Bad Wax

Player’s Name: Chris Ray

Player’s Position: P - Closer

Player’s Current Team: Toronto Blue Jays (pictured with the Baltimare Orioles)

Price I Paid for the Card: I got this off ebay for $0.25.

Set it’s from: 2007 Topps Turkey Red

What it’s Worth: Beckett has it listed for $8.00.

Why I like this card: I liked the orange jersey in the card, but in reality, I got this one as part of a large lot of jersey cards. It’s not that I don’t like Chris Ray, it’s just that he is a blah player from a blah team.  It doesn’t help that he blew out his elbow last season after finally landing and securing the closer role in Baltimore.  He is still on the DL and right now there is no schedule for him to come back.  I’m not saying that his career is over and it might not be, but elbow surgury is a tough thing to come back from and for a closer it’s essential to have a elbow you don’t have to worry about.

Why it’s a Bad Hit: Pitchers are a tricky bunch.  Either, you are great or OK or bad, which is a pretty big spread.  Chris Ray without elbow issues was great.  Now he might fall in the OK to bad area.  Eight bucks is a lot to plunk down for a card of him, even if it was a Topps Turkey Red one.  For a pitcher who may never regain his top form, it’s tough to want this card.  I think that even the common price is too much for something like this.

Will if ever be worth more? Very hard to say, right now, I’d stick with no, in a few years I’ll know if I was right or wrong.

Player’s Name: Marcus Giles

Player’s Position: 2B

Player’s Current Team: Colorado Rockies? (Pictured with the Braves)

Price I Paid for the Card: I got this off of eBay for $0.25 in a large lot of game used cards.

Set it’s from: 2004 Donruss Leather and Lumber

What it’s Worth: Beckett has it listed for $5.00.

Why I like this card: I think I should change this to why I hate this card.  It’s no Brian Giles, thats for sure.  I don’t even know if Marcus is playing anymore. He played for the Padres last year, but is now listed with the Rockies, even though he has never been in a Rockie game (minors or majors).  Other than his big 2003 season when he hit 21 homers, it’s been year after year of disappointment.  To top it off, I don;t even get a piece of home uni.  It’s a damn away jersey and I hate those.  I didn;t even want this card, but there were so many good cards in the lot, I had to take it.  So if you want this card, send me a game used and it’s yours, one for one.  I’m thinking I might even take any other card than his.

Why it’s a Bad Hit: OK, look he doesn’t totally suck, but his prime years have long left him (it was in 2003).  He’s basically a backup in starter’s clothing.  He’ll give you 0.270/11/45 and maybe 8 stolen bases.  That’s if he is still playing.  Like I said after searching him out, his last team was the Rockies, but no stats for him there.  Is it possible he retired?  Please let me know, if you know the answer to this perplexing question.  Actually I could care less, but there might be a few Braves fans that read this and are wondering the same thing.

Will if ever be worth more? No.  Especially if his career is over.

Player’s Name: Hank Blalock

Player’s Position: 3B

Player’s Current Team: Texas Rangers

Price I Paid for the Card: I got this from a pack that I bought at Target

Set it’s from: 2007 Topps Turkey Red

What it’s Worth: Beckett has it listed for $10.00.

Why I like this card: I like the card because it’s part of the Topps Turkey Red set and I am a big fan of that set.  There is a certain classiness that the card just oozes. As far as the player goes, well, you can read more about what I think of him below. However, the look and feel of the card is why I enjoy having this one in my collection.  Also, it isn’t often that you get a jersey of color, usually you are stuck with gray or white and to get a blue one is pretty cool.

Why it’s a Bad Hit: If I got this card in 2004, I would be so excited, but the sad truth is, I think what we are seeing with Hank is what happens when you cycle off steroids.  I don’t usually like to sread rumors, but just look at the stats.  In 2003 he went 0.300/29/90, in 2004 he went 0.276/32/110, and in 2005 he went 0.263/25/92.  He was on one of the worst teams as far as steroid abuse. His numbers have steadily decreased.  Either he had a tiny peak window from when he was 22-24, or he never had the true talent to begin with. Although his name was not on the Mitchell Report, there is definitely evidence from his stats alone that would indicate to me that he might have been using.  I am curious though what do you think?

Will if ever be worth more? I doubt it, he’s only 27 and he plays like he is completely out of his prime.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out of baseball by 30.  I definitely think it won’t be worth more.

Player’s Name: Deion Sanders

Player’s Position: OF

Player’s Current Team: New York Yankees

Price I Paid for the Card: I bought this card on eBay for $1.75.

Set it’s from: 2005 Donruss Greats

What it’s Worth: Beckett has it listed for $10.00.

Why I like this card: In this Yankee Clippings set, you have Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, Roger Marris, Ron Guidry and . . . Deion Sanders? What? Are you serious, you can lop his name in with all the Yankee greats? This is a ridiculous card and it’s so over the top wrong, that I had to have it.  Plus Neo Deion doesn’t have too many game used cards out there. On Baseball-Reference, his name is synonymous with the great Henry Cotto and Junior Felix. Plus he was only on the Yankees for 2 seasons and only had 180 total at bats for them.  How can you put him in a set like this.

Why it’s a Bad Hit: Could you imagine, pulling this from a 2005 Donruss pack?  Of all the Yankee Clippings to get, you nab this clown.  Imagine, you open up that magical pack, you see the thick card in the middle of all the commons, you see it’s a Yankee Clipping, then you turn it over and get to see Deion’s ugly mug. After you pick yourself up off the floor from laughing so hard, you realize, you just dropped a fiver on that pack and got a card of a backup Yankee.  I got it just so I could make fun of it.  It cheers me up after a bad day at work, because no matter how bad my day was at work, it wasn’t as bad as Deion’s Yankee career.

Will if ever be worth more? No a chance.  In my opinion it isn’t even worth the $10 Beckett says it’s worth.