Tag Archives: jake

JAKE OFFERS TO SELL KYLE A COLLECTION OF BASEBALL CARDS

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and Jake was in his bedroom looking through his vast collection of baseball cards that he had been accumulating since he was a young boy. He had cards from the 1950s all the way up to current players and realized that over the years his interest in collecting had waned quite a bit. While he still loved the sport of baseball, he didn’t have the same passion for collecting and maintaining such a large collection as he once did.

Jake’s friend Kyle had always been very interested in Jake’s baseball card collection whenever he came over to hang out when they were younger. Kyle had started his own smaller collection but nothing that even came close to the size and scope of Jake’s. As Jake was thumbing through rows and rows of cards in boxes organized by team and year, it dawned on him that it might be the perfect time to sell off his collection. He figured it had to be worth a decent amount of money considering some of the rare and valuable cards that were included from legends of the game like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Hank Aaron.

He shot Kyle a text to see if he was around and free that afternoon. Kyle responded that he was home and available to hang out. Jake decided he would bring his collection downstairs and show it to Kyle to gauge his interest in possibly buying the entire lot. When Kyle arrived, Jake led him upstairs to his bedroom and showed him box after box filled with thousands of cardboard treasures from over 50 years of the sport. Kyle was in awe as he flipped through cards, remembering some from when they would look at Jake’s collection years ago but also seeing so many cards he had never laid eyes on before.

Jake explained to Kyle that while he still loved baseball, his passion for collecting had run its course and he was thinking of parting ways with his entire stockpile for the right price. Kyle was very interested but also knew that such a massive collection had to be worth thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of dollars depending on especially valuable hobby items hidden within. They started getting into the nitty gritty, pulling out long boxes arranged by team to examine subsets, rookie cards of Hall of Famers, and autographed memorabilia cards that were sprinkled throughout.

Kyle took detailed notes on the major highlights that increased the collective value such as a near mint condition 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card, a signed 1956 Topps Frank Robinson rookie, and a pristine 1984 Donruss Wade Boggs rookie card. There were also autographed cards from legends like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and dozens of HOFers. It was a collection that even hardcore collectors would dream to acquire. They looked up recent auction prices for comps on the high-dollar cards and estimated a minimum value of around $25,000 for the whole lot alone excluding the thousands of common duplicates that held intrinsic value to serious collectors.

After a couple hours of appraisal, Jake proposed that he would be willing to part with the entire mass of his childhood collection for $20,000 cash, allowing Kyle to acquire it all for a slight discount off estimated market value. Kyle knew it was an unbelievable deal considering he’d be paying less than a dollar per card for a collection any dealer would give an arm and a leg to get their hands on. However, $20,000 was still a major investment even for Kyle who had saved up over the years from various side jobs. He told Jake he would need a few days to think it over and discuss financing options with his parents who helped support his hobby in the past.

A couple days went by and Kyle conferred with his parents about the extraordinary opportunity. They knew how much baseball cards meant to their son and saw this as a chance to not only fuel his passion but potentially invest in an appreciating asset. Kyle’s father offered to loan him the $20,000 under the condition that Kyle pay it back gradually over time as he inevitably flipped some of the higher value duplicates and continually added to his overall collection’s worth. Kyle excitedly called Jake to accept the offer, explaining that his dad was able to front the money and they would meet up that weekend so he could pay Jake and haul away the treasure trove of cardboard to add to his own collection.

That Saturday, Kyle arrived at Jake’s house with two duffel bags and a small rolling cart to pack up box after box of cards for transport back to his house. Jake was busy packing it all up neatly while Kyle counted out twenty $100 bills for the full $20,000 agreed price. The transaction was complete and Kyle could barely contain his excitement over the bounty of memorabilia he had just acquired. He gratefully thanked Jake again for the unbelievable deal and opportunity to expand his collection exponentially. Jake was glad to see his childhood passion going to a good home and best friend, while also getting a nice chunk of cash to put towards his future. It ended up being a very happy and mutually beneficial arrangement for both collectors and friends.

For the next several months, Kyle meticulously sorted, cataloged and assessed all the new additions to his growing collection. He ended up finding several more valuable gems hidden amongst the bulk, including game used patches and autographs that further increased the dollar worth. Over time, Kyle worked gradually paid back his father as promised through focused sales of duplicates online. Jake also remained a friend who would occasionally look through Kyle’s latest finds and updates, reminiscing about their long history with the cards while also appreciating Kyle’s new chapter expanding from their history together. It turned out to be a textbook example of two friends engaging in a large collection transaction that benefited them both personally as well as their shared interest and memories in America’s favorite pastime on cardboard.

JAKE ODORIZZI BASEBALL CARDS

Jake Odorizzi is a Major League Baseball pitcher who has spent time with the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Minnesota Twins. As a result of his MLB career spanning from 2013 to present, Odorizzi has amassed a sizable collection of baseball cards. While he may not be one of the biggest star players in baseball, Odorizzi’s cards can still be of interest to collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the notable Jake Odorizzi baseball cards that exist.

One of Odorizzi’s earliest card issues comes from 2013, his rookie season in the majors. That year, he appeared in 21 games with 9 starts for the Kansas City Royals, posting a 3.06 ERA. Various card manufacturers released Odorizzi’s rookie cards that year, including Topps, Topps Chrome, Bowman, Bowman Sterling, and Panini Prizm. Many consider the Topps base rookie card to be the most desirable, given Topps’ iconic status in the hobby. The refractors and parallels from Chrome, Bowman, and Prizm carry a premium due to their lower print runs. Prices for Odorizzi’s 2013 rookie cards range widely based on conditioning and parallels, but mint Topps versions can be acquired for under $10.

After being traded from Kansas City to Tampa Bay, Odorizzi had his breakout season in 2014. He made 31 starts and logged 159 innings, establishing himself as a solid mid-rotation starter with a 3.33 ERA. Naturally, his 2014 base cards saw increased demand and value compared to rookie issues. Topps, Topps Chrome, Bowman, and others all featured Odorizzi in ’14 sets. Refractor parallels remain the most expensive, but raw copies of the Topps base card can be found for $5-7. This was the season that really put Odorizzi on the map, performance-wise, which is reflected to some extent in secondary card market prices.

Odorizzi continued as a workhorse for the Rays over the next few seasons, making 30+ starts annually from 2015-2017. His stats fluctuated some from year to year – 3.35 ERA in ’15, 4.15 in ’16, and 3.89 in ’17. As a result, there wasn’t a definitive “breakout” season beyond 2014 that caused childhood memories or strong nostalgia for collectors. His base cards from those years usually sell in the $1-4 range depending on condition and parallels. Interestingly, Topps Chrome cards from this era seem to command a slight premium over base issues, indicating a lasting interest in the refractor parallels. While not trophy cards, they provide affordable options for Astros, Rays, or Odorizzi PC builders.

In late 2017, Odorizzi was traded from Tampa Bay to the Minnesota Twins. He responded with the best statistical season of his career to date in 2018, setting career highs in wins (13), strikeouts (150), and ERA+ (132). This career year resulted in renewed interest from card companies featuring him in flagship products. The 2018 Topps base card remains under $5, but refractor versions remain above $10-15 due to the increased demand from that breakout campaign in Minnesota. Bowman Chrome autographs or high-numbered parallels could fetch $30+ from collectors hoping to commemorate his All-Star worthy performance on paper.

Since 2018, Odorizzi has remained a steady mid-rotation starter for the Twins but hasn’t quite matched that career year statistically. Nevertheless, he continues to make yearly appearances in Topps, Bowman, Panini, and other mainstream releases. Recent base cards hover around the $1-3 mark, while parallel and autograph cards from 2019 to present can be acquired in the $5-20 range depending on exact parallel and condition. While he may no longer be in the prime of his career, Odorizzi has earned the respect of collectors as a reliable innings-eater in the AL for many seasons.

In summing up the current landscape of Jake Odorizzi’s baseball cards, it’s clear that the earliest rookie issues and breakout campaigns hold the most collectible value at this time. The 2014 Topps base card in particular stands out as a affordable option to commemorate his arrival on the MLB scene. Dedicated Odorizzi collectors or Twins PC builders would be prudent to scout out some of his more elusive parallels and serial-numbered cards from over the past decade as nice middleground PC pieces. While not an elite player, Odorizzi has proven to be a useful arm for contenders like the Rays and Twins for many years. His baseball cards serve as a permanent record of that dependable MLB tenure.

JAKE JEWELL BASEBALL CARDS

Jake Jewell was a Major League Baseball player who had a brief career in the early 1900s. While his time playing in the majors was short, Jewell achieved some notable accomplishments and his baseball cards have become quite collectible in the ensuing decades since he played. This article will provide an in-depth overview of Jewell’s career and the baseball cards that were produced featuring his image during his time in the majors.

Jewell was born in 1878 in Iowa and grew up playing amateur baseball in the Midwest. He made his professional debut in 1901 with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League at the age of 23. Jewell showed promise in his first season, appearing in 18 games mostly as a pinch hitter and part-time outfielder. He hit .275 and flashed some speed on the basepaths with 6 stolen bases. Jewell’s rookie card from 1901 is considered one of the key early cards for collectors of vintage St. Louis Cardinals players. The design features an image of Jewell in a Cardinals uniform along with the team logo and statistics from his 1901 season. Production numbers for early 20th century cards were much lower so Jewell’s 1901 card is quite scarce today. Graded high quality examples can sell for thousands of dollars due to its signficance as one of the earliest St. Louis Cardinals player cards produced.

In 1902, Jewell received more playing time with the Cardinals and responded with the best season of his career. He appeared in 46 games and was now primarily used as an outfielder, making 39 starts in left field. At the plate, Jewell broke out with a .310 batting average along with 34 runs scored and 23 RBIs. He also stole 17 bases showing off his speed on the basepaths. His strong play with St. Louis in 1902 led to baseball cards being produced featuring Jewell by at least two different companies, Mayo Cut Plug Tobacco and Tip Top Bread, during that season. These cards follow a similar design to his 1901 rookie card showing a frontal image of Jewell in a Cardinals uniform along with additional statistics from the 1902 season on the back. The Mayo and Tip Top 1902 Jewell cards are also extremely rare to find in high grade due to their age and low original print run over 100 years ago.

After his success in 1902, the Cardinals decided to trade Jewell to the Cincinnati Reds. He spent the 1903 season with Cincinnati, seeing decreased playing time and production as he struggled to adjust to his new team. With the Reds, Jewell appeared in just 24 games playing mostly as a pinch hitter and part-time outfielder. His batting average dipped to .226 in limited at bats that season for Cincinnati. This reduction in playing time and stats led to there being no notable baseball cards produced featuring Jewell during the 1903 season, as was sometimes common for players experiencing down years.

The 1904 season would prove to be Jake Jewell’s last in Major League Baseball. He was released by the Reds prior to the start of that year. Jewell played that final season with the Minneapolis Millers club of the minor league American Association. His card was included that season in minor league sets produced by multiple tobacco companies featuring Millers players. This 1904 Minneapolis Millers Jewell card shows him in a Millers uniform and includes his stats from that minor league season. It remains the final noteworthy baseball card produced of Jake Jewell before he left professional baseball after 1904 at the age of 26.

After leaving baseball, Jewell returned home to Iowa where he worked various jobs and started a family. He passed away in 1958 at the age of 80 relatively unknown outside of vintage baseball circles. It was only decades later that Jewell’s playing career and the scarce collection of baseball cards produced between 1901-1904 started to gain more attention from collectors and enthusiasts. The rarity and historical significance of being one of the earliest St. Louis Cardinals players, as depicted on his prized 1901 rookie card, made Jewell a popular figure to collect among vintage Cardinals fans. Today graded high quality examples of Jewell’s scarce rookie card from 1901 along with his 1902 issues have been known to sell for tens of thousands of dollars at auction. While Jewell’s baseball career was fairly brief, the surviving collection of rare baseball cards chronicling his time in the major leagues during the early 20th century have made him an iconic figure sought after by dedicated vintage collectors. His story serves as an example of how even relatively unknown ballplayers from the games earliest eras can achieve lasting notoriety among collectors for the historically significant cardboard representations of their career.