Pardon the absence from IPO Insights over the last few weeks—my colleagues and I at eToppsClubhouse had unexpected complications that prevented the articles from being written. These releases were highlighted by a sell out of Tadahito Iguchi and the second shortest print to date with the Colorado Rockies at 736 cards.

While eTopps receives a lot of deserved criticism, eTopps should be complimented for responding to consumer requests for Brian Roberts and Jon Garland IPOs. In basketball, Reggie Miller’s farewell card seems to have received a similar positive response. With minimal and diminishing print runs, eTopps could maximize its sales by more often offering such IPOs of players that are having hot streaks and increased popularity. While consumers chose the majority of cards by vote-in at the beginning of the season, perhaps there should be options for consumers to choose or rerank cards mid-season. In past years, this was accomplished by an end of IPO vote-in. Since eTopps has already largely released the higher-rated cards based on the pre-season vote in, I applaud eTopps for showing the flexibility to add a couple of players that were overlooked at that time but likely would be selected by fans now. Hopefully eTopps will be rewarded by this decision with higher sales on these cards than the median IPO print runs for this set.

Hank Blalock (1,200 @ $5.00)

Blalock’s third full season with the Rangers, he is maintaining a pace for about 30 home runs this season. His third eTopps card, the print run will be one-third of his previous low. His 2002 card during his rookie season had 5,000 cards issued and holds a recent 7 day average of about $4.50, while the 2004 card had 3,303 issued and has a recent 7 day average of about $1.80. eTopps set the performance bonus levels at modest levels, with the hardest category being on-base percentage. I expect this card to fall to a print run below 1000, and if Blalock maintains offensive productiveness he could compete for performance bonus. I give this card a WEAK BUY recommendation.

Eric Gagne (1,200 @ $5.00)

After missing the first 35 games of the Dodgers’ season with an injured elbow, Eric Gagne has recently returned from the disabled list. eTopps set low performance bonus levels for Gagne that would easily be met if Gagne returns to the mastery he had as a closer over the last three seasons. This will also be Gagne’s lowest print run, with the 2003 and 2004 cards having 2,929 and 2,279 cards issued and both at or below $1.50 in recent 7-day average prices. These high print runs and low prices of the earlier cards, as well as the performance bonus potential and value in eTopps games for this year’s card, will make the 2005 card the prime card of the three for Gagne. Nonetheless, closers do not get a lot of collector attention, making this card likely to exceed IPO price only if it is among the lowest print runs of the set and achieves performance bonus. If you are a fan, take a chance, but otherwise I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

Ivan Rodriguez (1,200 @ $5.00)

I-Rod already has 4 previous eTopps cards, with his 2001 card holding above $13.00 at recent prices. But the 2001 card had only 698 cards issued, and Rodriguez’s 2002 through 2004 cards with 1,436 to 3,000 cards issued have all been below $1.50. It is unlikely that a 2005 card will fall below the 2001 level, and even with 800 cards sold I would expect this card to slip below the IPO price. I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

Gary Sheffield (1,200 @ $5.00)

If the 2005 Sheffield eTopps becomes the player’s short print, then eTopps is in big trouble since only 359 cards sold in 2001. While the Yankees have gotten off to a slow start in 2005 and find many of their aging stars to have slipped in their abilities, Gary Sheffield has continued to play at a high caliber in his 18th major league season with a .315 batting average and 6 home runs, While the very low print 2001 Sheffield card is highly sought after, none of Sheffield’s other eTopps cards have been able to maintain recent average prices above $1.75. A sub-1,000 print run for the 2005 should help stabilize the price, but I doubt that it will hold IPO long. I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

Jon Garland (1,200 @ $6.00)

The surprising White Sox have been spurred by the eight victory, no loss start of Jon Garland. This start has pushed Garland’s career record to having a few more wins than losses—54 career wins and 51 career losses over five seasons with the White Sox. Clearly Garland will stumble at some point—he was the White Sox’ number five starter at the beginning of the season--but he is likely on the way to a career season. But I doubt that Garland will remain an ace throughout his career. The buzz will lead to overbuying now—I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

Brian Roberts (1,200 @ $6.00)

If you are not an Orioles fan, then Brian Roberts must have seemed to have burst out of nowhere with a phenomenal start to 2005, joining the league leaders in nearly all categories. I enjoyed watching his brief stay with the Orioles minor league A level Frederick Keys team in 2000, and watched him duel the last three years with Jerry Hairston Jr. (another Frederick Keys alumni) for second base. But now Roberts has sole possession of second base as Hairston Jr. was traded for Sammy Sosa. Always a speedy baserunner, Roberts has supplemented his base stealing (13 stolen bases to date) with almost as much power (11 home runs). Amazingly, Roberts had never had more than 5 home runs in his first three major league seasons. He also has an amazing .376 batting average to lead the major leagues. The question is whether Roberts can maintain such high offensive stats. If so, he will shatter his eTopps performance bonus levels, but most likely, he will cool off in power and batting average (though remain a league leader in stolen bases). Nonetheless, Roberts will likely be the Orioles second baseman for years to come. Kudos to eTopps to adding a player to the IPO list perhaps at his hottest point; even if he cools off I recommend BUY this card at IPO.

Pittsburgh Pirates (1,000 @ $6.25)

The Pirates have started 2005 with 19 wins and 22 losses, a pace for about 75 wins. eTopps set the performance bonus threshold level as 72 wins for the season, the same as the Pirates achieved in 2004. I would expect the Pirates to have a print run of 700 to 800, and to go down to the wire for possibly meeting the performance bonus. Thus, I give this card a WEAK BUY recommendation.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1,000 @ $6.25)

The Devil Rays remain in last in the American League East, with a 15 win, 30 loss record. This is a pace for 54 wins in the season, making the eTopps performance bonus threshold of 62 wins problematic even though the Devil Rays won 70 games in 2004. I recommend DO NOT buy this card at IPO.

This week’s best buy is Brian Roberts.