Advice for a new prospector

Omega732 · 12-01-2011, 09:49 AM

I am new to the hobby and when I broke a box of Bowman Draft last night (which I bought with the slim hope of pulling a Harper), a few packs in I realized that I did not know a single player in the set and, thus, had no idea if I was pulling good cards or not

(and no, I did not get a Harper).

How do you guys stay abreast of the up and coming prospects?

Thank you for the advice!

messier2 · 12-01-2011, 09:50 AM

BaseballAmerica.com
Minor League Ball - A SBNation Community about Minor League Baseball, Rookies, and Prospects
The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
Baseball Prospectus

sportcrazynick · 12-01-2011, 09:51 AM

just an fyi. its probably better to buy bowman chrome or regular bowman if you're hoping to pull a harper auto or anything of that nature

metscollector · 12-01-2011, 10:45 AM

part of the fun of it is learning about these guys.. which used to be what baseball cards were about in the first place. i think a good place to start is to read tha back of the card! check the rd they were drafted in.. check out their stats. then obviously whenever you get interested in a particular player just google them to learn much more. there are lots of pay sites and subscription sites but you dont need them.

DadofTwins · 12-01-2011, 11:44 AM

Also, check completed Ebay auctions and see what cards of specificr players sell for.

nhsportsguy · 12-01-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metscollector

part of the fun of it is learning about these guys.. which used to be what baseball cards were about in the first place. i think a good place to start is to read tha back of the card! check the rd they were drafted in.. check out their stats. then obviously whenever you get interested in a particular player just google them to learn much more. there are lots of pay sites and subscription sites but you dont need them.

Just a quick point of fact - baseball cards actually started as a way for tobacco, gum, food products companies, etc, to sell more of their product by offering a little something extra.

Gotta love how that small marketing effort turned into the hobby it is today!

metscollector · 12-01-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhsportsguy

Just a quick point of fact - baseball cards actually started as a way for tobacco, gum, food products companies, etc, to sell more of their product by offering a little something extra.

Gotta love how that small marketing effort turned into the hobby it is today!

well i realize that obviously.. but the purpose of the actual card was to get a picture of the player and to be able to learn something about them real quick. i just meant this is different than now where the purpose is more about investing

kwalter12 · 12-01-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega732

I am new to the hobby and when I broke a box of Bowman Draft last night (which I bought with the slim hope of pulling a Harper), a few packs in I realized that I did not know a single player in the set and, thus, had no idea if I was pulling good cards or not

(and no, I did not get a Harper).

How do you guys stay abreast of the up and coming prospects?

Thank you for the advice!

I'll usually just print auto checklists before or a bit after each bowman product comes out and put in the work of researching each player. Once you get some good general information about players you can pick a few that really catch your eye. Track their progress or lack there of during the Minor League Season and know the important stats.. isoP, OPS, K/BB, BABIP, etc.... you really have to enjoy prospecting to do a good job with it or make money. If you don't enjoy prospecting I wouldnt recommend busting a lot of Bowman. Just buy a Harper auto and call it a day

Omega732 · 12-01-2011, 01:26 PM

Thank you all for the tips. I am not looking to dedicate a ton of time to prospecting, I just want to have an idea of who the up and coming guys are besides just the #1 prospect so if I buy more Bowman in the future I reconize at least some of the players. Your advice, and the websites listed above, are helpful to that end.

nhsportsguy · 12-01-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metscollector

well i realize that obviously.. but the purpose of the actual card was to get a picture of the player and to be able to learn something about them real quick. i just meant this is different than now where the purpose is more about investing

I'm sorry, bud, the point wasn;t to say you were wrong, but to comment of how far the hobby has come from such humble beginnings. My apologies for sounding as though I were lecturing.

12-01-2011, 11:44 AM	#5
DadofTwins Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hartland Wi Posts: 2,210 Exposfan Exposfan1998	Also, check completed Ebay auctions and see what cards of specificr players sell for. __________________ Never forget Baker Mayfield blew a 31-14 lead in the Rose Bowl.

12-01-2011, 09:49 AM	#1
Omega732 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 84	Advice for a new prospector I am new to the hobby and when I broke a box of Bowman Draft last night (which I bought with the slim hope of pulling a Harper), a few packs in I realized that I did not know a single player in the set and, thus, had no idea if I was pulling good cards or not (and no, I did not get a Harper). How do you guys stay abreast of the up and coming prospects? Thank you for the advice!

12-01-2011, 09:50 AM	#2
messier2 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,946	BaseballAmerica.com Minor League Ball - A SBNation Community about Minor League Baseball, Rookies, and Prospects The Official Site of Minor League Baseball Baseball Prospectus

12-01-2011, 09:51 AM	#3
sportcrazynick Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,412	just an fyi. its probably better to buy bowman chrome or regular bowman if you're hoping to pull a harper auto or anything of that nature

12-01-2011, 10:45 AM	#4
metscollector Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 296 metscollector44 metscollector44	part of the fun of it is learning about these guys.. which used to be what baseball cards were about in the first place. i think a good place to start is to read tha back of the card! check the rd they were drafted in.. check out their stats. then obviously whenever you get interested in a particular player just google them to learn much more. there are lots of pay sites and subscription sites but you dont need them.

12-01-2011, 01:26 PM	#9
Omega732 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 84	Thank you all for the tips. I am not looking to dedicate a ton of time to prospecting, I just want to have an idea of who the up and coming guys are besides just the #1 prospect so if I buy more Bowman in the future I reconize at least some of the players. Your advice, and the websites listed above, are helpful to that end.