Tag: Tony Conigliaro

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.

Rookie Phenom Devers Powers Sox

Three weeks into his major league career, Rafael Devers has risen from Red Sox savior to rookie phenom.  National attention has made his early baseball cards must haves for rookie card collectors.  

In desperate need for a power hitting third baseman, the Red Sox turned to Devers instead of acquiring a veteran slugger.  The 20-year-old Dominican Republic native responded by slugging eight home runs and 16 RBI while batting .364 in his first 20 games.  His major league debut came too late in the season to be included in any 2017 baseball card sets, so Devers cards bearing the official “RC” logo will be issued in 2018 base sets.  In the meantime, prospect collectors can choose from over 700 Devers insert, subset, and parallel cards.  

The 2014 Bowman Chrome Draft series is the first to include Devers. As part of the “Top Prospects” subset, he is featured in  full MLB gear — three  years before his debut.  The shiney chrome versions are among the hobby’s most popular cards, selling for $8 with more limited Refractor versions getting $18.  Also featuring early cards of Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, Aaron Judge, Jose Abreu, and Jacob deGrom among others, 2014 Bowman Chrome is a must for prospect collectors.

 

Devers’ national spotlight grew brighter in mid August when the rising star slugged a game-tying ninth inning home run off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman before a national television audience.  Devers followed his Yankee Stadium heroics by becoming just the 35th player since 1913 to record a two-homer game before turning 21, joining the likes of Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mel Ott, Mike Trout, and Carlos Correa.  The light shined even brighter the following night when Devers triggered an around-the-horn triple play before the Fenway crowd, the 31st triple play in Red Sox history.

Increased national attention means increased interest in Devers certified autographed cards.  Although the Devers 2015 Bowman Chrome “Prospects Autograph” isn’t his first autographed card, it is the most coveted.  Complete with MLB markings and logos, the on-card autograph is selling for $200 with Refractor versions commanding as much as $400.  Known as “Home of the Rookie Card”, the Bowman name enhances early autographed cards of baseball’s rising stars.

Devers initially caught the eye of Red Sox scouts at the age of 14.  Considered the top left-handed hitter among international free agents two years later, Devers signed a $1.5 million contract with the Red Sox.  After dominating the Dominican Summer League and making the Gulf Coast League All-Star team, Devers sports his Greenville Drive Red Sox uniform in the 2015 Topps Heritage series.  For minor league and oddball card collectors, this is a great  buy for $3. His 2015 Choice minor league card takes the traditional approach of local distribution.  The card is rather simple in design, but a limited print run makes it highly coveted for $15.  Because of the minimal gloss on the card fronts, minor league cards are ideal for in-person autographs.

Devers has already made a significant impact in Red Sox history.  Earlier in the month major league baseball’s youngest player joined Babe Ruth, Williams, Dalton Jones, and Tony Conigliaro as the only Red Sox in the last 100 years with four or more hits in a single game by age 20.  Linked to Red Sox greats from the last 100 years, Devers has become a favorite of memorabilia collectors.  The 2015 Elite Extra Edition “Future Threads” Silhouette Signatures is a rare memorabilia card issued by Panini.  The unique “Future Threads” card is serial numbered to just 125 and has a jersey swatch layered underneath the player image.  The lower portion of the card displays Devers’ signature.  The card value has doubled in the past month, currently selling for $100.  

If the Red Sox continue winning and advance to the postseason with Devers still slugging his way through the league, his cards will heat up the postseason and offseason.