Topps announces the player redeemable for the 2008 Topps Baseball Series 2 RED HOT ROOKIE Redemption # 6 is Chris Davis, First Baseman, Texas Rangers.

Throughout the remainder of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, Topps will announce the subjects for the 20-card RED HOT ROOKIE program.  Each Topps Series 2 Hobby Box includes (1) RED HOT ROOKIE Redemption, which can be redeemed online at www.topps.com/redemption.

The cards will be printed on Topps Chrome Refractor technology and shipped to collectors first week of November.

Stay tuned for RED HOT ROOKIE # 7!

# 1 Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds / Autographed
# 2 Justin Masterson, Boston Red Sox
# 3 John Bowker, San Francisco Giants
# 4 Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago Cubs
# 5 Mike Aviles, Kansas City Royals
# 6 Chris Davis, Texas Rangers
# 7 ???

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There that old adage that says sometimes the BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE. In the memorabilia field I find that adage to be very true. I have come to that conclusion from looking at one of my friend collection who by no means is wealthy. By looking at his collection you would think he has put some serious cash into it.

So let me start with some pictures to show what I am talking about:Martin Erat Game Used Gloves:

NHL OFFICIAL GAME USED PANTS:

CHRIS MASON GAME USED SOCKS:

MAREK ZIDLICKY GAME USED PADS

OFFICIAL GAME USED STICKS:

I learned many things from Darryl over the years and here some tips that can possibly make you successful in the future.

a) Know where the players hang on and practice. As you can get stuff from the players themselves or build connections. Get to know the booster’s, season ticket holders, the equipment manager, gift shop personnel, and the list goes on and on. As any of these people can help you possibly in getting game used equipment or possibly leading you to connections to do so.

b) Study the patterns of where the players stay on roadtrips, where they go to eat when in town, their game routine, etc. As their nothing easier than getting something autographed for free when you do some personal hounding.PICTURE OF JAROME IGNILIA SIGNING GRAPHS:

c) Study what the players look like as their nothing worse than not asking for a graph as you do not know what they look like. It at least courteous to know their name if your going to get their graph.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS?

d) Never say it impossible. As Ian (P-NUT-BUTR), Mike (PUCKFRMCALI) and myself can vouch that Darryl will try what no one else will try. As I watched him walked up to 1st round draft pick ROSTISLAV OLESZ that spoke no English. He pointed to his Florida Panther cap and then to his. They ended up switching hats with each other. How many collectors can say they have a NHL PLAYER DRAFT CAP?

I told his wife one day over snacks when I spent the night at their house about that story. As I was like who is this IDIOT who thought some 1st Rounder was going to give him their cap. Of course I looked like the idiot later as it was him that had a piece of memorabilia of a life time.

I remember talking to Mike and Ian and Darryl even almost became sold emboldened with his hat success he thought he would try the jersey as well. He never got to that but I won’t ever tell him something is impossible as over the years I seen him accumulate so much stuff most collectors would love to have.

So just a shout out to a bud of mine who in the end is a great friend and has made the hobby fun from a collecting standpoint as it not all about DOLLAR AND CENTS.

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Interesting video on “how to Pack War”.

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Donruss/Playoff’s second “I am a Donruss Rookie Card” video.

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Review by: CHillyDoggy 

I picked up a box of 2007-08 Topps Finest today and here are the hits that I got as well as a look at the other cards’ design.

Product Description:

Configuration: Three mini-boxes per box, six packs per mini-box., six cards per pack.

2007-08 Topps Finest Basketball offers a first look at the 2008 NBA Draft with basketball’s most talked about cards - Finest Draft Pick Redemption Cards. These 30 cards, representing all 30 first round draft picks, are inserted one per mini-box, and three per master-box!

Set Features:
-2008 NBA Draft Pick Redemption Cards - All 30 1st Round Picks! One per mini-box!
-One autographed card per mini-box! Three per master box!
-Four parallel cards per mini-box! 12 per master box!
-Every 12-box case contains one Draft Pick Redemption Autograph card!

Product Breakdown:

Autographs:
-NBA Draft Pick Redemption Autographs (10 cards)
-Die-Cut SuperFractor 1/1
-X-Fractor #’d to 10
-Refractor #’d

Rookie Autographed Variation Cards (40 cards):
-Die-Cut SuperFractor 1/1
-X-Fractor #’d to 25
-Refractor

Refractor Parallels:
-(130 subs/1040 variations) Including Draft Pick Redemptions
-Die-Cut Super-Fractor 1/1
-White-Framed X-Fractor 1/1
-X-Fractor #’d to 25
-Gold #’d to 50
-Black #’d to 99
-Green #’d to 199
-Blue #’d to 299
-Refractor

Framed Printing Plates (1/1’s):
-Base Cards (130 subs/4 per)
-Autograph Cards (50 subs/4 per)

Other Cards:
-NBA Draft Pick Redemptions (30 cards) - One per mini-box
-Rookies (50 cards)
-Veterans (50 cards)
 
Overall Break: 
Base - 72/100 (72% complete)
Refractors - 8
Blue Refractors/199 - 2
Green Refractors/149 - 1
Black Refractors/75 - 1
Draft Pick Redemption Cards - 3
Autos - 3

Autos:
-Aaron Gray Refractor RC Auto
-Aaron Brooks Refractor RC Auto
-Dominic McGuire Refractor RC Auto (Redemption)

Refractor Design:

-All 4 Refractor Color Variations Pictured

Redemption Cards:
-#4 Draft Pick Green Refractor Redemption (pictured)
-#5 Draft Pick Blue Refractor Redemption
-#29 Draft Pick Refractor Redemption 

Base Design:
Kevin Durant Rookie Base Card, pictured

Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base Set - 4
Fun - 3
Overall Design - 3
Value - 3
Rebuy - 2
 
Final Grade - 15/25 (60%)

I have read nothing but people pulling low end rookie autos from this product this year and this box was no different. The actual set is a nice one to collect each year, but the design is one of Topps weaker designs in the last few years. The redemptions are always the best draw to this box, that and the chance at pulling one of the draft pick auto redemptions. I was actually very disappointed with the product even though I got some decent draft pick redemptions. One of my autos was a redemption and all three were near the bottom of the ones that I’d have wanted. I did pull a Durant and Oden RC though so that was a positive.

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Topps announces the player redeemable for the 2008 Topps Baseball Series 2 RED HOT ROOKIE Redemption # 5 is Mike Aviles, Shortstop, Kansas City Royals.

Throughout the remainder of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, Topps will announce the subjects for the 20-card RED HOT ROOKIE program.  Each Topps Series 2 Hobby Box includes (1) RED HOT ROOKIE Redemption, which can be redeemed online at www.topps.com/redemption.

The cards will be printed on Topps Chrome Refractor technology and shipped to collectors first week of November.

Stay tuned for RED HOT ROOKIE # 6!

# 1 Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds / Autographed
# 2 Justin Masterson, Boston Red Sox
# 3 John Bowker, San Francisco Giants
# 4 Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago Cubs
# 5 Mike Aviles, Kansas City Royals
# 6 ???

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