Arod Rookie?

Axtell

I am sure it's been discussed, but what card of the seemingly endless ones do you think PSA would consider to be his rookie card for the HoF registry (as he's already a HoFer now...and he's just getting better).

He'll hit 400 HRs before he's 28 and for some reason his absolute brilliance is overshadowed by the jealousy regarding his contract.

I just would like to know which is his most desired RC (no GUs/signatures, though).

Same with Ichiro...there are what, 50 cards of his in his rookie year?

MajorDanby

the sp foil seems to be his most sought after. his flair rookie seems to be his most attractive yet affordable. His fleer update and regular uppderck are his most affordable.

MajorDanby

the non foil for upperdeck sp might likely be the card PSA uses. it's a regular brand issue and it's more sought after than the flair release.

BigRedMachine

Arod was born in July of 1975, which means by my math he's already 29 and won't make it to 400 by age 28.

That being said, there was a thread earlier where I wrote Arod could hit up to 800 homeruns. Barring a major injury, 650+ seems certain. Who knows.

Has 16 this year and leads the majors. Only three more to go for 400. You can not like the guy all you want but the production is incredible.

I have the 94 SP FOIL card myself, it was one of PSA's Top 200 sportscards of All-Time, a list of cards I try to buy( with any luck, I'll get 50 of them before I'm dead )

Axtell

<< <i>Arod was born in July of 1975, which means by my math he's already 29 and won't make it to 400 by age 28. >>



My bad...did some bad math.


<< <i>

That being said, there was a thread earlier where I wrote Arod could hit up to 800 homeruns. Barring a major injury, 650+ seems certain. Who knows.

Has 16 this year and leads the majors. Only three more to go for 400. You can not like the guy all you want but the production is incredible.

I have the 94 SP FOIL card myself, it was one of PSA's Top 200 sportscards of All-Time, a list of cards I try to buy( with any luck, I'll get 50 of them before I'm dead ) >>



How safe are these to buy raw? I can't help but feel this will be a tempting target for counterfeiters...and boxes are way expensive.

Futureman

I like the 1994 SP rookie too. In 1996 I went to a card show, paid something like $6 for one pack in hopes of pulling the ARod, and got it. It's the only time I can remember pulling the card I wanted.

On the topic of boxes: are the 1994 SP too expensive? I know it's a gamble, as it is with any box, but how many ARod's are usually in a box? They usually go for $300-$350, if I'm not mistaken.

ndleo

I think A-Rod's RCs will get hot again when he approaches 500. He will be around 31/32 when it happens and that will lock him in the HOF. He could be the Mickey Mantle of the modern era since all of the other top sluggers have the steroid question around them.

A-Rod is the one player in the game that the casual hobbyist will go out and buy. That "new money" will drive his values to crazy levels.

goudeygold

The A-rod SP die cut is seemingly pretty rare. this one is one high priced modern card that very well may hold its value over time. but at around 5,000 for a 10 (the last I saw at auction was just under 4,000 if I remember right) I can think of many other pre-war gems I personally would rather have. However this is about as good as a financial bet on modern there is I think.

A-Rod is the real deal like it or not.

GG

helionaut

I wouldn't buy boxes looking for just A-Rod rookies. As I recall, there are 30 or 32 packs per box, and you got one foil RC per pack, so you can figure out the odds. However, as I further recall, collation wasn't spot-on. I pulled about 6 A-Rods from the packs and boxes I opened, and was actually kind of frustrated. I remember I needed a Brad Fullmer and a David Bell to complete the set but kept getting that dang over-hyped Rodriguez guy. But there's a chance you'll get a blue holoview and a long shot at a red holoview, in which case that'll be considered a "good box." Condition is tough, with 9s being tough to come by and 10s are pipe dreams. I sent all my cards to BGS years ago and got all 8s except for one 8.5, and I have to think they'd all be 8s with PSA.

Anyway, I imagine they'll use the SP card for the registry. He actually doesn't have too terribly many RCs: SP, Flair, Fleer, Upper Deck, Collector's Choice, Sportflics. All his most expensive cards are inserts, but SP is the preeminent "true" RC. Personally, I think the Fleer is the most attractive, though, a nice horizontal shot of his swing. 1994 Fleer is an underrated set aesthetically. Check out the Ryne Sandberg card.

jrdolan

<< <i>All his most expensive cards are inserts, but SP is the preeminent "true" RC. >>


And Joe O. in his book calls '94 SP the definitive rookie card for A-Rod. If that's not a hint which one PSA will choose for the HOF and 500-HR registries, I don't know what is.

Of course, a lot can change by the time A-Rod is 5 years past retirement around 2020.

joestalin

Ichiro's best rookie card hails from the Ultimate Collection set...a hefty 250 signed copies! By todays standard that is plentiful...if only
his autos were! Ichiro signed stuff has totally dried up. I think anything signed from the year 2001 is worthy of notice!

Kevin

halosfan

It will be the UD SP card just as it is with Jeter. On a side note this card is harder to find 1994 SCORE ROOKIE/TRADED REDEMPTION CARD ALEX RODRIGUEZ.

As for the post re Ichiro .. I have started building the Ultimate Collection sets and they are a bear to assemble!! I recently finished 2004 and may begin to work backwards. Nice cards and not overly abundant as this year's signed RC's were numberes to 75.

frankhardy

What are some thoughts on the Leaf Rookie Phenoms?

Knuckles

I think they're all mass produced crap.

I would like to have one though and consider the '94 UD SP to be the main one as well.

oaktown

94 SP will definitely be the chosen one, but I like the Fleer Update a lot.

ndleo

I think all of his Rookie Cards will be popular. Look what happened to Bonds' mass produced 1986-1987 cards. They all went through the roof. A-Rod's RCs may pop higher since they were all less produced than any product from the late 1980's.

Wasn't 1994 the no World Series year?

Futureman

<< <i>
Wasn't 1994 the no World Series year? >>



ndleo, yes, 1994 was the strike shortened season. There have been some comments on the board that mentioned 1995 was the year that felt the effects as far as production numbers are concerned. Apparently some people think 1995 sets had smaller print runs in anticipation of less demand resulting from the strike. I have no idea if the theory is accurate or not, just what I've heard.

BigRedMachine

You see that?

398 just sailed over the fence, he's still 29.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but this guy is good.

And that's coming from a Reds fan.

Axtell

Barring injury he will win the MVP this year, and likely several more. He should have won 2 in Texas, but being on a last place team in a small media market didn't help. The fact he won the MVP on the team that lost as many as it did is simply amazing.

I am not sure why everyone likes picking on the guy; he's money at the plate, great in the field, and all-around good guy. He could have easily made a fuss when asked to move to third (even though he's by FAR a super shortstop to Jeter), but all he's done is develop into one of the best 3B'ers in the league.

I am sure a lot of the negative energy that comes his way is pure envy; they see his stats, the seemingly effortless way in which he plays the game, and they hate him for it. Then they see his contract and hate him even more. All the crap that spewed out of the Boston clubhouse his way just made me pity the BoSox players; they had won the world series and STILL were acting like petulant children.

I've said it before; Arod is the best player in the game today.

frankhardy

......with the exception of Albert Pujols!!!