The week before the all-star game, eTopps fills in several holes in all-star players lacking cards in the 2004 set. With the addition of Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Giambi, all American League starters have a 2004 eTopps card, while Gary Sheffield is an All-Star reserve player. The National League team has more holes, with Barry Bonds, Scott Rolen, and Edgar Renteria being All-Star starters that are missing 2004 eTopps cards.

Melvin Mora (3,750 @ $4.50)

The Orioles' Mora is coming off of a second straight superb first half, leading eTopps to make him a previously unannounced addition to the 2004 eTopps set with a first-time eTopps card. Mora's batting does not seem to have been affected by his shift from the multidimensional utility role he played last year for the Orioles to become the starting third-baseman. Only this week's fellow IPO Ivan Rodriguez has a better batting average in the American League at midpoint than Mora. The father of quintuplets, Mora is on some critics' short list for players overlooked for the All-Star game. Mora is currently on pace in all 5 performance bonus categories, and should add some excitement for performance bonus hunters if a foot injury that has put him on the 15-day disabled list and the likelihood of a less torrid second half do not bring down his first-half statistics too much. Mora should fall far short of a sellout, but higher than the sets' short prints. I recommend this card as a WEAK BUY at IPO because it is a first-year card, has strong performance bonus potential, and there remain relatively few Orioles cards available across all eTopps' series.

Gary Sheffield (2,500 @ $4.50)

Sheffield receives a fourth eTopps card to accompany his eighth all-Star game selection. He is also the first eTopps' baseball player to be pictured in three different teams' uniforms, from the Dodgers in 2001, the Braves in 2002 and 2003, and the Yankees this year. Sheffield is on pace in three of the five performance bonus categories, but is close to being on pace in all categories except stolen bases. The 2004 card is most likely to resemble the 2003 card in print run and price, with the 2003 card having a print run of 1,500 and a recent 7-day average of $3.23. Thus, I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

Ivan Rodriguez (2,500 @ $4.50)

While Ivan Rodriguez seemed in the offseason to be going from the best to the worst team-from the World Champion Florida Marlins to the pathetic Detroit Tigers-the move has helped the Tigers rise from their horrid record to near-respectability while Pudge has actually increased his prominence. Leading the American League in batting, last year's National League playoff Most Valuable Player became the first Tigers' player elected as an All-Star starter since Alan Trammell in 1988. While like Sheffield this is Pudge's fourth eTopps card and his 2003 card had a similar print run and recent 7-day average as Sheffield's 2003 card, the potential for a performance bonus leads this card to get a WEAK BUY recommendation.

Jason Giambi (2,500 @ $4.50)

Giambi remains the American League All-Star starting first baseman despite a notable decline in his power and average. After consecutive seasons with 41 home runs, he is on pace to hit only 27 home runs and is batting a career low .245. Giambi is not on pace to reach his performance bonus in any category, and he is a fourth-year eTopps card with both his 2002 and 2003 cards having sub-$2.00 recent 7-day averages. There is no reason to purchase this card at IPO unless the unattractiveness of the card (and stretch of 9 baseball IPOs this week) lead buyers to anticipate a short print. But I find it hard to expect a Yankee to be the short print, so I recommend DO NOT BUY this card at IPO.

Kerry Wood (2,500 @ $4.50)

The Cubs intimidating duo of Kerry Wood and Mark Price has been hampered by nagging injuries during the first half of the season. Wood's injuries have limited him to a 3 win, 3 loss record to date despite a still impressive 2.82 ERA. He is on pace in 3 of 5 performance bonus categories, but a return to health could improve his performance bonus prospects. This is yet another fourth-year eTopps issue, with the 2003 card having 2,000 issued at a recent 7-day average of $3.32. Cubs fans will likely pick up a fourth card, but this card is likely to slip below IPO price despite likely being the lowest print run of Woods' cards since his 2001 issue. I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

This week's best buy for regular baseball is Melvin Mora because he is the only IPO that is not a fourth-year card and has a strong performance bonus potential.