2012 World Series Predictions with a Cardboard Crystal Ball
The 2012 World Series is here as the San Francisco Giants take on the Detroit Tigers. When you get to the finals of a big sporting event, it's always fun to make predictions. The options to do so are endless. Some build complex algorithms that would befuddle Albert Einstein. Others have a monkey spin a wheel or see which logo their baby spits up on. Here at the Cardboard Connection, we're going to see what's in the cards -- literally.
Get comprehensive rookie card listings for the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants.
We're going to match up each player by position and declare a winner based on their best rookie card. It's not scientific and we may not make any friendly wagers based on it. However, it is a good way to see the what sort of an impact the 2012 World Series could have on the hobby.
So let's see what's in the cards for the 2012 World Series.
First Base
Detroit: Prince Fielder
Top Rookie Card: 2005 SP Authentic #/185 Autograph
San Francisco: Brandon Belt
Top Rookie Card: 2011 Topps Triple Threads #/99 Autographed Jersey
Sorry, Giants fans, but there's no competition here. Belt's rookie may be more rare, but Fielder is one of the game's superstars. His 2005 SP Authentic autographed rookie is limited to 185. When they pop up, they usually sell for $100-150. Prior to the playoffs, Belt's 2011 Topps Triple Threads rookie was going at about a third of that amount. It's been boosted in recent weeks, but it still isn't close.
Edge: Detroit
Score: Detroit 1, San Francisco 0
Second Base
Detroit: Omar Infante
Top Rookie Card: 2001 Bowman Heritage
San Francisco: Marco Scutaro
Top Rookie Card: 2001 Topps Fusion
Both Infante and Scutaro have just one rookie card. Neither have lit the hobby on fire. Prior to the postseason, both could be found online for a dollar. They're higher now, but not by much. With his NLCS MVP performance, the edge now goes to Scutaro. His 2001 Topps Fusion card is fairly tough to find.
Edge: San Francisco
Score: Detroit 1, San Francisco 1
Third Base
Detroit: Miguel Cabrera
Top Rookie Card: 2000 Topps Chrome Traded
San Francisco: Pablo Sandoval
Top Rookie Card: 2008 Topps Heritage
Neither Cabrera and Sandoval don't have a lot of rookies to choose from. With his Triple Crown behind him and several seasons and one of baseball's most dangerous hitters, Miguel Cabrera is finally emerging as a true hobby superstar. Sandoval has his fans too, but this match-up isn't even close.
Edge: Detroit
Score: Detroit 2, San Francisco 1
Shortstop
Detroit: Jhonny Peralta
Top Rookie Card: 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft
San Francisco: Brandon Crawford
Top Rookie Card: 2011 Bowman Chrome Draft
Peralta and Crawford get little to no hobby love. The both have comparable rookie cards, both in the brand and in their values. You can probably get both for the amount of change hiding in your couch cushions right now. If you just vacuumed yesterday, take a handful of pop bottles back to the grocery store tomorrow and you should have more than enough.
Edge: Draw
Score: Detroit 2, San Francisco 1
Centerfield
Detroit: Austin Jackson
Top Rookie Card: 2010 Topps Triple Threads #/99 Autographed Jersey
San Francisco: Angel Pagan
Top Rookie Card: 2002 Bowman Chrome
Let's see, an autographed jersey rookie card numbered to 99 or a standard Bowman Chrome rookie. Save for a couple of exceptions, the high-end Triple Threads card is going to win every time. This is one of them.
Edge: Detroit
Score: Detroit 3, San Francisco 1
Rightfield
Detroit: Avisail Garcia
Top Rookie Card: n/a
San Francisco: Hunter Pence
Top Rookie Card: 2004 Fleer Hot Prospects Draft Autograph #/299
Pence takes this match up by default because Garcia has yet to have an official rookie card. However, if we were to take Garcia's 2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph into account, the race would be fairly tight. Pence would still edge out the youngster, bolstered by a relatively tough card to find and his place as something of a fan favorite.
Edge: San Francisco
Score: Detroit 3, San Francisco 2
Leftfield
Detroit: Andy Dirks
Top Rookie Card: 2011 Bowman Sterling
San Francisco: Gregor Blanco
Top Rookie Card: 2003 Bowman's Best Autograph
In a battle of the hobby not-so-giants, Blanco wins out thanks to the added ink that comes with his 2003 Bowman's Best card.
Edge: San Francisco
Score: Detroit 3, San Francisco 3
Catcher
Detroit: Alex Avila
Top Rookie Card: 2009 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection #/599
San Francisco: Buster Posey
Top Rookie Card: 2010 Topps Finest #/294 Autograph
Is there any debate here? No offense to Alex Avila and his fans, but I don't think anyone can argue his rookie has more hobby clout that Posey's.
Edge: San Francisco
Score: Detroit 3, San Francisco 4
Starting Pitchers
Detroit: Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander
Top Rookie Card: 2005 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Justin Verlander #/99 Autograph
San Francisco: Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Zito
Top Rookie Card: 2010 Topps Finest Madison Bumgarner #/106 Autograph
Top to bottom, the Giants likely have more more potent pitching staff. However, when it comes to the hobby, the Tigers have one of baseball's few mound-based superstars. Combine that with the fact that Verlander has several low-numbered autographs to choose from and our oddball predictor favors the Tigers.
Edge: Tigers
Score: Detroit 4, San Francisco 4
Closers
Detroit: Phil Coke
Top Rookie Card: 2009 SPx #/99 Autograph
San Francisco: Sergio Romo
Top Rookie Card: 2012 Topps Mini
Want proof that relievers don't get much hobby love? Sergio Romo didn't get an official rookie card until 2012 despite debuting with the Giants in 2008. He was in the Prospect inserts in 2008 Bowman but nothing in a base set until this year. For oddball collectors, there's also the commemorative 2010 Topps World Series set. Either way, it's a little irrelevant as Phil Coke's 2009 SPx autograph trumps whatever few cards Romo's got thus far.
Edge: Tigers
Score: Detroit 5, San Francisco 4
So there you have it. The World Series is headed to Motown for the first time in almost 30 years. It's in the cards.
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Awua
And yet, you were colossally wrong, like so many other AL-humping and overrating nitwits were.