Donruss Elite Baseball is a popular brand of baseball cards with a long history of pleasing prospect hunters. 2011 EEE features 50 on card autograph prospect cards as well as another 140 that have sticker auto’s. Many of the big names in the 2011 MLB Draft have cards in the set including top picks Gerritt Cole, Trevor Bauer and Anthony Rendon among others. The prices below are from the first week of sales – so they may be on the high end of the selling range. For some players this is the very first set they will have autographs in and that can help the demand for their cards. With the likes of Bowman and Leaf also producing prospect sets – some of the players can get watered down with a number of autograph choices.
2011 Donruss Elite Baseball Checklist
P-35 Josh Bell /692 – 2nd Rd 2011 Pirates
Average Price on eBay: .63 – 10 Completed Auctions
Josh Bell might have been picked much higher in the 2011 MLB Draft if it wasn’t for the fact many thought it would be tough to get him to forgo college. The Pirates nabbed him in the 2nd round and waved a reported $5 million in his face to play baseball. Bell has some autographs in the 2011 Leaf Metal Draft set but collectors are eagerly eating up his Elite cards.
P-2 Anthony Rendon /653 – 1st Rd #6 ’11 Wash
Average Price on eBay: .55 – 11 Completed Auctions
Rendon joins super prospects Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in Washington in what could be an impressive trio of young talent. An accomplished hitter, some question Rendon’s ability to stick at third base and also stay healthy. He will get his shot to prove himself in the low levels of the minors at first, but if he hits, expect him to be moved quickly through the National’s system.
Dylan Bundy – Archie Bradley – Michael Fulmer
Triple Autograph – Serial Numbered 2/10 – Sold For $375.00
The Oklahoma prep prospects make this card special and someone shelled out huge money for this one. If all three pitchers have great careers this card will be worth a ton, but if just one of them misses it can make cards like this very difficult to sell.
P-1 Trevor Bauer Red Ink Auto /25
Sold For $135.50 – January 10, 2012
If you ever get a chance – go watch Trevor Bauer warm up before he starts a game. It’s amazing – his long toss session is incredible and impressive. Here are my observations of Bauer after I saw him pitch one of his first minor league game. The Red Ink parallels are serial numbered #/25.
Gerrit Cole Gold Status Autograph /5
Sold For $112.00 – January 9, 2012
Cole was the #1 pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, but maybe his cards get glossed over for flashier prospects on more high profile teams. Pittsburgh has a lot of young players and could be poised to breakout right about the time Cole will be ready. Keep an eye on his card prices and don’t be afraid to snatch one up if it’s cheap. His base on-card autographs from Elite sell for less then on eBay.
Jon Griffin Black Status Autograph /1
Sold For $103.51 – January 9, 2012
Not a well known prospect, but Griffin did tear up rookie ball – his first foray into professional baseball. The Arizona Diamondbacks A+ Minor League team comes through my hometown and I might be able to witness a few Jon Griffin homeruns. He hit 18 in just 71 games in 2011.
Josh Bell – Bubba Starling Dual Autograph /20
Sold For $99.99 – January 9, 2012
Seems like a fair deal to me. Panini is probably waiting to get the Starling autographs – as Josh Bell auto’s are live in the product. Both of these players have a lot of upside, but could take several years to reach the MLB because they were both drafted out of high school.
