Author: Tom DiGiandomenico

Life long Red Sox fan and baseball card collector. Follow me of twitter: @tomdigi8

BOOK REVIEW: The Big Fella Is A Home Run

Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about Babe Ruth, Jean Leavy’s The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created comes along, digging deeply into uncharted territory to capture the making of America’s first celebrity and his substantial influence on sport and culture.

Leavy leaves the actual play on the field for other fine books such as Robert Creamer’s definitive BABE: The Legend Comes To Life (1974) and Leigh Montville’s masterfully written The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth (2006).  Instead, she uses a barnstorming tour headlined by Ruth and Lou Gehrig to frame the story of Ruth’s rise to celebrity.  

On the heels of the New York Yankees sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1927 World Series, Ruth and Gehrig embarked on the mother of all barnstorming tours, allowing fans from coast to coast to witness the exploits of the baseball’s most transforming players.  Ruth was fresh off a record-setting 60 home run season — breaking his own record of 59 homers established six years earlier — while Gehrig had recently been named the league’s Most Valuable Player.  

The two Yankees sluggers would join opposing local teams across America, which were rebranded for the day as the Bustin’ Babes and Larrupin’ Lous.  Together, they created “the biggest show since Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey,” in the words of the Omaha World Herald. Leavy’s years as a staff reporter for the Washington Post is on full display as she uncovers details of each game in each city from Trenton to Omaha to San Jose.  Within this 21-day odyssey, Leavy explains how the complicated, often sad and lonely life of Babe Ruth was transformed into America’s biggest personality.  

The barnstorming tour was the brainchild of Christy Walsh — agent, attorney, business manager, spin doctor, and perhaps surrogate father to Ruth.  Walsh created the blueprint of modern stardom, using Ruth as the subject. Describing Ruth’s and Gehrig’s three-week cross-country victory tour as the “Symphony of Swat,” Walsh was the director behind Ruth’s many endorsement deals and syndicated newspaper columns, which were ghostwritten by an array of sportswriters who also covered Ruth’s exploits on the field.

Leavy effectively narrates how Walsh was able to enterprise Ruth to reflect the temperament of the country during the Roaring Twenties.  In the aftermath of World War I, attitudes were far more relaxed. People across the land openly defied prohibition and indulged in new styles of dance and dress, while rejecting many traditional pre-war standards.  Who better exemplifies the have-fun-at no-cost attitude than Babe Ruth?  

Tabloid newspapers, which became  more popular and accessible in America following the war, chronicled Ruth’s on-the-field and off-the-field exploits and transgressions with full front and back page photos throughout the country, giving Walsh the means to build baseball’s first legend.  Ruth, more than anyone else, is responsible for making the sports section a key component of everyday life.

As the result of eight years of meticulous research, Leavy also uncovered new information about Ruth’s difficult childhood, which eventually led to indulgence in every aspect of his adult life, which is explored in  great detail throughout the book. Courtesy of more than 250 interviews and a trove of previously untapped documents, Leavy presents a fast, lively account of the legend that became Babe Ruth. Even if you consider yourself an expert on Babe Ruth, The Big Fella offers something new. 

On This Day 73 Years Ago … Lou Boudreau Introduces Ted Williams Shift

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  

Managers, coaches, pitchers, and fielders tried to neutralize Ted Williams over the years, but few succeeded.  Williams was an offensive menace in 1946, hitting .342 while taking American League MVP honors despite missing the three previous seasons to serve in World War II.

On July 14 of that season, Williams slugged three homers and drove in 8 runs to lead the Red Sox to a 11-10 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park.  In between games, Indians manager/shortstop Lou Boudreau gave his team a crash course in what became known as the “Ted Williams Shift.”  

Boudreau, knowing that Williams was an extreme pull hitter, simply played the percentages by deploying all four infielders between first base and second base.  Left fielder George Case, standing 20 feet behind where a shortstop would typically play, was the only defender of the left side of the field. Boudreau, a seven-time All-Star considered one of the more cerebral players of his time, may have been inspired personally as well as tactically to limit Williams’s success.  His biographer believed Boudreau, a less-recognized player, resented the fame and attention that constantly went Williams’s way. In his first at bat against the shift Williams hit a line drive directly at Boudreau, who was positioned between first base and second base. Williams later doubled and drew two walks. 

In 1959, Fleer entered the baseball card business with a set commemorating the life and times of Hall of Famer Ted Williams.  Each of the 80 cards displays full-color images with a small title along the bottom white border. The back side of each card features a continuing biography of Williams from his childhood through the 1958 season.  Card #28, titled the “Williams Shift,” illustrates where Bourdeau had each player positioned and is one of the few cards from the time period that does not include a player image. The card back explains how the shift created  “a huge vacant area at third base and all the way to the left field fence.” The unique Fleer card also asks, “How would Ted bat against it?”

The answer is found in card #30 titled “1946 — Beating the Shift.” The upright, colorful card design displays Williams crossing home plate after what appears to be one of his 521 career homers.  Fleer asks on the card back, “Will he settle for cheap hits or will he continue to aim for the right field fences?” And answers, “He hit more Home Runs (38) that season than any year before.”

Williams faced shifts in some form for the remainder of his career.  The Splendid Splinter chose not to sacrifice power for a handful of extra base hits to the opposite field, nor did he want to alter the swing that made him baseball’s most feared hitter.  Despite facing special alignments to limit his prowess at the plate, Williams finished second to only Babe Ruth in career slugging percentage and his .482 lifetime on-base percentage still ranks No. 1 all time.

As noted on each card from the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams Set, “all card data by E. Mifflin.”  The source is Edward Mifflin, who covered baseball for The Sporting News in the 1950s and became good friends with Williams.  In 1954, the Saturday Evening Post published an article announcing the retirement of Ted Williams.  According to baseball lore, Mifflin ran into Williams in Baltimore and told him that retirement would jeopardize his baseball legacy and likely cost him Hall of Fame enshrinement, noting that Williams was still shy of 400 home runs, 1,500 RBI, and 2,000 hits.

Williams, perhaps influenced by Mifflin’s advice, would play six more seasons and slug 155 more home runs while adding over 700 hits to his resume.  He retired after the 1960 season, widely considered “the greatest hitter who ever lived” and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.

Ted Williams Beating The Shift

        Celebrating 30 Years of Upper Deck and Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card

        Thirty years after its release, the first card of Upper Deck’s premiere set is still one of the hobby’s most significant and coveted baseball cards.

        In 1989, Upper Deck introduced high-tech glossy cards with quality photos and a unique anti-counterfeiting hologram on the back of each card.  High-gloss cards printed on high-quality white paper stock were packaged in foil-wrapped, tamper evident packs. No more wax packs or gum residue to stain the cards.  

        At the same time, Ken Griffey Jr., whose father was a key member of the mid-’70s Big Red Machine, was named the Seattle Mariners starting centerfielder.  Instead of highlighting its initial set with an established star, Upper Deck chose the 19-year-old centerfielder to be featured on its first card. Although Griffey was the number one overall draft pick in 1987, he was a bit of a surprise choice as the face of Upper Deck.   Hobby insiders believed the honor would go to two-time Minor League Player of the Year Greg Jefferies, catching prospect Sandy Alomar Jr., or Double-A Player of the Year Gary Sheffield, the nephew of Dwight Gooden.

        Placing Upper Deck’s initial leadoff hitter in a Mariners uniform became the rookie card manufacturers next challenge.  Griffey had yet to appear Mariners garb and Upper Deck could not contractually use a minor league photo. A picture of a smiling Griffey in his San Bernadino Spirits uniform caught the eye of Upper Deck executives.  The company’s production staff used Scitex, a $1 million machine that essentially did what Photoshop would do years later. The “S” on the cap was changed from silver to yellow, while the color of the cap was changed from navy blue to the Mariners’ royal blue.

        By the start of baseball season, the new kid on the block had clearly passed the aging veteran Topps, as well as replacement level baseball card manufacturers Donruss, Fleer, and Score in terms of quality, marketing, popularity, release value, and market value.  At the same time, Griffey was not only the face of the hobby, but also becoming the face of baseball. The young, good-looking son of a World Series Champion was quickly establishing himself as one of the game’s tops all-around players.

        Just weeks after the March 1989 release, Griffey’s Upper Deck rookie was selling for as much as $10, while most rookie  and star cards were selling for $1-$4. During the early ‘90s, the Griffey rookie became the most prized positions in the modern hobby.  The popularity of this card coincided with Griffey’s initial power explosion, beginning in 1993 when he tied the major league record by hitting a homerun in eight consecutive games.

        Griffey quickly become the youngest player to hit 350, 400, and 500 home runs.  During the 2001 season, the ‘89 Upper Deck rookie peaked at $160. He was 31 years old , beginning his second year with the Reds, and aiming for Hank Aaron’s career home run record. Unfortunately a variety of injuries limited Griffey in the later stages of his career.  Griffey didn’t challenge Aaron, but he did establish himself as a hobby icon and baseball great, finishing his Hall of Fame career with 630 homers and 1,836 RBI.

        The Griffey Upper Deck rookie remains largely popular, but it is far from scarce.  Although card companies seldom reveal the size of their print runs, hobbyists believe Upper Deck distributed more than two million of the Griffey card — even more than common cards in the set.  

        Despite the shiney new look, many of the Griffey cards were issued in less than mint condition. Because it was No. 1 on the checklist, the card was situated in the top left corner of the printer’s uncut sheets and therefore more susceptible to being miscut or having damaged corners.  During its rookie season, Upper Deck promised to replace damaged cards found in packs. To cover the large number of returned Griffey cards, Upper Deck reportedly printed dozens of uncut sheets featuring only Griffey cards, leaving the actual number of the No. 1 rookie card in circulation is a bit of a hobby mystery.

        .  

          1952 Topps Mickey Mantle … Why All the Fuss?

          The most recognizable and coveted baseball card ever produced is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.  A rare version graded Mint-9 by Professional Sports Authenticated (PSA) on a scale of 1-10 recently sold for a whopping $2.88 million.  That’s the second-highest price ever paid for a baseball card, falling short of the $3.12 million a collector paid for the 1909 T206 Honus Wagner card two years ago.

          Why all the fuss?  We’re not talking about just an ordinary ballplayer featured on a run-of-the-mill baseball card.  We’re talking about Mickey Mantle, who became a national sports icon at the same time the ‘52 Topps set was becoming the most prominent sports card set ever produced.

          When the acclaimed ‘52  card was issued, Mantle was already sporting his first of seven World Series rings and by season’s end he would have his second.  Mantle finished the 1952 season batting .311-23-87 and a league-leading .924 OPS while patrolling center field at Yankee Stadium.

          The first ever Topps Mantle baseball card was released in September.  It was the first card of the elusive ‘52 Topps Series Four. By that time, collectors were more interested in football cards.  Store owners had trouble selling the first three series, so many never bothered to order the fourth, leaving much of the product in the Topps warehouse.

          In 1960, Topps vice president Sy Berger was looking for a way to rid himself of the extra ‘52 Topps cards that were cluttering up the company’s warehouse.  He had little success selling them to a carnival at the rate of 10 cards for a penny, so he arranged for a disposal company to drop them in the ocean. Somewhere off the New Jersey coast, thousands of ‘52 Topps cards — including Mantle cards — were released to the bottom of the sea.  Topps never revealed the number of Series 4 cards that were destroyed, but a limited number exists today.

          In the late ‘60s and  early ‘70s, when card collecting was starting to become a business for many people, the ‘52 Mantle became the hobby’s most sought-after card.  And why not? Mantle was one of the most prolific sluggers of the modern era. He was hitting long-distance home runs and appearing coast to coast on television and in magazines.  Mantle quickly became the most recognizable sports figure since Babe Ruth.

          As the legend of Mickey Mantle grew, so did the demand and value for his baseball cards.  The young, naive ballplayer from Commerce Oklahoma grew up to become one of the most accomplished players in baseball history, earning American League MVP honors three times, winning the Triple Crown in 1956 and dueling teammate Roger Maris for Babe Ruth’s single-season home run crown during the summer of 1961.

          There was a curious flurry of activity surrounding the ‘52 Mantle card in 1986 stemming from a find that traces back to Massachusetts.  Nationally known baseball card dealer Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen was invited to a man’s home in Lowell to examine an old baseball card collection.  Rosen was shocked to find a silver tray containing hundreds of ‘52 Topps cards, including a stack of three dozen Mantle cards. During the ‘50s, the homeowner’s father had worked at a toy company that used the cards as prizes.  The leftovers were saved for the family in its original case, preserving the near-mint condition. Rosen reportedly paid $900,000 for the entire trove before selling the highly graded cards individually.

          The rise of the Mantle card has been amazing.  In 1988, a similarly priced card could be had for $3,300.  By 2007, PSA Mint-9 version sold for $240,000. The previous record for the card was for a PSA Mint-8.5, which sold for $1.13 million in 2016.

          For those of us with a more limited baseball card allowance, Topps 1996 Series I features reprints of the 19 Topps and Bowman Mantle cards produced from 1951-1969.  Later that year, Topps retired #7 (Mantle’s uniform number), never using it again for its annual Topps baseball sets.

          1959 Fleer Life of Ted Williams: As Splendid As The Splinter

          When Fleer entered the baseball card business in 1959, the rookie sports card manufacturer turned to the greatest hitter who ever lived.Ted Williams not only established new slugging standards, he also changed the way the sports collectibles hobby was marketed.

          1959TedWilliamsBabeRuthDuring this era, Topps was the exclusive baseball card manufacturer, so Fleer — the only other major trading card producer at the time — had to take a more creative approach with its products. Facing the daring task of going head to head with the mighty Topps Co., Fleer signed Ted Williams away from Topps. The result was 1959 Fleer “Life of Ted Williams” — an 80-card series capturing a medley of snippets detailing Williams’s legendary career.

          One of the more popular cards in the set (#2) pictures Ted in his Red Sox uniform gripping a bat with his idol, Babe Ruth. The card back chronicles Ted’s time at Horace Mann Junior High School in California. Card #5 details Ted’s brilliant high school career for Herbert Hoover High School. He was considered one of the top amateur players in California, drawing the attention of big league scouts.

          Card #14 highlights his amazing debut season (1939) in which he became the first AL rookie to lead the league in total bases. A favorite among collectors is card #41, which displays a head shot of Williams above the title “1941 — How Ted Hit .400”. The card back discusses how Ted played both games of a doubleheader on the last day of the season to raise his average from .400 to .406.

          The Fleer set also features Ted’s distinguished military career. Card #24 titled “1945 — Sharpshooter” shows a concerned, but anxious Williams taking the Naval eye test. According to the card back, “Navy doctors said that eyesight like Ted’s occurred only six times per thousand persons.”

          Defensive shifts have been the talk of baseball in recent years, but the first shift of consequence is chronicled by card #28 in the 1959 Fleer series. Conceived by manager Cleveland Indians manager/shortstop Lou Boudreau, the shift was first implemented in July of 1946 during the first game of a doubleheader. The overstacking of the right side of the field did nothing to neutralize Williams.  The Red Sox won the game 111-10, Williams hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and had 8 RBI. This is the first a baseball card dedicated to defensive alignment versus a particular player.

          This set includes three of the hobby’s hardest-to-find All-Star cards. Card #34 pictures Williams sliding into second base in the 1947 All-Star Game. The card back details the new runs scored record established by Williams that year.

          Card #40 shows Williams crashing against the wall to make a spectacular catch in the 1950 All-Star Game at Comiskey Park. The card back tells the story of how the catch destroyed the Red Sox Pennant hopes and nearly ended Ted’s career. Williams didn’t realize that he had broken his elbow and gamely played for 8 more innings, hitting a single and driving in a run.

          Card #48 features Marine Captain Ted Williams throwing out the first ball and serving as an honorary member of the AL team at the ’53 All-Star Game in Cincinnati while still serving on military duty. The card back expressively reads, “Not only was he a baseball hero of the finest magnitude, but he was in two wars within the short span of one decade.”

          The Williams set successfully put Fleer on the sports collectibles map, but not without incident. Card #68 pictures Ted preparing to sign a contract with Red Sox general manager Bucky Harris, who was one of the handful of baseball executives under contract with Topps at the time. Rather than face a lawsuit from Topps, Fleer withdrew card #68 by defacing the lower right corner of the card on the printing sheet, and then destroying the cards after they were cut from the sheet. A very limited amount of mint #68 cards were packaged before Fleer started its disfiguring process, making this one of the most sought-after Williams cards.

          The back of the Harris card reveals just how much times have changed: “Ted signed his 1959 contract in Boston for a reported $125,000. He has been baseball’s highest paid player for several years.”

          This affordable set details the extraordinary career of the legendary Ted Williams. Much of the history written about the Splendid Splinter came directly from the backs of these cards. Every card — except the Harris card, which commands $1,000 — can be had for under $20 in decent condition.

          Looking at 1975 World Series Through Red Sox and Reds 1975 Topps Set

          The 1975 Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds team sets are absolute musts for 1970s baseball card collectors.  Not only did the two teams engage in one of the most memorable World Series to date, but the sets include some of the top players from the ‘70s — including Hall of Famers, the all-time hits leader, and two of the top rookies in Red Sox history.

          After raising the price of baseball card packs from 10 cents to 15 cents, Topps was looking for a way to turn heads.  Collectors had been complaining for years that Topps baseball cards were becoming boring and monotonous. After featuring plain white borders in consecutive years, Topps broke out the rainbow for the 1975 series. Bright two-color borders with bold lettering turned out to be a one-year wonder. But the unique series stood the test of time, remaining one of the most memorable sets ever produced with some help from the  Red Sox and Reds.

          Thirty-four-year-old Luis Tiant twisted and turned his way to a 6-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1975 World Series.  With his best days believed to be in the past, Tiant transformed from a power pitcher to a craftsman, offering an assortment of breaking balls and off-speed pitches that kept hitters off balance. With the DH shelved for the series, Tiant also picked up his first hit since 1972. His 1975 Topps card (#430) is a quick sell locally for $3.

          Sparky Anderson’s Reds took three of the next four games to set the stage for Game 6, arguably the most dramatic game in World Series history.  The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Fred Lynn homered into the Fenway bleachers following two-out singles to Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski and Carlton Fisk.  Graded versions of the ‘75 Topps Yaz (#280) and Fisk (#80) cards sell in the $25-30 range.

          After batting .331-21-105, Lynn became the first Major League player to capture MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.  His ‘75 Topps rookie (#662) now sells for $6 in mint condition. Teammate and fellow rookie Jim Rice slugged .309-22-102 before taking an errant Vern Ruhle fastball off the wrist, ending the left fielder’s season in early August.  Elected to the Hall of Fame in his last year of eligibility in 2009, Rice continues to be a local favorite. His ‘75 Topps rookie (#616) sells for $9.

          Ken Griffey Sr.’s two-run triple and HOF catcher Johnny Bench’s RBI single in the  fifth inning tied Game 6. Griffey’s ‘75 Topps card (#284) — often packaged on eBay  with Ken Griffey Jr.’s cards — sells for $3 as a stand alone. The Bench card sells for $25 in mint condition. The Reds took a 6-3 lead in the eighth following a home run  by Cesar Geronimo whose ‘75 Topps card can be found in the commons bin.  With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Bernie Carbo drilled a Rawly Eastwick pitch into the centerfield bleachers to tie the game at six. Carbo has a bit of a cult-like following locally, inflating his ‘75 Topps card (#379) slightly above common status.

          In the 11th inning with one out and fleet-footed Griffey on first, Cincinnati All-Star second baseman Joe Morgan slashed a sinking liner toward the right field ple. The  ball seemed destined to drop into the corner for an extra base hit that would have scored Griffey. With an instinctive over-the-head stab of the glove, Dwight Evans plucked the ball out of the Boston night.  He stumbled backward, regained his balance and threw to the infield to double up Griffey at first base.

          With the tie preserved and the tension building, America was introduced to one of baseball’s greatest right fielders.  His ‘75 Topps card (#255) is a great buy for $2. Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan accumulated two World Series rings and two MVP awards during a 22-year career. His ‘75 Topps sells for $4.

          In the bottom of the 12th, Fisk sent a blast to left field.  The question: fair or foul? The ball ricocheted off the foul pole for the perhaps the most dramatic moment in Red Sox history.  The Reds would go on to win Game 7 to win the World Series, but the series — Game 6 in particular — will long be recounted by generations of Red Sox fans.  The Red Sox 1975 Topps team set sells for $50 in decent condition, while the Reds team set, which includes Pete Rose (#320), goes for $75.

          Vladimir Guerrero Takes His Rightful Place in Baseball Hall of Fame

          Vladimir Guerrero’s approach to the plate was simple: See the ball, hit the ball.  The nine-time All-Star for the Expos, Angels, and Rangers (he also played for the Orioles) rarely saw a pitch that he didn’t like.  With an aim toward mashing the ball every time he stepped to the plate, Guerrero swung freely and from the heels. The Dominican native used his powerful 6’-3”, 235-pound frame to produce a .553 career slugging percentage, which ranks 21st all-time and now ranks 14th among Hall of Famers between recently elected Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey, Jr.

          After falling just short of election last year, Guerrero was rightfully elected for enshrinement in January.  His career numbers place him in obvious HOF company. Guerrero’s 449 home runs place him 23rd among HOFers between Carl Yastrzemski and Andre Dawson. His 2,590 hits rank 60th, just ahead of Reggie Jackson, and his 1,496 RBI place him 39th, behind Mickey Mantle.

          Despite hVladGuerreroExpsis indiscriminate strike zone, Guerrero’s amazing hand-eye coordination translated to a .318 lifetime batting average.  In the modern baseball era, there are only 18 players with as many plate appearances as Guerrero (9,059) to retire with a higher batting average — all 18 are HOFers.  He batted .324 or higher seven times with a high of .345 (in the year 2000 with the Expos). He was also adept at sending runners home, reaching the 100-RBI total 10 times.

          Guerrero was also one of the most feared hitters of his time, as pitchers often refused to pitch to him in key situations.  He led the league in intentional walks five times and drew 250 automatic base on balls, ranking fifth on the all time list.

          He took American League MVP honors in 2004 (his first season with the Angels), batting .337 with 39 home runs and 126 RBI while slugging at a .598 clip.  Guerrero also led the league in runs, hits, and total bases at one time or another, while claiming for straight Silver Slugger awards and top 10 MVP finishes from 2004-2007.  He also displayed a cannon of an arm as a right fielder known for keeping runners at bay. Although sometimes erratic on the base paths, Guerrero stole 181 bases during his career, including a high of 40 in 2002.

          Rather than joining Dawson, Gary Carter, and Tim Raines enshrined as Montreal Expos, Guerrero becomes the first to enter Cooperstown with an Angels cap.

          Mookie Betts: MVP Candidate, Red Sox Great

          Five years into his career, Mookie Betts has emerged as an annual MVP candidate and is on track to become one of the best players in Red Sox history.  As a result, the 25-year-old face of the Red Sox is the talk of the sports collectibles hobby.

          Although his rookie cards are extremely popular today, there were very few Betts cards released in the years leading up to his major league debut, which is somewhat of an anomaly in today’s prospect-rich hobby.  In fact, the first major Betts card didn’t arrive until a few months before his major league debut in 2014. The 2013 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks series, celebrating Betts’ 5th round selection in the 2011 MLB Draft, is the only set to feature Betts that year.  The silvery, high-gloss pre-rookie card is a nice by for under $8.

          The most sought-after Betts card was issued while the highly-touted prospect was transitioning from second base to the outfield for the Pawtucket Red Sox.  The 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospect subset, which includes Kris Bryant, Jose Abreu, Luis Severino, and Masahiro Tanaka in addition to Betts, has proven to be one of the best prospect sets ever.  The chrome version of the Betts card is selling for $10, doubling in price since the start of the season. Limited autograph versions are selling for $375, while highly-graded autographed versions are selling in excess of $600.

          Because he made his major league debut mid-way into the season, Betts rookie cards did not appear until the  late-season releases. The most popular Betts rookie is from the high-end 2014 Topps Update Set. Because the Update series is an extension of the Topps flagship line, the rookie cards are readily available.  Although the Betts card, currently selling for $20. has doubled in value since the beginning of the season, supply has kept the price in check.

          One of the most limited Betts rookie cards is from the 2014 Topps Heritage high number series.  The card was issued only as part of a factory set and not released in packs. In the two previous years, the Heritage factory sets were online exclusives.  In 2014, the sets were also offered to hobby shops, making them a bit more accessible. However, many collectors are not willing to break up factory sets, so the Betts Heritage rookie is not scarce, but somewhat limited.  The Topps Heritage Betts rookie is selling for $80 with highly-graded versions selling for $200.

          Baseball’s top sluggers dominate today’s hobby. The popularity and value of memorabilia cards are largely driven by player’s home runs and run production.  Betts bats leadoff and is relatively small in stature, but is among the league leaders in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, RBI, and runs scored.  The 2015 Topps Tier One Game Worn Jersey card celebrates the 21-year-old Betts becoming becoming the youngest Red Sox player since 1965 to hit a grand slam during his rookie season.  Limited to a production run of 399, the Betts memorabilia card is a nice addition to any Red Sox collection for under $15.

          Being compared to Ted Williams has also enhanced the popularity of Mookie Betts.  Earlier this season, Betts became the first Red Sox player to hit three home runs in a game on four separate occasions.  Williams accomplished the feat three times over a 19-year Hall of Fame career. Last year, Betts joined Tony Conigliaro as the only players other than Williams to hit 30 homers in a season before their 24th birthday.  Certified autographed cards of baseball’s top sluggers are the hobby’s most coveted cards. The Betts 2014 Bowman Sterling Rookie Autograph is selling for $150. Because of the high-silver gloss and full-bleed photos, finding this card in truly mint condition is a difficult task.  Highly-graded versions sell in excess of $200.

          Celebrating Red Sox Great Bobby Doerr

          Bobby Doerr graced the field with all-around excellence and carried himself with supreme dignity on and off the field.  The Red Sox great and long-time fan favorite died at the age of 99 last November. At the time of hs death, Doerr was the oldest living Hall of Famer.

          Doerr played his entire 14-year Major League career with the Red Sox from 1937-1951, missing the 1945 season to military service during World War II. Pulitzer Prize winner David Halberstam chronicled the longtime friendship between Doerr and fellow Red Sox legends Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, and Dominic DiMaggio in his well-received 2003 book Teammates.  The tight bond between Doerr and Williams started in 1936 as teammates for San Diego of the Pacific Coast League, where both were discovered during the same scouting trip by Hall of Famer Eddie Collins. A year later, Doerr began his big league career at the age of 19.

          There is a bit of a mystery surrounding Doerr’s first baseball card.  Most collectors and baseball historians refer to Doerr’s rookie card as the 1936 Goudey Premium, but the sturdy second baseman did not play his first major league game until 1937.  Although there is no specific date on the card back, the 1936 Goudey series, originally distributed in Canada, was most likely issued in 1937, possibly 1938. No matter the year issued, decent graded versions of the Doerr Goudey Premium rookie sells for $750.

          By 1940, Doerr was a key member of a potent Red Sox lineup that included Williams, Jimmie Foxx, and Joe Cronin.  The man Williams called “the silent leader” hit a robust .291 with 22 homers and 105 RBI — impressive numbers for a second baseman of any time period.  Doerr’s 1940 Play Ball baseball card is a favorite among vintage Red Sox collectors, selling in excess of $100 in decent condition. Baseball cards issued more than 75 years ago lack the glitz and glitter of modern day cards, but the Play Ball series is renowned for its picturesque and simplistic settings.

          Back woes forced Doerr from the game following the 1951 season.  A nine-time All-Star, Doerr smacked 223 home runs for his career, the third highest total for a second baseman at the time of his retirement.  He also accumulated 1,247 RBI while producing batting .288 and slugging .461 for his career. He also ranks in the top 10 among Red Sox players all-time in many offensive categories, including game, runs, singles, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, extra base hits, and total bases.

          Defensively, Doerr was one of the top fielding second baseman of his time, leading American League second baseman in fielding percentage six times and in double plays five times.  He once held the AL record for most consecutive chances at second base without an error.

          In addition to being a great ballplayer, Doerr also an avid baseball memorabilia and autograph collector.  His most prized possessions — Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Williams autographed bats — were gathered as a player.  After his playing days, Doerr accumulated autographed photos, balls, and bats from all-time greats such as Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, Moe Berg, and Foxx at baseball functions and Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown.  

          Doerr was also a gracious autograph signer during and after his baseball career.  He would even respond to autograph requests through old fashioned mail correspondence.  Most Red Sox memorabilia collectors have a Doerr autograph or two tucked away for safekeeping.  For me, the non-glossy, smudge-free 1986 Donruss Highlights card celebrating Doerr’s Hall of Fame enshrinement was the perfect card to send through the mail for an autograph.

          Doerr was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1986 by the HOF Veterans Committee that included Williams.  Two years later, Doerr saw his No.1 jersey retired by the Red Sox, which is now displayed on the Fenway Park right field facade alongside the numbers of Williams, Pesky, and other Red Sox greats.

           

          J.D. Martinez: Exactly What The Red Sox Need

          J.D. Martinez is exactly the player the Red Sox need to separate themselves from the AL wild-card contenders, while keeping pace with the power-driven Yankees offense.  The Red Sox are banking on Martinez to fill the void created by the retirement of David Ortiz. If Martinez produces as expected, the Red Sox will be championship contenders and Martinez baseball cards will be the talk of the town.

          Like Ortiz, the 30-year-old Martinez has improved with age.  Both emerged as top sluggers after being released by their original teams. Ortiz was released by the Twins before joining the Red Sox as a platoon player in 2003 and eventually becoming one of the top sluggers in team history.  Martinez agreed to a deal with the Tigers after being released by the Astros in the spring of 2014. After overhauling of his swing, Martinez has emerged as an elite slugger, joining Mike Trout as the only players to hit .300 with at least 125 homers and a .550 slugging percentage over the last four years.  

          After hitting a career-high 45 homers last year and becoming just the 18th player in major league history to hit four home runs in a single game, Martinez is becoming a hobby favorite.  Like Ortiz rookie baseball cards, expect Martinez’s earliest cards to increase in demand as he becomes the anchor of the Red Sox offense. Martinez’s 2010 Bowman Chrome, released less than a year after the Astros made him  the the 611th overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft, was nothing more than a common card before last season. It’s now selling for $4 with “Green Refractor” versions selling for as much as $14. Often regarded as a rookie card, the 2010 Bowman Chrome — complete with a high-gloss, clutter-free design — is one the most sought-after Martinez rookie card.

          Because the Martinez 2010 Bowman Chrome is a “Prospects” subset card, it is not considered a rookie card.  The one-and-only Martinez rookie card is featured in the 2011 Topps Traded set and includes the official Major League Baseball “RC” logo.  With a rookie card checklist featuring Trout, Jose Altuve, Anthony Rizzo, and Martinez at a fairly limited print run, the 2011 Topps Traded set is arguably the most popular traded/update since the turn of the century.  The Martinez card is selling for $8, while the “Gold Parallel” version is up to $16 and is on the rise. Renowned for sharp, crisp action photography against a simple white border background, the full sets sells in excess of $300.

          Martinez was the first player drafted out of Nova Southeastern University to play in the majors.  His first season as a professional baseball player is celebrated on the 2010 Topps Pro Debut card selling for $3 and on the rise.  “Blue” parallel versions with a production run of 399 are hot items selling for $12. Playing left field for the Greeneville Astros for much of the season, Martinez was named the Astros Minor League Player of the Year and the South Atlantic League MVP.  

          J.D. Martinez may not be a household name in baseball circles at this time, but he has clearly established himself as one of the game’s best hitters.  No one hit more home runs per at bat or had a higher slugging percentage (.690) last year. Martinez’s slugging was off the charts at hitter-friendly Chase Field after being traded to Arizona last year, but his power translates to success anywhere.  He’s an intelligent hard-working hitter, who will soon learn to exploit the advantages of playing Fenway Park, where he has hit .444 in limited playing time. With increased exposure that comes with playing baseball in Boston, expect Martinez certified autographed cards to be on the rise throughout the summer.  Currently, his 2011 Bowman Chrome Autograph is selling for $78 with Refractor versions limited to a production run of 500 commanding $148.