Matt Harvey
Date of Birth: 3/27/1989
Rookie Card Year: 2012
Investment Rating: 6.0
Overview
Matt Harvey cards are on the move. With the Mets rotation in a tough spot following more injuries to Johan Santana and the trade of 2012 NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey to Toronto, New York had some potentially big holes to fill heading into 2013. Matt Harvey, the seventh pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, has stepped up in dramatic fashion. He had a breakout year in 2013, hit first full season with the Mets, starting for the National League at the All-Star Game.
Harvey made his MLB debut in 2012. Called up in late-July, he set a team record by kicking off his time with the Mets by striking out 11 in 5.1 innings versus the Diamondbacks. Harvey was solid with New York for the remainder of the season, notching 70 strikeouts in less than 60 innings.
Matt Harvey rookie cards can be found in a handful of 2012 releases. His cards date back to 2006 from his time with the American national team. However, for many, the top Matt Harvey cards are found in 2010 Bowman Draft where he had his first cards in a Mets uniform.
Being a key to the big-market Mets certainly helps his status in the hobbyl. That said, save for a couple of very prominent starters, a lot of pitchers do eventually hit a wall among collectors. Prospecting with pitchers can be tough as they're not as stable as position players. A couple of rough starts or an injury can bring a pitcher's cards crashing back quickly. For Harvey, that came true at the end of 2013. He underwent Tommy John surgery that will have him sit out the entire 2014 season. In the meantime, expect Matt Harvey cards to drop. In the past, Tommy John surgery was about a big a red flag as you could get with a pitcher. In recent years, though, the rebound rate has much improved and pitchers are coming back strong more frequently.
Matt Harvey has a handful of rookie cards from 2012 products. His first cards came as early as 2006 when he pitched for the American National team.
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Rookie Cards
Matt Harvey Rookie Card Guide
2012 Bowman Sterling Matt Harvey RC #49
If you insist on your baseball cards carrying MLB logos, the 2012 Bowman Sterling Matt Harvey rookie card is probably the best route to go. The card comes from a high-end set that stressed autographs over base cards. So even without a signature or numbering, the card commands something of a premium simply because it's fairly tough to find.
2012 Panini National Treasures Matt Harvey RC #197 Autographed Jersey #/99
For many, this is the most impressive Matt Harvey rookie card. 2012 Panini National Treasures Baseball was a big hit with collectors. The ultra-premium card includes an on-card autograph, massive jersey piece and is limited to 99 copies. Panini also did a good job of hiding logos to the point where most probably wouldn't even notice they're missing.
2012 Panini Prime Cuts Matt Harvey #78 Autograph #/199
It has an autograph. It's numbered to 199. And it has a ton of wasted space. While there are some nice elements, the 2012 Panini Prime Cuts Matt Harvey isn't his most attractive card. But what's not as desirable to some can lead to deals for others.
2012 Panini Prizm Matt Harvey RC #179
2012 Panini Prizm is a clean mid-end card that shouldn't cost very much. That comes with the various Refractor-like parallels. Some collectors may not consider this a rookie as it was released after the 2013 season began. However, like any collecting, it comes down to personal choices. For the 2012 Panini Prizm Matt Harvey, it's not like it's going to be a huge financial risk anyway.
2012 Panini Signature Series Matt Harvey RC #166 Autograph #/99
The 2012 Panini Signature Series Matt Harvey rookie card is highlighted by an autograph that's done on a piece of jersey-like material that is complimented be a manufactured MLBPA logo patch. Numbered to 99 copies, it's tied with National Treasures as being Harvey's rarest rookie. That said, this one costs about half the price.
2012 Topps Update Series Matt Harvey #US23
The 2012 Topps Update Series Matt Harvey will likely never command big bucks. That said, as long as base Topps continues to be about tradition, this card will have a prominent place in Harvey's cardboard canon.
Key Matt Harvey Prospect Cards
2006 Upper Deck USA Baseball Matt Harvey #45
The first Matt Harvey cards date all the way back to 2006 when Upper Deck featured the pitcher in the USA Baseball set. The base card remains extremely affordable. It doesn't hurt that it has a clean design as well.
2006 Upper Deck USA Baseball Signatures Matt Harvey #37 #/595
2006 Upper Deck USA Baseball has a handful of Matt Harvey autographs. The most common, which is actually relatively difficult to find today, is his Black Signatures card that comes numbered to 595. The signature is on a white label that's embedded into the card. A waving flag and Statue of Liberty add to the patriotic flavor.
2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospect Matt Harvey #BDPP84
Today, a lot of collectors treat a player's first Bowman card as their rookie. While it's technically an insert, the 2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospect Matt Harvey is the pitcher's first card in a Mets uniform. Not nearly as pricey as the autographed version, this is a great alternative for those on a tighter budget. There are also lots of Refractor parallels to chase.
2010 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospect Autographs Matt Harvey #BDPP84
The 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft Matt Harvey autograph is the Matt Harvey card against which all others will be measured. Rookie card? Technically, no. But it's the high-end take on his regular Bowman Chrome Prospects insert. It comes with an on-card signature and has several Refractor parallels. If you have the budget, this is the place to start.
2010 Bowman Draft AFLAC Autograph Matt Harvey #/230
2010 Bowman Draft Baseball has a second Matt Harvey autographs. And in some ways, it's a little more intriguing. The 2010 Bowman Draft AFLAC Matt Harvey autograph was actually produced back in 2006 at the AFLAC All-American High School Classic. Topps took the photos, printed the cards and had the players sign them all within a very short window. The result is one of Matt Harvey's first autographs. The penmanship is noticeably cleaner than even his first Bowman Chrome signatures. Besides the AFLAC autographs inserted in packs, players were also given some to distribute as they saw fit. Pack-inserted versions can be discerned by their serial number. Player samples are not numbered. Nor are signatures guaranteed.
2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Matt Harvey #46
Licensed or not, the Donruss Elite Extra Edition brand is well respected by a lot of prospectors. That makes the 2010 EEE Matt Harvey a nice alternative to his Bowman Draft cards. Besides the base version, Harvey is featured on low-numbered autographed parallels. He also has other autographs in the release.
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Autograph Guide
Matt Harvey Autographed Memorabilia Buying Guide
Below you will find an example of what Matt Harvey'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, and Mounted Memories.
Matt Harvey Cut Signature Exemplar:
Matt Harvey Key Signature Attributes: An authentic Matt Harvey signature autograph will exhibit several distinguishing characteristics. Regardless of the type of item or when it was signed, look for the following signature features:
- The signature exhibits a rushed appearance.
- The letter "M" is unique in that it is often incomplete while containing sharp angles at the top and loops at the bottom.
- Look for a large oblong oval shape in the center of the signature.
- The pen lifts multiple times.
- The inscription "33" is not always present.
Matt Harvey Signed Baseball Pricing:
Active Listings for Matt Harvey Signed Baseballs
Matt Harvey Signed Jersey Pricing:
Active Listings for Matt Harvey Signed Jerseys
Matt Harvey Signed Photograph Pricing:
Active Listings for Matt Harvey Signed Photographs
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Greg
My personal favorite is the Collegiate Patches auto from 2010 Elite Extra Edition, but then I’m a North Carolina fan and collector. Nice to see a UNC alum hot in baseball.