Have you visited our store? Click here.In this issue of Random Picks, Dan G. shares a significant pull from 2011, while I randomly select something from 2001. Let’s dig in.
Dan’s Random Pick: Ben Roethlisberger 2011 Absolute Memorabilia Marks of Fame Materials Autographs #3 /25
When Pat from radicards.com asked me to do another Random Picks I thought it would be great. What a cool way of starting 2014. So at his request, I reached into my personal collection and pulled this puppy out.
Ahh yes! My Ben Roethlisberger: 2011 Absolute Memorabilia Marks of Fame Jersey Auto #ed 02/25.
I remember pulling this card as if it was yesterday. Actually it was a redemption that Panini fulfilled in about four days. No joke, to their credit it was really fast.
I’m not a Roethlisberger fan, but this card is really cool. It has a nice design complemented with symmetry between the jersey swatch, player picture, and autograph window. Additionally, the front card stock is composed of a foil that makes the card shimmer (not visible with the scan), and is in perfect condition. This is a big deal because anyone who has been in the hobby long knows that foil cards are always dented, dinged, chipped or scratched, and this card has none of those imperfections (at least not to the naked eye). Finally, to top it off, this card is limited to only 25 copies, making it a difficult short print to obtain.
Outside of the card’s appearance, this card is special to me for two reasons. One, Roethlisberger doesn’t have many certified autos outside of his rookie year so it is nice to have one in the PC. And two, I pulled the redemption on Christmas day (2011) from a box my wife bought for me as a gift, so it has sentimental value on top of everything else.
To view the current eBay auctions for Ben Roethlisberger football cards, click here.
Patrick’s Random Pick: Hank Blalock 2001 Topps Chrome #T214 Retrofractor
The card I selected at random from my collection came from my team box. I keep a 3200 count box organized by team of cards featuring players I don’t actively collect but keep because I like the cards themselves. I pulled the 2001 Topps Chrome Traded Retrofractor Hank Blalock RC.
I believe this was the only time Topps used their coveted refractor technology without calling it a refractor. This, I believe, was the only time they used the term retrofractor. I’m not entirely clear on why they used another name for this set. It’s essentially a refractor.
This card comes from the same set that features RC’s of two other dominant players to hit the scene in 2001, Albert Pujols and Ichiro. These two players likely drove sales for the product when it was released and likely still do today. While the Blalock RC may not have the same marquee value as those players, it is a great card of a player with two All-Star appearances. At the time I write this, the cards perceived value is $36, with a likely actual value falling somewhere between $10-15 in raw form.
I’m usually pretty good about remembering where/how I acquire my cards but I can’t remember how I acquired this example. My guess is that it was part of a collection of cards I picked up. I’ve always been a fan of the 2001 Topps design. I think it has something to do with the green border.
To view the current eBay auctions for 2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors, click here.
