2008 Donruss Threads BASEBALL !!!

[DodgerBlue]

Donruss has announced that Donruss Threads Baseball will make its trading card debut this October with two headlining signers not available anywhere else this year: Pete Rose and Rick Porcello.

Rose, whose 4,256 career hits rank No. 1 all-time, and Porcello, the first-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2007, will have autograph and memorabilia cards in the product. In recent years, Donruss has purchased two Rose game-worn jerseys including a 1973 Cincinnati Reds road jersey worn during the 17-time All-Star's only MVP season.

"Having Pete Rose and Rick Porcello in the set is significant," says Donruss Brand Manager Ben Ecklar. "The all-time hits leader and arguably the top pitching prospect in the minor leagues . . . Threads will have both."

Porcello had been the only first-round draft pick from the 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft not to have signed certified autographs until Donruss signed him to a deal that was announced in early July. Donruss has obtained a jersey and cap Porcello wore in the 2006 Cape Cod Classic as well as a fielding glove and cleats he wore during minor league play with the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Rose's presence in trading card products since 1989 can best be described as sparse, with a market hungry for autograph and memorabilia cards. In addition to the '73 Reds jersey, Donruss also has secured a 1981 Philadelphia Phillies home jersey Rose wore on June 10, 1981 when he collected his 3,630th career hit which at the time tied him with Stan Musial on the all-time hits list.

Both jerseys are autographed by the Hit King, meaning some collectors could receive a game-used swatch with part of a signature.

Threads Baseball will contain some of the same components that have made Donruss Threads Football so successful including Rookie Class custom nameplate letters autographed and serial numbered. Threads Baseball also will feature some first-time inserts such as Baseball Americana which highlights such American baseball icons as Rose, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan, Abbott & Costello (Who's On First?), and actors such as Gary Cooper ("Pride of the Yankees"), John Cusack ("Eight Men Out") and Burt Lancaster ("Field of Dreams"). Some of those will include memorabilia, an autograph or dual memorabilia/autograph cards.

This may signal a new market for Donruss since they do not have a MLB license. Their Elite Extra Edition product focuses on minor league prospects. Threads sounds very similiar. Maybe they can give Bowman products a run for their money in the Baseball Prospect Category.

[Geebi]

I love the NFL Threads so I am sure the baseball will not disappoint.

[DodgerBlue]

Originally Posted by geebi

I love the NFL Threads so I am sure the baseball will not disappoint.

Wouldn't you like to be the first person to pull a Pete Rose Letterman AUTO and list it on eBay?

[Geebi]

Yes I would love that. The R, 1 of 25.

[DodgerBlue]

Originally Posted by geebi

Yes I would love that. The R, 1 of 25.

Anything is possible at Heroes & Legends!!!

[DodgerBlue]

I just read that this product will include a few other legends: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Whitey Ford, and........"Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Donruss recently acquired a game-used Shoeless Joe bat and will be using it for bat cards in this product. That means that both of the well known names that have been suspended from baseball for life: Rose and Shoeless Joe will be in this product!

[Geebi]

Awesome news Dodger.

[DodgerBlue]

Donruss decided not to include the Lettermen Jersey Letter Autographs in this product but there have been some really nice patches. Check out the link below for a Pete Rose Patch from his short stint with the Montreal Expos in 1984.

2008 DONRUSS THREADS DK-56 PETE ROSE DUAL JERSEY 19/25 - eBay (item 370102585542 end time Oct-31-08 18:19:15 PDT)

[RaceFan1962]

"This may signal a new market for Donruss since they do not have a MLB license..."

Hey Dodger, what does it mean exactly when a card manufacturer doesn't have a license with MLB, the NFL or any other major sports sanctioning body? Are the athletes not allowed to appear on the cards with their team logos visible? It would seem that the cards would be priced a little more reasonably since the licensing fees to MLB and others would not come into the equation.

[DodgerBlue]

Originally Posted by RaceFan1962

"This may signal a new market for Donruss since they do not have a MLB license..." Hey Dodger, what does it mean exactly when a card manufacturer doesn't have a license with MLB, the NFL or any other major sports sanctioning body? Are the athletes not allowed to appear on the cards with their team logos visible? It would seem that the cards would be priced a little more reasonably since the licensing fees to MLB and others would not come into the equation.

Donruss does not have a license with the MLBPA which means they cannot produce cards picturing any current ML players. They quietly acquired a license to produce cards of retired players last year for their innagural Americana product. They also have a license with Minor League Baseball which is why they can produce cards of top prospects unless that player is exclusive to another company.

Products like this one are driven by autographs of top prospects. When you get a chance just browse eBay for Donruss Elite Extra Edition AUTOS and Bowman Chrome AUTOS. Baseball Prospect AUTOS bring more money than almost anything in the card industry besides high grade vintage cards.

This product along with the upcoming EEE will be solid products because of the top prospects and retired player content. Another added bonus is the inclusion of Rose and Shoeless Joe. Since Donruss does not have a MLBPA license they can produce cards of players like those two are are currently on baseball's banned list.