As a low end collector, I really don’t get to open any high end products unless they are old and thus cheap. I got lucky several months ago and won a contest where I had to guess to score of a baseball game and came away with a Bowman Inception box. I was waiting for a good time to open the box. After the Target fiasco, as seen in the last post, I really needed a pick me up. Unfortunately this box wasn’t it.
The product features 5 cards, all of which are at the very minimum autographs.
The haul:
Michael Taylor autograph, not numbered
Jorge Alfaro autograph, not numbered
C.J. Edwards autograph, numbered to 99
Hunter Renfroe autograph, numbered to 50
Hunter Renfroe ‘autograph jump patch,’ numbered to 50
That is not an oversight, I really did get two Hunter Renfroe cards that were numbered to 50. This box just turned him into one of my favorite players. The patch card kind of annoys me as a collector because it has pieces of the jersey hanging out; I just wish that there was more quality control. The cards themselves are on good stock and should be durable over time. There were a few minor dings on the cards but that is because they gave too much breathing room for the pack of cards in the box; a nitpick on my part. The only real issue is that these cards are thick and don’t fit into common top-loaders. Unfortunately all of these cards can be bought on Ebay right now for under $12 for all. I would say that means the box is a major dud. This is why I avoid prospect boxes.
The players:
I did a little research because these are my new favorite players.
Renfroe is listed as high as the Padres #3 prospect currently; although that may change with the Kimbrel haul. Alfaro was a key prospect in the Cole Hamels haul. I am very familiar with him, and his autograph is my personal favorite of the box. I saw Mike Piazza develop when I was a kid going to Dodgers games, so I am partial to power hitting catchers. Baseball America has him listed at the Phillies 5th best prospect. Edwards saw the Cubs big club this season but my gut tells me that he will flush out soon; although I hope not. He came to them from Texas in the Matt Garza trade. Taylor played regularly for the Nationals and put up an atrocious batting average. I hope that they give him a chance to show that it is a fluke; it will help if Denard Span leaves via free agency. He should get that chance because he peaked at the #32 prospect in all of baseball before last season.
Coming up in my next entry, my luck did change with a visit to my favorite hobby shop.
Angry Card Collector . com 