The Hipster Collector: Joba Chamberlain

A few year's ago I wrote a couple of post about collecting cards ironically or what i hall being a Hipster Collector. The essence of it is to collect cards the wrong way like a winning an auction for a  Carrot Top relic or a Yuniesky Betancourt autograph. I've let this small pastime sprout and grow recently as I've started collecting key cards/autographs of players that at one time were going to the "next big thing in collecting" and so their rookie cards and autographs saw incredibly high prices. Since then though their card values have returned to earth as their careers either ended quickly or they did not become the dominant players they were projected to be.

Today's card is a prospect autograph of Joba Chamberlain from 2006 Tristar Prospects Plus. Although he was unhittable his rookie season in 2007 when he had a 0.38 ERA over 19 games he has since become a fair-to-middling middle reliever for the Tigers who's more well known for his beard than anything else. This season's playoffs were particularly bad for Joba as well.

2006 Tristar Prospects Plus #FH11 Joba Chamberlain Autograph

I bought this card for $3.00 delivered on eBay and although it's not his most sought after rookie autograph [that would probably be his 2007 Bowman Chrome autograph] at one time it was worth significantly more...and oh how I feel bad for this particular collector who went all in on Joba.  

Comments

Commishbob said…
He just looks ridiculous these days. And I say that as a Nebraska fan and a bearded guy myself.

If you are going to look like a clown you better not perform like one.
AdamE said…
If you need a Ryan Leaf RC for your new mini collection let me know.
Matt Flaten said…
Adam, I'm always looking for new post material!
AdamE said…
I need your new address...