There are two factors driving the sports card market nowadays - certified autographs and serial-numbered rookie cards. To the astute collector, these specialties have reigned supreme for years, with each factor gaining popularity on its own at separate times during the past. To the naked eyes of the novice collector, autographs and serial-numbered rookie cards are all that they have come to know about the hobby itself. Well, thanks to the following two releases by Donruss/Playoff, hobbyists have been treated to the best of both worlds.

Prime Signature Football - Each specially designed "tin" contains a pack with 4 total cards for a suggested retail price of $39.95. The tin's cover is graced by the presence of celebrity company spokesman Jeff Garcia, and has gained a tremendous amount of momentum in the secondary market, with unopened tins pushing $75 or more on eBay. Contained within the 4-card pack is one rookie card, serial-numbered to 250 and one autographed card serial numbered to 250 or less. In addition, you may find a randomly inserted "Press Proof," which is limited to just 25 serial-numbered copies. Our tin contained a couple of real nice cards including a Patrick Ramsey autographed rookie card serial-numbered to just 120 and an Eric Crouch rookie "Press Proof" limited to just 25 serial-numbered copies. The two additional base-set cards were Emmitt Smith and Jeff Garcia, which was icing on the cake as far as I am concerned. The final prognosis on this product is as good as it gets. The price point, while a bit steep now, was reasonable at the products release. The player selection is very strong as is the packing, which gives collectors a fashionable tin to go along with their cardboard gems.

"When I think about 2003 Leaf Baseball, two clichés immediately come to mind: 'Bigger and better' and 'New and improved.' Both ring true with Leaf, a product that was largely revamped over the 2002 edition. The set's bigger, the packs are bigger but the price per pack remains the same. Our product development team really should be proud of itself for creating a product that promises to be an absolute blast for collectors to open, and for building a product that delivers great value." Said Tracy Hackler, Donruss/Playoff spokesman.

"When you throw the first Rookie Cards and autographs of Jose Contreras into the mix, you've got all the ingredients needed for an absolutely fantastic all-around baseball card set."

There are a plethora of rookie cards, including top Indians pitching prospect Jason Davis and Contreras, as well as a bundle of game-used memorabilia cards serial-numbered to varying quantities including the innovative "Hard Hats Batting Helmets" which are serial-numbered to 100 and contain a piece of a game-used batting helmet. As far as the rookies go, the base card versions are neither serial-numbered or short-printed, which makes for an easy commute, so to speak, if you are looking to complete this set. As far as short-prints go, there are 2 "Red Press Proofs" which are randomly inserted at a clip of 2 per hobby box and parallel "Blue Press Proofs" which are serial-numbered to just 50 copies. There are Leaf Certified "Sample" cards inserted 1 per box as well as serial-numbered parallels. And what would a Donruss/Playoff release be without a few superstar autograph cards, which can be found in the randomly inserted "Clubhouse Signatures" collection! The key to this product, obviously, is the fact that you can't find another Contreras rookie card anywhere else at this point in time.

Kudos to Donruss/Playoff for beating all the other manufacturers to the punch and including the first rookie card of the best amateur pitcher ever to step on the diamond.

Ricky Williams and Tracy Hackler from Donruss
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Upcoming Donruss/Playoff releases:

2003 Donruss Diamond Kings Baseball -- 3/14
2003 Donruss Champions Baseball -- 4/9
2003 Donruss Classics Baseball -- 4/23
2003 Playoff Prestige Baseball -- 5/14
2003 Playoff Prestige Football -- 5/14
2003 Donruss Elite Baseball -- 5/29
2003 Score Jumbo Football -- 5/29
2003 Donruss Elite Football -- 6/18
2003 Donruss Studio Baseball -- 6/25
2003 Donruss Timeless Treasures Baseball -- 7/10
2003 Donruss Classics Football -- 7/16
2003 Playoff Absolute Baseball -- 7/23
2003 Playoff Absolute Football -- 7/30

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Images Supplied by M. Eisner
February 2003