In the 2011 Topps Update Baseball release, Topps has inserted some legends variations for some of the regular cards in the set. Unlike the football counterparts, these short print (SP) variations are replacements for the regularly issued card in the set and not just an alternative photo.

We will be updating this list as more SP Veteran Variations are found, so be sure to save this link and check back for more updates.

Topps Triple Threads has a long-history of producing some of the years best-looking cards. Fantastic designs matched up with crazy patches, historical relics, one-of-a-kind historical artifacts, and now on-card autographs. It’s enough to make any collectors heart skip a few beats when reading the sell sheet. Recently, 2011 Topps Triple Threads Baseball hit the shelves and collectors have been busting the product like crazy, in turn, listing cards on eBay like crazy. Like every other year, there has been some amazing cards surfacing from this years set on eBay.

Here is a look at just a few:

2011 Topps Triple Threads Lou Gehrig GU PATCH #3/3 CUT HIS NAME PATCH !! 1/1

2011 Topps Triple Threads Book Card Ty Cobb GU Name Plate Bat Barrel #1/1 SCARCE

2011 Topps Triple Threads Lou Gehrig ” Platinum” GU Jersey 1/1

Babe Ruth 2011 Topps Triple Threads BAMBINO, SULTAN OF SWAT Bat 1/1!!!

2011 Topps Triple Threads JOE DiMAGGIO Jersey PATCH /1 1/1 Never seen

2011 Topps Triple Threads Manny Pacquiao Auto 5-Piece Relic Card 3/3

JUSTIN VERLANDER 2011 TOPPS TRIPLE THREADS ALL-STAR JUMBO SLEEVE PATCH RLIC 1/1

[phpbay]2011 Topps Triple Threads, 10[/phpbay]

The first 2011 Topps Heritage Minor League Bryce Harper Autograph has landed on eBay and the card looks to be as advertised based on all of the sell sheet photos. The seller claims the card is numbered to 154 on the back of the card, and based on the image provided in the auction, it appears these cards feature bold, rich, autographs – compared to some of the duller versions in his earlier 2011 Bowman releases.

Below are two Adrian Peterson Autographed Rookies from 2007 Bowman Chrome. At first glance, both look nearly identical. Both look to contain a certified autograph from Topps, which typically lends itself even more creditability.

Both of these cards also feature a Topps certified authentic sticker on the back of the card, once again extending ones perception of a legit card. Up until 2009, these stickers were placed on the rear of cards as shown in the image below:

The fact is, one of these is a blatant fake, and one is an actual pack-issued, certified autograph. Can you tell which one is the fake? If you can’t, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. These fakes have been selling for good money on eBay to other unsuspecting buyers.

Let’s take a look at where the sticker autographs are placed on the front of each of the cards. As you can see card on the right has a small opaque window over the players image and below the sticker autograph on the front of the card. This is the tell-tale criteria for identifying if you have an authentic, pack-issued, certified autograph from the set.

As you can see, there is a small gap of a lighter shaded area surrounding the autograph, presumably so that the machine or person who applied the autographs to the cards had an indication of where the sticker belonged on the front of the card.

I have lightened up the areas on the two cards to show the area that I am talking about.

There are possibly other 2007 Bowman Chrome Football fake autographs on the market, but the Adrian Peterson version is the most commonly faked. Hopefully this article can arm you with a little more knowledge when you are looking to buy one for your collection.

1. Tom Brady

After his Monday night assault, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, saw his stock and prices of cards reaching the same historic levels as his Monday-night performance. Tom Brady is a once-in-a-generation quarterback and has a tremendous following from his crazed New England fans. Mix that with his three Super Bowl rings and dramatic performances he is able to pull off, and you now understand why the demand and price of his cards are so high.

Top Rookie Cards

1. 2000 Playoff Contenders Auto
2. 2000 SP Authentic
3. 2000 SPx
4. 2000 Bowman Chrome
5. 2000 Leaf Certified

2. Cam Newton

Cam Newton began his NFL career on the same field where he ended his collegiate one and was spectacular. His 422 yards passing are a record for any rookie in his NFL opener. The No. 1 pick in the draft who had struggled at times in the preseason, completed 24-of-37 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Two of his superfractor’s from 2011 products sold over the weekend following his performance. His 2011 Topps Finest Superfractor sold for $3,101.99, while his 2011 Topps Platinum Patch Auto Superfractor sold for $2,500.00.

Top Rookie Cards

1. 2011 Topps Finest Auto
2. 2011 Topps Inception Auto
3. 2011 Topps Rookie Premiere Auto
4. 2011 Topps Auto
5. 2011 Topps Platinum Auto

3. Randall Cobb

Cobb, a second-round draft pick out of Kentucky, caught a touchdown from Rodgers and ran a kickoff back 108 yards for a score in the third quarter — tying an NFL record for the longest kickoff return in history. Prices of his 2011 Topps Finest Patch Auto jumped from $8.00 to $56 in a matter of days.

Top Rookie Cards

1. 2011 Topps Finest Auto
2. 2011 Topps Inception Auto
3. 2011 Topps Rookie Premiere Auto
4. 2011 Topps Auto
5. 2011 Topps Platinum Auto

4. Matthew Stafford

The third-year quarterback, who’s struggled to stay on the field early in his pro career, threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Stafford, who was not sacked, led four scoring drives of at least 70 yards.

Top Rookie Cards

1. 2009 Exquisite Auto Patch
2. 2009 National Treasures Auto Patch
3. 2009 SP Authentic Auto Patch
4. 2009 Contenders Auto
5. 2009 Topps Chrome Auto

In celebration of the return of the NFL Season, Dailywax.com is going to be giving away a FREE Box of 2011 Topps Hobby Football to a lucky reader.

To enter the contest, use the comments form at the bottom of this page and tell us which quarterback is going to have the most passing yards, running back is going to have the most rushing yards, and wide receiver is going to have the most receiving yards in Week 1 of the NFL Season. In case of tie, be sure to also tell us which team you think is going to score the most points in Week 1.

Example:

• QB: Tom Brady
• RB: Jamaal Charles
• WR: Chad Ochocinco
• Team: Arizona Cardinals

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 guesses once, multiple guesses from the same email address or IP 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.

As always, thanks for reading.

[phpbay]2011 Topps Football Box, 5[/phpbay]

He burst on the scene and “Dougie’d” his way into stardom. The electric rookie has catapulted into the elite of cardboard Gods’. His recently released 2010-11 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Auto are been fetching prices above and beyond $2,000 on eBay. These cards are very appealing and are designed with an amazing multi-colored patch along with an on-card autograph. The card has a base version numbered to 99, a gold version numbered to 25, a platinum version numbered 5, and a 1/1 version.

I have collected images of each of the versions that have made their way to eBay for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Here is a look at the top 25 eBay sales since the release of 2010-11 Panini National Treasures Basketball:

1. 2010-11 National Treasures John Wall Patch Auto Rc /99 – $2,600.00
2. 10-11 NATIONAL TREASURES JOHN WALL AUTO 4-CLR PATCH /99 – $2,200.00
3. 10-11 National Treasures Auto Patch ~ John Wall #18/25 – $2,100.00
4. 10-11 National Treasures John Wall Auto Patch RC #/99 – $2,000.00
5. 2010-11 National Treasures JOHN WALL PATCH AUTO /99 – $1,750.00
6. 2010/11 National Treasures John Wall Patch Auto RC – $1,700.00
7. 2010-11 NATIONAL TREASURES JOHN WALL RC AUTO PATCH /99 – $1,691.89
8. 10-11 JOHN WALL National Treasures AUTO RC PATCH /99 – $1,599.99
9. 10/11 National Treasures JOHN WALL AUTO Patch RC 73/99 – $1,550.00
10. 10-11 National Treasures JOHN WALL Patch Auto RC /99 – $1,510.00
11. 10-11 National Treasures John Wall Auto Patch RC #70/99 – $1,509.07
12. 2010-11 NATIONAL TREASURES JOHN WALL PATCH AUTO #44/99 – $1,501.00
13. EVAN TURNER 10-11 National Treasures AUTO LOGOMAN 1/1 – $1,350.00
14. 10/11 National Treasures JASON KIDD LOGOMAN AUTOGRAPH!! – $1,025.00
15. 10-11 National Treasures Adolph Rupp Cut Signature 1/1 – $950.00
16. 10/11 NATIONAL TREASURES JOHN WALL RC LOGOMAN PATCH 1/3 – $832.00
17. 10/11 NATIONAL TREASURES KOBE BRYNAT PATCH AUTO #/5 – $785.00
18. 2010-11 NATIONAL TREASURES GARY NEAL RC AUTO LOGOMAN – $735.00
19. 10/11 National Treasures AL HORFORD LOGOMAN Auto #1/1 – $550.00
20. 10/11 National Treasures Logoman Auto Ekpe Udoh RC 1/1 – $500.00
21. 10/11 National Treasures Grant Hill G/U NBA Logo #1/1! – $483.00
22. 10/11 National Treasures CHRIS PAUL/DAVID WEST LOGO 1/1 – $482.00
23. 10-11 National Treasures Larry Bird Nicknames Auto 4/25 – $440.00
24. 10-11 National Treasures Derrick Favors PATCH AUTO /25 – $420.00
25. 10-11 National Treasures GORDON HAYWARD AU Patch RC 2/5 – $416.23

Fake autographs run rampant in the hobby for years and eBay seems to be overran with sellers trying to move them to uneducated and unaware buyers. no longer is it safe to assume that just because an autograph appears on a manufacturers printed card, that the autograph is 100% legitimate. There has been rumors of card being back-doored, handed out to friends and family, and even potentially stolen prior to being forged and trying to be sold to the secondary market. This article is aimed at attempting to educate you in how to find authentic and pack inserted, certified, autographs from 2009 Topps Football Rookie Premiere.

Take a look at these two cards and see if you can notice some glaring differences between the two:

The first thing that jumps out at me is obvious forged autograph of the version on the left. However, some forgers have made a real art into duplicating an athletes signature, so that may not always be a tell-tale identifier in the case of the Donal Brown above.

The best identifier I have found is attempting to locate the “Topps Certified Autograph Issue” label on the card, directly above the autograph. As you can see, the pack issued cards have it printed directly on the card, while the forged version is missing the the label. Now, this does not mean the cards can’t have authentic autographs on the cards. Here is an example of a Michael Crabtree that the card may have been back-doored, then actually signed by Crabtree, however, the card is missing the “Topps Certified Autograph Issue” label.

Let’s take a look at some more:

Here are some eBay auctions of some fake Rookie Premiere Autos:

• Aaron Curry
• Andrew Brown
• Chris Wells
• Donald Brown
• Hakeem Nicks
• Jeremy Maclin
• Josh Freeman

Here are some eBay auctions of some authentic Rookie Premiere Autos:

• Knowshon Moreno
• Mike Thomas
• LeSean McCoy
• Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford, Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin Quad
• Josh Freeman

Due to an overwhelming demand for Stephen Strasburg cards during his phenomenal 2010 rookie season, Topps extended its original 660-card set by an additional card for Strasburg. Due to the legalities surrounding the MLBPA-licensed set, Topps was not allowed to include Strasburg in the original 660-card set until he debuted in a Major League game. In order to meet the demand for Strasburg, Topps offered six different versions of card #661 in the Topps set.

This guide is intended to educate you on the various versions of the #661 card of Stephen Strasburg in 2010 Topps.

Version A

Randomly inserted into 2010 Topps packs were redeemable code cards for their Million Card Giveaway promotion. These code cards allowed for you to unlock version A, which ended up being exclusively available on through this promotion. The card features a photo of Strasburg taken during his first MLB pitch.

Version B

This version was announced as a late addition to remaining 2010 Topps factory sets. A telling characteristic of this version is locating Strasburg’s right hand directly under the Topps logo in the upper left hand corner.

Version C

Identical to version A, except the card features an on-card autograph. Once again, exclusively offered to those who unlocked version A through the Million Card Giveway, owners were given the opportunity to have the card autographed. Each card was machined stamped, and has a production of 299.

Version D

Available in packs of 2010 Topps Update.

Version E

A short-print variation of version D, this version features Strasburg in a road-game grey jersey.

Version F

Another short-print variation of version D, this version features Strasburg in a Elvis wig and pie in his face.