2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs

Set Size: 70 cards

Design Notes: The set uses the 2011 Bowman design with white borders, since the players are prospects. A white semi-opaque box at the bottom holds an on-card autograph.

Parallels and Similars: Refractor autographs are available in regular, superfractor, blue, gold, orange, and red, plus four printer plate versions.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of 2011 Bowman products. Refractor versions are numbered between 1 and 500.

Thoughts: Bowman's rookie autographs are some of the most sought-after because they are usually a player's first MLB-release autograph. However, out of the 70 players in this set, only one or two might make it big. Reese Havens, for example, had a successful 2010 and a good 2011 in the minors, but hit only .215 in 2012 with the Mets' AA affiliate.

2004 Donruss Team Heroes Autographs

Set Size: 256 cards

Design Notes: The 2004 Team Heroes set has white borders with rectangular boxes at the top and bottom containing logos and the player's name and position. The design is almost the opposite of 2005 Donruss (where there's a small box of rectangles inside the photos). It's simple but attractive. A large signed silver sticker is placed over the photo.

Parallels and Similars: This set is a partial parallel of the 2004 Donruss Team Heroes set.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of Team Heroes. While the checklist is large, each card is available in differing quantities. Many players don't have an announced print run, but these are only commons or local stars. Players like Mike Piazza and Tom Glavine have print runs of only 1 card! Oddly, Nolan Ryan seems to have five cards per team.

Thoughts: Team Heroes is, unfortunately, a forgettable product released at a time when there were way too many releases every week. While it's a nice design, it doesn't stand out as a great design, and most people probably forgot this set even existed! Collecting the entire autographed set is virtually impossible due to so many players (52 by my count) having 1/1 autographs and eight more having print runs less than 5.

Additional Images: card back

2005 Donruss Autographs

Set Size: 11 cards

Design Notes: This partial parallel of the 2005 Donruss set differs only by the addition of an autographed sticker and an authenticity embossing. The 2005 Donruss set focuses mostly on the photography, with a simple yet attractive rectangle at the bottom containing player and team information.

Parallels and Similars: Donruss was known for its parallels, and aside from the base set, there were four colors of press proofs and Stat Line parallels for career and season statistical totals. An additional 25th Anniversary parallel was issued.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of 2005 Donruss.

Thoughts: This strange collection of autographed cards seems to have no purpose other than to increase the total number of autographed cards included in the product. With such a small, unimportant checklist, I doubt Donruss wanted to do anything else. In fact, this card is less important to me than an insert card, because those usually have some sort of theme. Unfortunately, when compiling a type collection, cards like this count just as much as a 1/1 autographed relic. Fortunately, cards like this can be had for nearly nothing.

Did you know: Craig Monroe was arrested in late 2004 for stealing a $29.99 belt, after earning over $300,000 that year. Also, his mother's name is Marilyn Monroe. I wonder if he agreed to sign autographs for Donruss to earn money to pay for that belt.

Additional Images: Card back.

2003 Topps Blue Chips Autographs

Set Size: 24 autographed cards

Design Notes: This set features all on-card autographs in a large box at the bottom of the card. While the box removes space for the photo, the design seems to work good enough. The players are all younger stars at the time of release, so the set's focus was on providing an autograph of a HOF hopeful.

Parallels and Similars: None - Topps has never done many parallel versions of inserts.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of several different Topps products, mainly Bowman and lower-cost Topps flagship and Total. Apparently the cards were issued in 2003 and 2004 products.

Thoughts: While the design isn't outstanding, for an autograph collector I feel this card provides a nice, large, clean space to feature the on-card signature. There are no major stars in the set so it wouldn't be too expensive to complete.

Additional Images: card back

2011 Topps Heritage Minors Real One Autographs

Set Size: 50

Design Notes: The cards are designed to look similar to 1962 Topps - you know, wood borders - with the small addition of a gigantic off-white stripe for a stickered autograph to go. The backs still follow the 1962 Topps design, but have an RA- prefixed card number.

Parallels and Similars: The set is a parallel of the base 2011 Topps Heritage Minors base set, which is nearly identical to the 2011 Topps Heritage set, which is nearly identical to the 1962 Topps set. Yeah. There's a lot of reuse of card designs going on here. The autograph set has blue, green, and red tint variation parallelss, black border parallels, and printing plates.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into boxes of 2011 Topps Heritage Minors. Two autographs are found in each box of Minors.

Thoughts: I understand the interest in the Heritage line, and while I don't collect the set I like some of the basic ideas behind it. Heritage, with minor leaguers, though, just doesn't interest me. Especially when a gigantic swatch of off-white wood grain shows up for a sticker autograph. There isn't much interest in minor league cards anyway, and Bowman has Topps' prospect bases covered. I like minor league issues, but I wish Topps wouldn't take their MLB designs and stick them on MiLB sets. Tekotte made his MLB debut last year, but the statistics just aren't there. He's currently at .133 for the year, though he's only had 15 at-bats.

Additional Images:

2006 Bowman Sterling Prospects

Set Size: 110 cards, of which 59 are autographed (stickers).

Design Notes: The high-premium set has an ornate design, bright glossy foil, and fairly empty fronts. There's a photo, a giant autograph frame, and the player's last name. The black and white backs have some more details.

Parallels and Similars: There are regular, black, gold, and red refractors, plus encased printing plate parallels. The regular Bowman Sterling set has the same design.

Distribution: Cards were sold in packs of five, with six packs per box. Each box contained at least five relic, autograph, or autographed-relic hits.

Thoughts: As I stated in my last post, I could do without Bowman Sterling. Steven Evarts is probably the worst card in the set at this point - he was a promising pitcher in 2006 but was found using performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Charleston RiverDogs - yes, that's low minor league ball. I think the 2006 design was one of the better Bowman Sterling releases to date, as it's at least a fairly bright design and it scans well. The 2006 release has a few big names, including Evan Longoria and Prince Fielder.

Additional Images:

2008 Bowman Sterling Prospects

After a six month absence, I finally return to the Zoo! It's not that I haven't wanted to write. It's that I'm just too busy or tired to write, and to be honest three blogs is a lot. However, I am still interested in this project, so we continue again... (three more posts are written for the weekend already!)


My Japanese card collection is moving along nicely, but for now I'm going to stick with US issues. I have plans...

Set Size: 85 cards

Design Notes: This is a premium release, with several of the base cards having autographs or memorabilia (as you can see with Brad Hand's card). The card is covered in a shiny foil and most of the card has a silvery background, which my scanner can't handle. The backs are basically black and white with the same picture as the front, and cards are identified by players' initials instead of card numbers.

Parallels and Similars: There are four refractor parallel sets, plus four printing plates. The design is identical to the regular 2008 Bowman Sterling set.

Distribution: Cards were sold in packs of five cards (six packs per box), with two autographs, one relic or autographed relic card, one rookie, and one prospect.

Thoughts: I'm not a fan of Bowman products, and I'm even less of a fan of Bowman's premium offerings. Sadly, most Bowman cards are forgettable and worthless - the only selling point is the chance of pulling a big hit (either now or in the future). I guess some people enjoy hoarding the cards away for a few years hoping for the next Pujols. Brad Hand got his cup of coffee in the middle of the 2011 season, but is back playing in the PCL this year.

Additional Image (Card Back):

2007 UD Black Game Day-Box Score Autographs

Set size: 42 cards

Front Design: The horizontal cards have a box score from a significant game in the player's career - for example, the Travis Buck card's box score above highlights his first career home run and reaching base 5 of 6 plate appearances. The left side of the card has (from top to bottom) the UD Black logo, a small photo with a serial number, the game date, and a team logo. The right side of the card has a dark box with a silver-pen autograph.

Back Design: The back has the same basic layout as the front, with design elements changed. The middle has a highlight writeup from the game and an authenticity statement, the left contains the card number, team logo, game date, and licensing logos, and the "autograph" area contains the location of the game celebrated on the card.

Parallels and Similars: Two parallels, numbered to 10 and 1/1, were also issued. There are other Game Day sets (ticket autos and lineup card autos) in the release.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of UD Black - a two-pack-per-box product where every card in the set is autographed, and each pack contains only one card. The Game Day Box Score set is serial-numbered to 50.

Thoughts: Any UD Black card is a good card - all cards are autographed and numbered to 99 or less. Players like Travis Buck can come cheap, though this is a landmark release and commands a premium because of its initial pack price. I like the idea of a set that highlights a specific event, as this set does. It's more than just an autograph!

Forgotten 2011: 2011 Topps Marquee Monumental Markings

Set size: 75 cards

Front Design: A player photo, usually a portrait, is overlaid with foil across the bottom. The lower portion of the card has an on-card autograph of the player represented, followed by his name. The cards are serial numbered in the lower-right portion of the photo.

Back Design: The backs have a grey frame. A box at the top has the player's name, team, and position, which is followed by a short biography. An authenticity guarantee follows. At the bottom of the grey frame is the card number, and beneath the frame is a tan/gold fancy victorian design.

Parallels and Similars: A gold parallel version exists.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into boxes/packs of Topps Marquee. The Monumental Markings set appears about one per box. The serial numbering for any specific player depends on that player's popularity (and thus cost for obtaining signatures) - superstars like Sandy Koufax signed only 10 cards, and many of the "common" players signed up to 600 copies.

Thoughts: This set was forgotten soon after its release due to another high-end issue arriving within a couple weeks. It's my favorite high-end set of the year. I could never afford Triple Threads or Tribute, and this set provides cards that are just as attractive at a better price point. Plus, all the autographs here should be on-card, which is important for today's collectors.

2007 Topps Rookies 52 Signatures

Set size: 66 cards

Front Design: The set mimics the 1952 Topps design, with a color photo inside a black frame, and a star-bordered black and white box at the bottom containing the player's name and an authentic autograph. The team logo is placed over the upper-left corner of the autograph box; the cards have white borders.

Back Design: A red box at the top of the card has "white" (really, it's grey/brown cardstock color) text including the player's full name and biographical data. Beneath that is a short career paragraph and the player's past year and lifetime statistics. An authentication hologram is in the lower left corner, with copyright and trademark information filling the rest of the bottom of the card.

Parallels and Similars: As mentioned before, the card set is designed to look like the 1952 Topps set, and is a parallel of sorts of the regular "52 Style" set. A parallel exists of this set with red signatures on the front.

Distribution: Cards were randomly inserted into packs of 2007 Topps Rookies 52 Style cards. Three autographed cards were included in every 20-pack box of the product.

Thoughts: The 1952 design is perfect for on-card autographs, and this year's Lineage autographs help reiterate that fact (other than those giant boxes for the sticker autographs). The set focused on rookies, which means a box is really hit-or-miss with the quality of autographs. However, the set focused only on real rookies, and many of the players have gone on to have successful careers, including 2011 MVP Ryan Braun. That said, the 1952 Topps design is used over and over again, and it can become somewhat tiring. If your favorite 2007ish rookie is in the autograph checklist, then this might be the card to have, simply for the look.

1997-98 Score Board Autographed Collection Autographs

Set size: 24 cards

Front Design: The player's photo appears in a gray circle with white horizontal stripes. The card's background contains black and red stripes, with a black V running the vertical length of the card. The player's name is at the top in grey letters. An on-card autograph is on a white oval beneath the photo, with a Score Board authentic autograph watermark. A set-identifying logo carries a 1998 issue date.

Back Design: The tan backs contain the Score Board logo and an authenticity statement, with a Score Board logo looking to be embossed on the card. The cards carry 1997 copyrights.

Parallels and Similars: None known.

Distribution: Cards were inserted 2:9 packs of Score Board Autographed Collection.

Thoughts: For an unlicensed issue, this is a fairly nice autographed card set. The autograph is on-card, and the design is bold but not overwhelming, unless seeing lots of horizontal lines remind you of the blinds in your grandmother's house, which smelled like old people and had so many nice things that you weren't allowed to run around and play like you were at home. And what was up with all those little trinket boxes on the coffee table with random buttons and other found objects? Don't those objects have a home? Kerry Wood is the only name I recognize in this set, other than Helms, and Woods wasn't inserted into packs. Helms played for the Marlins through the 2011 season, but has probably seen his last MLB pitch. By the way, I haven't posted in a few days because I've been busy with my Japan preparations.

2005 Just Autographs Signatures

Set size: 49 cards

Front Design: The horizontal cards have a color action photo on the left side, about two inches square. The player's name and team are centered in the border beneath the photo. The MiLB logo serves as a background for the lower right side of the card, with the Just Minors logo in the upper right. A sticker autograph is placed across the photo and mILB logo.

Back Design: The photo is cropped somewhat smaller in the upper-left. The player's biographical data and prior year statistics are on the upper right; the bottom of the card is reserved for the player's name, copyright information, and a holographic authenticity/serial numbering sticker.

Parallels and Similars: There are three parallels of the autograph set. The non-autographed version has several parallels of its own - the full unautographed set has 70 cards.

Distribution: The autographs were inserted into packs of Just Autographs, with one autograph in every pack.

Thoughts: Other than the invasive foil sticker, this is a nice design. The back may not have much data, and more could be added by moving the MiLB logo and sticker, but it's a decent layout. Boxes are pretty cheap - 12 packs of 4 cards each (12 autographs) for about $35. While many (most?) of the players don't make the majors, at this price a couple boxes could yield some good players, and for $35 it could be a fun break.

2007 Just Rookies Autographs

Set size: 64 cards

Front Design: The set parallels the 2007 Just Rookies issue, with the added addition of a holographic autographed sticker on the front. The design has a full-bleed photo with a white rectangle around the player, and additional white tracing around the player's body. His name, position, and organization is at the top.

Back Design: The photo from the front is repeated, and text includes biographical information and minor league statistics. An authenticity hologram and the Just Minors logo fill the bottom third of the card.

Parallels and Similars: I already mentioned this set is a parallel of the 2007 Just Rookies base set, but there are 23 total parallels of the base issue, including autographed and non-autographed versions and printing plates for both.

Distribution: Cards were inserted into packs of Just Rookies. Each pack contained one autograph (though it could be a serial-numbered autograph parallel).

Thoughts: The lack of a border is a plus, but the white outline around the player's body detracts from the image. We all know how annoying sticker autographs are. At least it covers an appropriate part of Lotzkar's body?