The headlines after Kenta Maeda‘s fourth MLB start speak of superlatives — all-time superlatives — and that bodes well for his cardboard.
In part due to good timing.
The first Bowman Chrome autograph of the Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander arrives this week in 2016 Bowman, which is a perfect arrival of cardboard considering his five-plus hitless innings at Coors Field Saturday night. That outing helped establish Maeda on a historic level. (It’s also notable since the Colorado Rockies lineup includes the likes of Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, a guy who’s been a big deal so far this season.)
According to MLB, since 1913 there have been just 76 pitchers to start their MLB careers with four straight “quality starts,” but the Japanese star is the only one of that bunch to have allowed just a single earned run during that stretch. Giants second baseman Joe Panik homered off of Maeda on April 17. (Give him the National League MVP now. Or something.)
The 28-year-old is 3-0 with a ridiculous MLB-leading 0.36 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 25-plus innings. His win last night was his 100th of his professional career.
Right now, Maeda has just very few certified autographs from the recently released 2016 Topps Gypsy Queen and redemptions in the high-end 2016 Topps Legacies of Baseball and 2016 Topps Museum Collection. The arrival of 2016 Bowman — and that first Chrome auto — is one that carries much more potential when it comes to high-end dollar signs while also being a bit more democratic when it comes to pack price.
Maeda Superfractor anyone?
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