Jim Thome: what are his best cards?

[SirChuck]

I really like Jim Thome, one of the few big time "clean" power hitter in the steroid era. Pretty sure he will be 1st ballot HOF comes 2018.

anyone know which one of his rookie or minor league cards is considered the best or hardest to find in high grade?

I am not sure why his cards are selling for cheap in comparison to someone with his career stats ...

[Mattsurewood]

I've always wanted the ultra rare Orioles 2012 Topps Update issue. I missed this one below when it was online. At one point I didn't see one for 2 years. I always ask at shows, no one ever has it, many dealers don't know of it even existing.


2012 Topps Update SP Jim Thome US7 Baltimore Orioles PSA Gem Mint 10 Must See | eBay


EDIT: didn't see you said rookie stuff...I'm an Orioles guy, so wanted the O's one.

[Bhenry4]

Originally Posted by Mattsurewood

I've always wanted the ultra rare Orioles 2012 Topps Update issue. I missed this one when it was online. At one point I didn't see one for 2 years. I always ask at shows, no one ever has it, many dealers don't know of it even existing.


2012 Topps Update SP Jim Thome US7 Baltimore Orioles PSA Gem Mint 10 Must See | eBay

Want one of those myself. I'm sure whichever ones are still out there are sitting in commons boxes.

[Jopeal]

You should check out his Metal Universe PMGs & e-x2001 Essential Credential from 1998.
Two classic and rare parallel sets

[BestRCs]

Originally Posted by Mattsurewood

I've always wanted the ultra rare Orioles 2012 Topps Update issue. I missed this one below when it was online. At one point I didn't see one for 2 years. I always ask at shows, no one ever has it, many dealers don't know of it even existing.


2012 Topps Update SP Jim Thome US7 Baltimore Orioles PSA Gem Mint 10 Must See | eBay


EDIT: didn't see you said rookie stuff...I'm an Orioles guy, so wanted the O's one.

I'm not too familiar with this card. How come its rare, what's the story behind it? Looks like any old common to me.

[LCM1223]

Originally Posted by BestRCs

I'm not too familiar with this card. How come its rare, what's the story behind it? Looks like any old common to me.

Notice the "SP" in the title

[cyndeeg3]

Originally Posted by Jopeal

You should check out his Metal Universe PMGs & e-x2001 Essential Credential from 1998.
Two classic and rare parallel sets

Here are a bunch of high end Thome's - I am sure the Ess Cred and PMG's are extremely tough to find, especially in 9+ grades...

jim thome -jersey -autograph | eBay

[glen87]

Originally Posted by BestRCs

I'm not too familiar with this card. How come its rare, what's the story behind it? Looks like any old common to me.

2012 Topps Update Series Baseball Short Prints and Variations Guide

he was added in as a variation

"Reports indicate that 2012 Topps Update Series variations fall about three or four per case."

[cyndeeg3]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BestRCs View Post
I'm not too familiar with this card. How come its rare, what's the story behind it? Looks like any old common to me.

Originally Posted by LCM1223

Notice the "SP" in the title

yeah, duh... Don't you know that if someone puts SP or RARE or SV $2500+ then it means it's super rare, expensive and you should immediately purchase it? :-)

[hazenuts]

How rookie year or minor league stuff?

[BestRCs]

Originally Posted by glen87

2012 Topps Update Series Baseball Short Prints and Variations Guide

he was added in as a variation

"Reports indicate that 2012 Topps Update Series variations fall about three or four per case."

Oh sweet! Thanks! I was trying to look it up... but couldn't find anything on it.

[BestRCs]

Originally Posted by cyndeeg3

Quote:
Originally Posted by BestRCs View Post
I'm not too familiar with this card. How come its rare, what's the story behind it? Looks like any old common to me. yeah, duh... Don't you know that if someone puts SP or RARE or SV $2500+ then it means it's super rare, expensive and you should immediately purchase it? :-)

Well said. Lol.

[rats60]

The Upper Deck Final Edition is the best. Might as well get the Bowman too, they aren't too expensive.

[Bhenry4]

That Thome is extremely SSP'ed. It's not one of the variations that falls that frequently.

[superdan49]

1996 Select Certified Mirror Gold. Only 30 exist, which was microscopic for '96.

[SirChuck]

how about these two minor league rookies? anyone know how rare they are in high grade?

[glen87]

Originally Posted by SirChuck

how about these two minor league rookies? anyone know how rare they are in high grade?

those are both fairly common. they appear to be from the packs, not the team sets.

[hazenuts]

Originally Posted by glen87

those are both fairly common. they appear to be from the packs, not the team sets.

I think the 1990 Procards Burlington Indians (white borders) was actually released as a team set, see link/image below.

But the 1990 Procards A & AA Minor League Stars (orange background) were released as packs, probably way more print production.

http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-1...n-indians.html

[SirChuck]

Originally Posted by hazenuts

I think the 1990 Procards Burlington Indians (white borders) was actually released as a team set, see link/image below.

But the 1990 Procards A & AA Minor League Stars (orange background) were released as packs, probably way more print production.

2- 1990 procards minor league team sets--JIM THOME-PRE ROOKIE-BURLINGTON INDIANS

Cool. I am guessing this is Thome's rarest minor league rookie right?



Assuming 1990 is the earliest card he has, i don't think he has anything before that does he?

[glen87]

Originally Posted by hazenuts

I think the 1990 Procards Burlington Indians (white borders) was actually released as a team set, see link/image below.

But the 1990 Procards A & AA Minor League Stars (orange background) were released as packs, probably way more print production.

2- 1990 procards minor league team sets--JIM THOME-PRE ROOKIE-BURLINGTON INDIANS

that is a possibility. unfortunately, i do not have my 1990 CMC / Pro Cards set handy to verify.

this box of cards contained cards identical to the set you pictured, except the number on the back and some picture variations.



here is the scott pose from that set (bot the pack version, and the set version)

pack version - notice the additional number (696) on the bottom left


team set version - notice sponsor logo


fronts of both cards:

pack version


team set version

[hazenuts]

Originally Posted by glen87

that is a possibility. unfortunately, i do not have my 1990 CMC / Pro Cards set handy to verify.

this box of cards contained cards identical to the set you pictured, except the number on the back and some picture variations.

Went back tonight to did more research, the Thome from 1990 Burlington Indians #3018 were definitely part of a team set release, most likely the rarest Jim Thome minor league rc.

2010 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards

[glen87]

that is the team set version, thome was not in the pack release.

[Tom Oates]

Originally Posted by hazenuts

How rookie year or minor league stuff?

I've been picking up some HOF minor league cards for .18 cents. To me, they look great and we're printed in much smaller quantities.

Tom

[eye4talent]

I’m a little surprised it has taken this long for anyone to mention Thome’s actual...rookie cards.

Thome’s ‘91 rookies are all pretty much junk. While it’s a second-year card, his ‘92 Bowman is essentially his first decent card from a base set. It’s the same issue with Pedro Martinez, and with Brett Favre in football (except Favre’s superior second-year card is from Stadium Club). Think of it as a poor-poor-poor-poor man’s version of the ‘52 Mantle and Mays Topps cards versus their cheaper ‘51 Bowman rookies.

‘92 Bowman was the first premium set to emerge from the junk-wax era and is home to some really nice rookie and second-year cards: Mike Piazza, Mariano Rivera, Chipper Jones, Manny Ramirez, Trevor Hoffman. So the Thome (which is still super cheap) and the Pedro second-year cards are in good company.


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[towerymt]

Originally Posted by eye4talent

I’m a little surprised it has taken this long for anyone to mention Thome’s actual...rookie cards.

Thome’s ‘91 rookies are all pretty much junk. While it’s a second-year card, his ‘92 Bowman is essentially his first decent card from a base set. It’s the same issue with Pedro Martinez, and with Brett Favre in football (except Favre’s superior second-year card is from Stadium Club). Think of it as a poor-poor-poor-poor man’s version of the ‘52 Mantle and Mays Topps cards versus their cheaper ‘51 Bowman rookies.

‘92 Bowman was the first premium set to emerge from the junk-wax era and is home to some really nice rookie cards: Mike Piazza, Chipper Jones, Mariano Rivera, Manny Ramirez, Trevor Hoffman. So the Thome (which is still super cheap) and the Pedro second-year cards are in good company.

Chipper had a '91 Bowman as well, so I don't think the '92 is considered a rookie card. He had a few '91s. But then there's the '93 SP foil....the year he debuted, so by todays standards, that's a rookie card? I don't know....I just think I know the '92 Bowman falls in no mans land.

(I reported the spam post that bumped this thread from the dead, but I guess it's just back to life now)