Eric Thames’ surprising start prompts look back at key cardboard

A new season’s new emerging names are doing just that.

Your MLB home run leader right now is Eric Thames of the Milwaukee Brewers, who has smacked seven longballs so far. The latest came as part of a 3-for-4 day Monday against the Cubs in Wrigley Field.

The 30-year-old entered this season with 21 homers in his previous three big-league seasons — his last being in 2012 with the Mariners. He hit 12 of those homers as a rookie with the Blue Jays in 2011 but struggled with a career average that’s up to .259 with his .405 start this year. How far off the radar was he? Thames spent the last three years playing in Korea’s KBO League — where he hit 124 homers in 390 games.

Continue reading

Black November Wave 3 is here — and here are five deals to consider

2009toppsmayoFB

If you hadn’t noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices now over on the mothership as BlowoutCards.com’s Black November Wave 3 hits today.

Many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases — and here are five boxes that caught this collector’s eye.

2009 Topps Mayo football hobby box 
TimKaineBuying older football boxes can be tough at times as players can come and go quite quickly, but, then again, so did this brand — but there aren’t many sets like it. It’s retro-styled football in the realm of Allen & Ginter with some downright unusual inclusions. Example? It’s the home of a Tim Kaine “Rookie Card” — perhaps notable to some collectors out there since we’re so close to Election Day. Mayo was only around two seasons, and it includes non-traditional autographs and Relics along with a decent mix of big football names. (The big names remain big but the rookies may not be.) For the price this one’s got potential and it’s bound to be very, very different than other NFL brands out there — no matter who you pull.

Continue reading

eBay Buzz: Asking price for top Bryce isn’t close to top Trout sale

Bryce-Harper-BGSEither Bryce Harper or Mike Trout who will come to mind first if it’s a debate of who’s the best in the game, but sometimes it’s fun just to look at the outrageous asking prices for these types of players’ key cards on eBay.

The 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Refractor you see above leads the league among current auctions for Harper, checking in with an asking price of $24,999.99 Buy it Now. (No, seriously, go look.)

As goofy as that one might be, consider that the top Trout price — one reportedly paid — is even higher. That one’s for a BGS 10 first Bowman Chrome Refractor auto with a serial number matching Trout’s No. 27 on the field.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com

—-

More eBay Buzz posts …

This perfect Mike Trout 2009 Bowman Draft auto is how much?

What’s a $100 eBay gift card go for on eBay, anyway?

How much will a Flawless BGS set sell for?

You can own the negative used to make Nolan Ryan’s Rookie Card

eBay Buzz: PSA 8 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle sells for $486,100

Have you seen Connor McDavid’s Young Guns sales so far?

Bryce Harper’s Topps Bunt virtual autograph went for what?

High-grade 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle draws attention

These Kobe Bryant autos are how much?

You won’t believe the price on this perfect Bobby Orr Rookie Card