To start off I would like to say "WHOA!" How about that Lou Brock card only selling around 1,100 cards? Two things come to mind immediately. Is this going to be the norm for the set or is this a shot in the arm for the Classics that will awaken it? I am going to go with the first option here. I think the next step will be reducing the price from $12.50 to $9 a card.

Football Classics had the same deal last year. The stars sold out or sold a great number more than the no-names. Well, I should not say no-names -- the players who were not as well-recognized. For example, look at the Kellen Winslow. He is currently the SP of the set and is a relative nobody, unless you grew up on the CA coast in the 70's and 80's. Baseball players are going to mirror this in some aspects. The players who are not well-known or well-liked will have problems selling but the Gehrig's and Clemente's will sell a large amount due to popularity. Is it wrong or bad? No, I don't think so. In both cases I think it is good for the hobby and good for eTopps.

Alright, let's roll with this week's picks:

Johnny Bench (4,000 @ $12.50)

Johnny is one of the best-known catchers in the modern era. He stands out above others like Fisk and Carter. He was part of the "Big Red Machine" that featured the likes of Rose and Morgan. Johnny was one of the best offensive catchers to play the game, which is the bottom line these days. If a catcher can hit the fans will like him. No one really cares how many All-Star game MVP's you won (Carter won 2) or how many base-stealers you threw out. We look at how many times you went yard and how many times you led your position in offensive categories during your era. This IPO should sell from 2,800 to 3,200 cards. It is not an SP-type of card due to Bench's popularity but it is definitely a good card to hold. This card will not hold IPO value on the secondary market though. Expect it to drop 10% - 35% and hold there. DON'T BUY THIS CARD.

Bob Feller (4,000 @ $12.50)

Already being hyped as the new SP of the set, Bob was a tremendous pitcher in the Indians organization. I am not sure if he will be the new SP or not. Time will tell. But I know that a lot of people are not familiar with him and will most likely pass on this card. However, with the Brock SP drawing attention, there is a good chance this card will be overbought in hopes that it is the new SP. Expect this card to sell anywhere from 1,100 to 1,500 cards. Watch as it hits the secondary market and sells for around $10.00. In other words, if I were you I would wait until this card hits the secondary market and then purchase it. DON'T BUY THIS CARD.

That being said I hope you enjoy the Classics issues. For me this is a rejuvenation compared to what we saw last year. I am not sure if we all got smarter or if we are just caring less about it this year. No matter what it is a good time to get on board. Remember to do your homework, research, and invest wisely.