Dailywax

Back by popular demand, DailyWax is holding another contest for all of our readers. Our first contest was a success, and we hope to continue to offer more contests in the near future. To enter the contest, simply reply to this entry with your name and email address (which will not be visible) along with your guess of final price of this 2006 Bowman Chrome Alex Gordon Superfractor Auto auction on eBay. The closest, without going over, to the final price listed in the auction will win a 2009 Bowman Jose Reyes Printing Plate 1/1. In the event of multiple correct guesses, it will be randomly awarded to one of the correct guessers. You are only allowed to enter your guess once, multiple guesses from the same email address will result in disqualification from the contest. Be sure you use a valid email address, as I will be contacting the winner via email on where to send their prize.

Good luck and happy guessing!

MLB.com is reporting that 19-year-old San Francisco Giants Prospect, Angel Villalona, who considered one of the top prospects of the franchise, has turned himself in to Dominican Republic authorities following the murder in La Romana, DR.

The shooting occurred on Saturday, September 19 around 11 PM local time, and the authorities have named Villalona as the prime suspect.

This year, Villalona hit .267 with 9 home runs, and 42 RBIs in 74 games with the San Jose Giants at the Class A Advanced level before a season ending injury in July. As a 16-year-old rookie, Villalona received a $2.1 million signing bonus, one of the largest ever at the time.

Villalona had a 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph that has been an anchor for the set and one of the years more highly sought-after prospect cards. If convicted, this could really damper a once very bright and aspiring future.

While, we’re not exactly sure how they all ended up on in the sellers hands, over 2,400 2008 Rene Tosoni Bowman Chrome Auto’s have been placed up for auction on eBay. The seller, who deals in “buying lost freight shipments, unclaimed freight, manufacturer and distributor overstocks, and close-out merchandise”.

The seller currently has auctions for 2,412 of the cards, that were originally inserted as redemptions from Topps in their 2008 Bowman Chrome product:

• 500 base autographs
• 498 base autographs
• 484 base autographs
• 480 of 500 Refractor autographs
• 241 of 250 Xfractor autographs
• 142 of 150 Blue Refractor autographs
• 44 of 50 Gold Refractor autographs
• 23 of 25 Orange Refractor autographs

The lot of the Orange refractors also contains 24 of 25 Tim Bascom Orange Refractors autographs too. If you ever wanted to own a near entire print run of an card, here is your chance.

This has to make you wonder what Topps will do to replace the redemptions currently in circulation or which have been redeemed?

The push for the exclusive invites to this years Post Season Party is in full effect. A number of teams are jockeying daily atop of the Wild Card standings with the look of a photo finish almost imminent. This month, some of our hottest cards are from players helping their team lay a stake in this years Post Season.

Here is the Top 25 Baseball Cards for September 2009:

1. 2007 Bowman Chrome Tim Lincecum RC Auto
2. 2007 Bowman Sterling Tim Lincecum RC Auto
3. 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Tommy Hanson RC
4. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Gordon Beckham RC Auto
5. 2008 Donruss EEE Pablo Sandoval RC Auto
6. 2009 Topps Chrome Tommy Hanson RC Auto
7. 2004 Bowman Chrome Felix Hernandez Auto
8. 2009 Bowman Aflac Bryce Harper PROMO
9. 2002 Bowman Chrome Joe Mauer RC Auto
10. 2008 Donruss Elite Neftali Feliz RC Auto
11. 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects Pablo Sandoval
12. 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter RC
13. 2009 Bowman Prospects Gordon Beckham Auto
14. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Buster Posey RC Auto
15. 2002 Bowman Chrome Prospect Zack Greinke
16. 2008 Sweet Spot USA Signatures Black Stitch Red Auto Stephen Strasburg
17. 2002 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres Prince Fielder RC auto
18. 2008 Upper Deck USA Stephen Strasburg
19. 2004 Bowman Chrome Aflac Andrew McCutchen
20. 2005 Topps Chrome Update Andrew McCutchen Auto
21. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Rick Porcello RC
22. 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Evan Longoria RC AU
23. 2005 Bowman Chrome Pospects Justin Verlander Auto
24. 2009 SPx Matt Wieters Auto
25. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Jesus Montero RC Auto

Happy collecting!

Riding on the coat tails of his skyrocketing 2008-09 Upper Deck USA cards and recent cover shots on SportsIllustrated and Beckett, Harpers limited edition AFLAC All-American Promo cards have been hitting eBay with their sellers looking for premium prices.

From what I have read, production numbers are around 125 per player, with 40 total cards in the set.

In a recent tweet on Twitter, Topps has announced that Wilmer Flores has begun to sign his 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft cards. These originally were inserted in packs as redemption only and may collectors were growing inpatient and speculating that Flores would not sign and these cards would be deemed as replacements only.

As teams are making their pushes toward the post season, a rash of mid-season call-ups have escalated the demand for quite a few prospect rookie cards resulting in an overwhelming demand and collectors paying out at some all-time highs for prices. For the month of August and possibly into late October, I can see that Gordon Beckham and his cards are going to very hot.

Here is the Top 25 Baseball Cards for August 2009:

1. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Gordon Beckham RC Auto
2. 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Tommy Hanson RC
3. 2007 Bowman Chrome Tim Lincecum RC Auto
4. 2009 SPx Matt Wieters Auto
5. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Jesus Montero RC Auto
6. 2007 Bowman Sterling Tim Lincecum RC Auto
7. 1997 Bowman Chrome Roy Halladay RC
8. 2009 Bowman Prospects Gordon Beckham Auto
9. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Buster Posey RC Auto
10. 2004 Bowman Chrome Aflac Andrew McCutchen
11. 2005 Topps Chrome Update Andrew McCutchen Auto
12. 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Evan Longoria RC AU
13. 2008 Bowman Sterling Evan Longoria RC Auto
14. 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects Logan Morrison Auto
15. 2006 Bowman Chrome Justin Upton RC AU
16. 2007 Donruss EEE Matt Weiters Auto
17. 2008 Sweet Spot USA Signatures Black Stitch Red Auto Stephen Strasburg
18. 2008 Upper Deck USA Stephen Strasburg
19. 2009 Topps Red Hot Rookie Redemptions
20. 2004 Bowman Chrome Felix Hernandez Auto
21. 2002 Bowman Chrome Joe Mauer RC Auto
22. 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects David Price Auto
23. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Rick Porcello RC
24. 2009 Topps Chrome Tommy Hanson RC Auto
25. 2005 Bowman Chrome Pospects Justin Verlander Auto

Happy collecting!

Topps has signed an exclusive deal with Major League Baseball, and starting 2010 will have an exclusivity on MLB, club trademarks, logos and other intellectual property for use on baseball cards, stickers and other product categories featuring MLB players.

What does this mean? Basically that no other card manufacturers will be able to show photography of players in their actual MLB uniform or use team logos on their product. Topps is hoping that this exclusivity will appeal to a new generation of enthusiasts and restore their reign as the crown jewel of the sports collecting world.

he exclusive arrangement ends MLB’s 30-year relationship with Upper Deck, the other main player in the market, which retains licensing rights from the MLB Players Association. That enables Upper Deck to continue producing cards with players’ images, but team logos and such are out.

The month of July is synonymous with one thing: HOT. Throughout the month of June, I don’t think there was a player that was as hot as Tim Lincecum. The Freak amassed freakish numbers for the month that included 3 wins, 40 Ks, 1.82 ERA, 39.2 IP in 5 games started. Lincecum’s 2007 Bowman Chrome RC Auto has been reaching freakish prices too. Close on his heels for the month is Stephen Strasburg, who has yet to even sign a MLB contract, but continues to be the buzz around the shop.

1. 2007 Bowman Chrome Tim Lincecum RC Auto
2. 1997 Bowman Chrome Roy Halladay RC
3. 2008 Sweet Spot USA Signatures Black Stitch Red Auto Stephen Strasburg
4. 2008 Upper Deck USA Stephen Strasburg
5. 2007 Bowman Sterling Tim Lincecum RC Auto
6. 2007 Donruss EEE Matt Weiters Auto
7. 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Tommy Hanson RC
8. 2006 Bowman Chrome Justin Upton RC AU
9. 2009 SPx Mystery Rookie Redemption Exchange
10. 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects Josh Vitters RC Auto
11. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Buster Posey RC Auto
12. 2005 Topps Chrome Update Andrew McCutchen Auto
13. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Gordon Beckham RC Auto
14. 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick Evan Longoria RC AU
15. 2008 Bowman Sterling Evan Longoria RC Auto
16. 2002 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres Zack Greinke Auto XRC
17. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Jesus Montero RC Auto
18. 2009 Topps Red Hot Rookie Redemptions
19. 2008 SP Authentic Evan Longoria RC Auto
20. 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft Josh Johnson RC
21. 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects David Price Auto
22. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Rick Porcello RC
23. 2004 Bowman Chrome Aflac Andrew McCutchen
24. 2009 Bowman Chrome Prospects Logan Morrison Auto
25. 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Lonnie Chisenhall RC Auto

Happy collecting!

On Wednesday, a foursome of high-talent prospects, landed themselves on big-league rosters. Some of these arrivals have been very highly anticipated and publicized as to when these prospects would actually break the 40-man rosters, so now it seems as if those questions have been answered.

After being nearly unhittable in 11 games with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves, Tommy Hanson posted a 3-3 record, 1.49 ERA, and had unbelievable 90 KOs through 66.1 IP. Signed by the Braves as a 22nd round pick in the 2005 Draft, Hanson has been considered a top prospect in both the Braves organization and all of minor league baseball. He was the 2008 Arizona Fall League MVP and was named to their All-Prospect Team. Expect to see some big jumps in the price on his 2007 Bowman Chrome RC.

Andrew McCutchen, former first round (11th overall) selection in 2005 of the Pirates, and former AFLAC All-American, has found his way to the Pirates roster after the trade of Nate McClouth to the Atlanta Braves. Considered a five-tool player (hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning, throwing ability, and fielding abilities), McCuthchen has been in the spotlight since being drafted out of high school. He spent all of last year with Triple-A Indianapolis posting a .283 average with 9 HR, 50 RBI, and 34 SB in 135 games. This year with Indianapolis he has posted a .303 average with 4 HR, 20 RBI, and 10 SB in 49 games. Keep an eye on his 2004 Bowman Chrome RC and 2005 Topps Chrome Update Auto RC and expect to see huge jumps in prices.

After blazing through the White Sox farm system, their number one draft pick in 2008, Gordon Beckham is getting his chance in the bigs. Beckham, who last year at this time, was trying to help his Georgia Bulldogs win an NCAA Championship, has seemingly made an easy transition to the next level. He spent 38 games at Double-A affiliate Birmingham before his call-up to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. For the season, Beckham was batting .326, with 4 HR, 25 RBI, 23 2B, in 45 games. Beckham’s 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto RC has been on the hot list since it was first released. Expect to see a slight rise with the hype around his call-up.

Unlike the other three prospects, Luke Hochevar has already got his feet wet in the bigs. Hochevar hasn’t had the best-of-luck at the MLB level, posting a career 6-15 record, 5.63 ERA, and 80 KOs through 153.1 IP over 26 games. Hochever, the former first round, first overall pick of the Royals in 2006, started the season in KC, but was demoted to Triple-A Omaha after just two starts. At Omaha, Hochevar has seemed to have found his stuff, posting a 5-1 record, 1.50 ERA, 36 KOs, through 48 IP over 8 games. Hochevar’s 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospect Auto RC still can be found pretty cheap, especially for a former number 1 pick. His track record isn’t very strong, but he is showing the potential that Royals need.