Stephen Strasburg’s Pre-2010 Rookie Cards

What collector of modern era baseball cards hasn’t gotten just a little caught up in the Stephen Strasburg hype?  In addition to his ongoing Nationals and rookie strikeout records, Strasburg’s rookie cards are selling at very strong prices on eBay and in other outlets.  Here’s a short guide to his cards issued before the hype hit in 2010.

2008 Issues

The 2008 SP Authentic USA by the Letter Autograph, #SS/#105 features a posed, front view of Strasburg in the upper left with the By-the-Letter autograph patch.  Estimated by GMA at $250 in early June, one seller was offering the card for about $1000 on eBay by July 1.

The 2008 Upper Deck Sweet Spot USA provides several Strasburg offerings.  All of them feature a grinning Strasburg in a posed picture, with his hand inside his glove at his chest, on the card’s left.  The Black Glove Leather #SS is serial-numbered to 32 and is most highly valued—anywhere from $450 up in June.  A Red Glove Leather card serial-numbered to 10 was also issued and bid at $360 on eBay in late June.  The Black Stitch Red Ink #SS is serial-numbered to 260; there’s also a Red-Blue Stitch Black Ink numbered to 37.  In auctions, these cards were rising from early June GMA values of $350-$400.

Other “top-of-the-heap” Strasburg issues for 2008 include the Ultimate Collection USA Baseball Jersey Autograph, with 25 issues; and the 2008-09 USA Baseball Autograph Gold, with 175.  Rounding out the 2008 Upper Deck offerings is the Timeline USA Baseball Auto, which is notable in that it features a photo of Strasburg appearing to actually be throwing the ball!

2008-09 Issues

There are several issues in Upper Deck’s 2008-09 USA Baseball series.  Strasburg’s common card is #21.  USA Baseball also issued Strasburg as Autograph Gold #79, serial-numbered to 175.  The Baseball National Team Jersey, featuring the game-used jersey, was issued to #149.  There is also a National Team Jersey Patch card, numbered to 50.  At the top of the price heap for Strasburg’s UD 2008-09 USA Baseball National Team issues is The Autographed Patriotic Patch Memorabilia, serial numbered to 50.  For more collectors wanting to acquire a 2008-09 issue at a lower price point, the USA Baseball National Team Retrospective, #USA2, may be the best option.

2009 Issues

Upper Deck also issued three Strasburg cards in its 2009 USA National Team set.  The cards are all numbered SS.  The common card in this issue is the most accessible; there is also a National Team Jersey issue.  The rarest is the National Team Jersey Autograph, serial numbered to 225.

« Previous1234Next »