Hello fellow card maniacs, It’s time for the second annual Mikey Awards. This is easily my most favorite piece to share each year and yes, I do put more than 20 minutes into this article. I still write it after midnight just like my other reports just to make it as cool and culturally relevant as possible.Since I’m writing this on Christmas morning, I hope that you were … [Read more...] about What’s Hot in the Shop: The 2014 Mikey Awards
Jose Abreu
Give Them a Cup: 2014 Topps Rookie All-Star Team Released
Eleven players will get the ‘ Rookie Cup’ on the front of next year’s card as members of the newly announced 2014 Topps Rookie All-Star team. A tradition that began in 1959 includes eight position players, left and right-handed starting pitchers and one relief pitcher. This year’s team included: 1B Jose Abreu, White Sox (2015 card mock-up shown at right) 2B Kolten … [Read more...] about Give Them a Cup: 2014 Topps Rookie All-Star Team Released
Topps Plans 2014 Bowman Chrome Mini Factory Set
The 2014 Bowman Chrome Mini Factory set will be out before the end of the calendar year according to Topps. New sensations Masahiro Tanaka, Jose Abreu, George Springer, Oscar Taveras, Gregory Polanco and Kris Bryant are among the attractions in 2014 Bowman Chrome. New to the mini sets this year are photo variations. Topps says a “limited number” of players will have … [Read more...] about Topps Plans 2014 Bowman Chrome Mini Factory Set
What’s Hot in the Shop: Bowman Platinum is Pure Hobby Gold
2014 Bowman Platinum baseball is about a week old and it is showing no sign of slowing down. If this trend continues, then it will be the next in a growing line of successful current year MLB releases. Yes, I know that 2014 MLB is starting to sound like 2012 NFL products, but if you own a sports card store, can there be any better music to your ears? Collectors have to be … [Read more...] about What’s Hot in the Shop: Bowman Platinum is Pure Hobby Gold
2014 Bowman Platinum Baseball Rolling Out
2014 Bowman Platinum Baseball is the latest release from Topps with 20-pack boxes beginning to arrive and an official release date of July 30. Each pack contains five cards for a total of 100 cards per box including two autographed Prospect Refractors and a Refractor Autograph Relic. Topps is also introducing a new, Toolsy Die-cut, with unique die-cuts to represent each of … [Read more...] about 2014 Bowman Platinum Baseball Rolling Out
Topps Announces NSCC Giveaways, Events
Topps has announced its preliminary plans for promotions at the 35th National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland, July 30-August 3. The company will pass out free mini promo rookie cards of Masahiro Tanaka or Jose Abreu to those who open a box of 2014 Allen & Ginter baseball at the Topps corporate booth (#455). The cards will only be distributed at the … [Read more...] about Topps Announces NSCC Giveaways, Events
What’s Hot in the Shop? Topps Archives Blasting Off Shelves
When Topps Archives MLB hit on Wednesday, it already had generated quite a significant amount of buzz before it arrived in card shops across the country. Just like Bowman before it, my store was receiving loads of calls from collectors who wanted to get in on the busting action. I am already regretting ordering just one case, but as with other products that were available … [Read more...] about What’s Hot in the Shop? Topps Archives Blasting Off Shelves
2014 Bowman Box Break/Review
Way back in the day I used to have a phrase, "The Card of the Show". In simpler times, there were moments when a specific card was so popular that seemingly every dealer and collector at a show wanted to buy, sell or trade for that card. I like to tell the story about the 1983 Chicago National, which really had two cards of the show: the 1977 Dale Murphy rookie card and the … [Read more...] about 2014 Bowman Box Break/Review
Abreu’s Hot Start Pushes Early Issues Higher
Jose Abreu is off to a historically hot start. The high prices his baseball cards are fetching is a testament to that. The only question about the White Sox first baseman is whether his home run power is equal to his staying power in the eyes of collectors. Abreu, in his first year with the Pale Hose after defecting from Cuba last year, leads the majors in home runs (10) and … [Read more...] about Abreu’s Hot Start Pushes Early Issues Higher
Topps Signs Deal with Jose Abreu
On the heels of a reported record contract with the Chicago White Sox, Cuban slugger Jose Abreu has signed an autograph deal with Topps. Abreu will have autograph cards in a number of Bowman/Topps products next year, starting with 2014 Bowman Baseball, set to release in late April. Abreu racked up incredible numbers while in Cuba’s national league and some are naturally … [Read more...] about Topps Signs Deal with Jose Abreu