Aubrey Huff (3,500 @ $6.50)

Huff is a great young ball player on a team that gets little attention. He is playing well this year and is on pace for 45 home runs and 97 RBI. His performance bonus is very attainable. If he stays on his current pace he will come up 2 RBI's short. However, I believe he will increase his production in that category. This is his first eTopps card and it should perform well. I am buying this one at IPO and you should too. At 3,500 cards, even if it sells out it will have a modest print run compared to 2002 baseball. I don't think it will sell out but don't be expecting a short print here either. Buy this now and thank me later.

Bernie Williams (2,500 @ $6.50)

I have to say this is a really dumb time to release this card with Bernie on the DL with a bum knee. The last IPO we need now is another Yankee. It just adds insult to injury that he is going to be out of action for over a month! I'm passing on this one and you should too. I know you're thinking "I better order it... he is hurt and might sell less than Shawn Green." It's thinking like this that causes bad cards to be overproduced. With 2,500 of this $6.50 card being made available it is not going to be the new short print. Yankee players do not become short prints. Move on, SP hunter!

Gary Sheffield (1,500 @ $6.50)

Behold the must-buy card for this week! This is really a no-brainer. Sheffield is a great hitter and this card has a ridiculously low print run. Put those two things together and it spells remarkable success for this card. I'm not going to waste much time telling you why you should order this card. It is already apparent that this is going to be one of the lowest prints in the set and you have all seen what he has done over the years.

Jeff Weaver (3,000 @ $4.00)

Weaver is a man in danger of losing his spot in the Yankee rotation. He is off to a horrible start this year and this card wouldn't be caught dead in my port. It has a $4 price tag and it probably won't sell out. How many times does that happen? I can think of about fifty things I'd rather spend $4 on than this card. He may have been the ace in Detroit but that's not saying much. I think Carrot Top would look good on that team. I'm really disappointed with the release date of this card. It would have had a better chance of selling more earlier in the season. What is the deal with all these Yankees cards? It reminds me of all the Red Wings cards in the hockey set. Nevertheless, there are plenty more Yankees to come from what I understand.

Pedro Martinez (2,500 @ $9.50)

Pedro is undoubtedly one of today's best pitchers. eTopps has made the mistake of releasing this card at the worst possible time with Pedro going on the DL. Nevertheless, he is a great pitcher and would have had me buying this card at a 2,500 print run had it been a $6.50 release. At $9.50 I'm afraid I'm going to stay on the sidelines on this issue and maybe pick one up on eBay. I don't foresee any huge gains here. There will probably be no gains at all for awhile as it dips below IPO shortly after release. Pick one up on eBay and save a buck or two.

Randy Wolf (3,000 @ $6.50)

We asked for him and we got him! I myself did not vote for Wolf since I felt that Affeldt was the better choice. Wolf has put together a good start to the 2003 season. He was a highly-touted southpaw and is finally coming into his own. With a 3,000 print run and a $6.50 price tag, not to mention this is his first eTopps card, it is worth picking up one or two at IPO. I myself would have much rather seen an IPO of a younger pitcher but the masses apparently prefer Wolf.

The bottom line:
Strong Buys: Huff and Sheffield
Buy: Wolf
eBay or not at all: Pedro, Weaver, Bernie

eTopps Convention in Las Vegas June 7th

I can't wait to see you all at the convention in Las Vegas! It's going to be a blast. It's not too late to make your plans to make the trek. It will prove to be worth the time and money you will spend. Hotels can be had for cheap. check out www.orbitz.com. I booked the El Cortez Hotel and Casino there for a great price! If you can make it and are hesitating JUST DO IT! Tickets are still available on the convention page. If you are already going you will see me there. The chance to meet JWest94 doesn't come along everyday. Come tell me off in person!