Showing posts with label Prospects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prospects. Show all posts

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Baseball Happenings Podcast | Onyx Authenticated President Lance Fischer's Quest For Baseball's Next Top Prospects

Onyx Authenticated president Lance Fischer joined the Baseball Happenings Podcast to discuss how their company is making an exciting push for collector's in search of baseball's next top prospects. In the 20-minute interview, Fischer explains their careful prospect selection process, why they only use on-card autographs, and their new Unique Baseball Prospects and Legends set done together with the Futera brand.


You can click here to listen and subscribe to the Baseball Happenings Podcast on your favorite platform.




Tuesday, May 21, 2019

2019 Bowman Baseball | Checklist, Autographs, Chrome Prospects, Review, and Box Break

Wander Franco. His 2019 Bowman baseball card has quickly become the face of this year’s product, with the 18-year-old Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect dominating the collecting realms of social media. As his chrome autographs and serial numbered parallels continue to pop up in collector’s feeds, 2019 Bowman Baseball has taken flight largely on the back of this prized phenom.

2019 Bowman Baseball Base Set, Prospect, and Chrome Checklist


The 2019 Bowman Baseball base set is limited to 100 cards. The base set consists mostly of established stars and veterans with a few choice rookies mixed in. The box provided for this review yielded a complete base set. Set collectors who are looking for a challenge, card there is a Bryce Harper SP variation for card number three (Joey Wendle).

2019 Bowman Wander Franco Chrome and Base Prospects / Topps

Both the prospect and chrome sets contain 150 cards each, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Joey Bart, and the aforementioned Franco. Demand for these chrome rookies have been high, especially for the lower numbered Green (/99), Gold (/50), Orange Border (/25), Red Border (/5), and Platinum (1/1) parallels.


2019 Bowman Parallels / Topps

Click here for the complete 2019 Bowman Baseball checklist.

2019 Bowman Inserts


Bowman honors the 30th anniversary of their 1989 landmark set with stars and prospects molded in its classic design, this time fit to standard size proportions with a glossy finish. Collectors will also find familiarity a few of the insert sets that make a return in 2019 —Bowman Scouts Top 100, Talent Pipeline, and Rookie of the Year Favorites.

2019 Bowman Inserts / Topps

Collectors will enjoy the horizontally oriented Ready for the Show inserts, which feature 20 of the top MLB-ready prospects. This set comes in a myriad of serial numbered parallels, further increasing their desirability with collectors.

2019 Bowman Inserts / Topps

2019 Bowman Autographs


The prized possession for those going deep with 2019 Bowman Baseball are the Chrome Prospect Autographs. Collectors anticipate 2019 Bowman’s release; eagerly waiting for the opportunity to secure the debut autograph of the next player they think will make a profound mark on the game. The limited edition serial numbered colored autograph parallels are sure to keep fans coming back to this product as different prospects take off throughout the season.

Other autograph cards include signed versions of the Scouts Top 100, Rookie of the Year Favorites, and Sterling insert sets. The box provided for this review contained a Ryan McKenna autographed Atomic Refractor Chrome Prospect card #/100.

2019 Bowman Chrome Prospects Atomic Refractor Ryan McKenna Autograph / Topps

2019 Bowman Box Break Video and Final Take




Collectors will keep coming back 2019 Bowman Baseball to this set to find players they either overlooked, or want to ride to the top as the baseball season goes deep into the summer. Whether it is Wander Franco, Joey Bart, or a less heralded prospect that emerges as the king from this set, 2019 Bowman Baseball reminds us that infinite hope that new prospects provide drives the engines of baseball fans throughout a long season.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Acquiring Propsects at the Trade Deadline, Fools Gold or Treasure?

Yesterday's transaction between the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies read as follows: July 29: Indians trade Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies for Lou Marson , Jason Knapp, Jason Donald, & Carlos Carrasco. While the Phillies addressed their need for an additional frontline starter and a backup outfielder, what exactly did the Indians get in return?

The centerpiece of the deal for the Indians are the two pitchers they received in Knapp and Carrasco. Knapp has yet to turn 19, and is throwing in the 97 MPH range. He is a few years away from the Majors, but the scouts drool over his upside. At his age, the Indians can afford to bring him along slowly. Carrasco at 22 entered the year as the #2 prospect in the Phillies organization, and is a veteran of two Futures games. He has hit a speed bump in AAA, posting an ERA over 5, however, he could benefit from the change of moving into a lower pressure situation in Cleveland. He throws in the mid 90's with two good offspeed pitches. Donald projects as a backup infielder, as he is hitting .230 at AAA. Marson adds to an already crowded catching situation with Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach. The departure of Ryan Garko could allow Martinez to shift to first base full-time and open the door for Marson to compete for the full-time catching gig.

This trade begs the question of the title of the article, did the Indians acquire a hidden treasure from the Phillies or a bag of fools gold? Does the scouting department of the Indians see something that the rest of us do not? Was this the best offer that they could get for Lee at the trade deadline? Approaching age 31, do they Indians feel that Lee's best days are behind him? Will the two pitchers reach their potential and eventually fill the void left by the trade of Lee?

With any trade, as time passes, the answer will be revealed. History, however, tells us a different story of prospect trades gone to bust. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick offers his view on nine trades where prospects didn't pan out entitled, "They're Called 'Prospects' For a Reason".