Lance Berkman
Date of Birth: 2/10/1976
Rookie Card Year: 1997
Investment Rating: 6.5
Overview
Best known for his long tenure with the Houston Astros, Lance Berkman cards and autographed memorabilia remain popular with collectors despite his retirement at the end of the 2013 season. He was a franchise fan favorite and a respected player around the league. Berkman's ability to hit for average and power made him an ideal situational hitter and a run-producing machine.
Lance Berkman has three rookie cards: 1997 Bowman, 1997 Bowman Chrome and 1997 Topps Stars. His Bowman Chrome card is the one collectors gravitate towards and routinely submit for grading.
Despite having cards in 1997 Berkman wouldn't make his big league debut until 1999. That same year would see his first certified autograph cards. The 1997 Bowman features him as a member of the Astros. The 1999 SP Tops Prospects Chirography insert is a popular minor league autograph. An autograph from Team Best, another minor league issue, is a more affordable option.
2000 Topps Stars has the first Lance Berkman memorabilia card. It's included in the Game Gear insert set.
Autograph collectors have benefited from Berkman's close ties to the Houston market. Locally headquartered show organizer, Tristar, has booked Berkman for several appearances and private signings. This makes the supply of his autographs more plentiful than a lot of other players of his era. Despite this, values remain strong for his signature, particularly on bats.
Lance Berkman Rookie Cards
1997 Bowman Lance Berkman RC #438
Yes, that is Berkman's old truck that he's leaning against. The black borders of the card make them particularly susceptible to edge and corner wear. As a result, high-grade examples are that much tougher to achieve, and therefore, slightly more expensive. In addition to this card, Berkman has an International parallel version that showcases a flag from the player's country of origin in the background.
1997 Bowman Chrome Lance Berkman RC #298
The same photograph is used from the Bowman version but uses Topps' Chrome technology and a different card design. Parallels include Refractor, International and International Refractor. Being the first Bowman Chrome set, this card comes from a landmark release and is considered by most to be the top Lance Berkman rookie card.
1997 Topps Stars Lance Berkman RC #125
Probably the most visually attractive Lance Berkman rookie card, it hails from a short-lived brand, making it that much more unique. While the brand itself wasn't entirely popular with collectors at the time, there has been a bit of a renewed interest in it as of late.
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Autograph Guide
Lance Berkman Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Lance Berkman's authentic signature looks like. This can be used as a first point of reference for determining the legitimacy of autograph memorabilia, but is not a substitute for having your items authenticated by a well-respected professional autograph authentication company. Some of the trusted sources within the sports memorabilia market include the following companies: PSA, JSA, Steiner, Mounted Memories and Tristar. Click on any of the images below to view full size photos.
Lance Berkman Cut Signature Exemplar
Lance Berkman Key Signature Attributes: An authentic Lance Berkman signature autograph will exhibit several distinguishing characteristics. Although his signature has changed significantly through the years, collectors should look for the following signature features:
- A distinct and over-sized "L" written in traditional cursive with a large, flowing bottom loop.
- A haphazardly placed mark implies the remaining letters of the first name.
- The letter "B" is written as a numeral "3" with no connecting vertical line.
- From here, the signature often gets rushed, making it hard to discern individual letters.
- The "K" is indicated with a large, right-leaning line on about a 45-degree angle.
- A horizontal line finishes the signature trailing to the right.
Lance Berkman Signed Baseball Pricing
Active Listings for Lance Berkman Signed Baseballs
Lance Berkman Signed Bat Pricing
Active Listings for Lance Berkman Signed Bats
Lance Berkman Signed Jersey Pricing
Active Listings for Lance Berkman Signed Jerseys
Lance Berkman Signed Photograph Pricing
Active Listings for Lance Berkman Signed Photographs
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More Info
For general information and player statistics about Lance Berkman, visit:
