with over 100 “1/1” cards randomly inserted. In addition, you get 3 additional cards each serial-numbered to 949 or less. Let me be the first to tell you, there are a TON of big pulls here. Plus, a pack of Prime-Cuts, which comes in its very own presentation box, can fit in your Christmas stocking!
2004 Upper Deck Baseball Series 1 – Everyone loves Upper Deck baseball product, especially the series 1 release. Each box comes with a 2003 rookie/update set packaged in its very own mini-box. In addition, each box comes with at least one game-used/autograph card. Boxes retail for $60-70 with packs checking in at $2.99.
2004 Donruss Baseball – Another of the fine 2004 baseball releases. This is just a tremendous effort by Donruss. Each box should contain a nice variety of rookies and serial-numbered parallels and inserts, plus at least one game-used memorabilia or autograph card. Plus, be on the lookout for hobby-only “hot packs” which may contain all serial-numbered inserts, game-used memorabilia, autographs or a combination of all 3.
2003 Upper Deck Sweet Shot Basketball – Some additional LeBron James action for you. Look for Sweet Shot Signatures and Sweet Spot Signatures of LeBron James and Michael Jordan, among others. Every other box should yield an autograph, while every box should score you 2 game-used jerseys of such players as Yao Ming, Jordan, Tracy McGrady and Tim Duncan, just to name a few. Packs retail for $9.99 and boxes should set you back $100-110.
2003 Fleer Avant Football – Spectacular, all hand-painted set. An unopened box should get you 3-4 game-used memorabilia/autographs, plus a ton of serial-numbered parallels and rookies. This could very well be the most attractive football set of the season. Expect to pay $75-100 per box.
