I wanted to write a little post about a card that I picked up a little less than a year ago from a BMB member. Last time I did a Spotlight it was on a card from 24 years ago, I decided to bring it a little closer time wise this time with the 2005 USA Red Autograph jersey card of Matt Laporta.
I’m personally a big fan of the Upper Deck USA cards, and anyone who has them knows that they are extremely condition sensitive. The card pictured above was in someone’s signature on BMB until they blew the boards up on there. I had checked it out, and then saw it at one point come up for auction on EBay. The population report of this card is that out of the 100 produced six have been graded. Five of the six have recieved an 8.5 grade for the card. This one is the only one to recieve a 9.5 of Matt Laporta and only one David Price has recieved a 9.5 from the red autographs besides this card.
So I picked the card up, and started following Matt online. He had a great journal last year on MILB.com, and for anyone who hadn’t followed him before he was the main player traded to the Indians last year for C.C. Sabathia. He also was on the Olympics roster for the USA and got beaned violently in the Olympics.
He came out as one of the most hyped players on message boards. But between family tragedy last year, the Olympic injury, and the pressure of being in such a profile trade, he had a rough second half of the year last year. Many people predict him to break out like Evan Longoria did last year in 2009.
I have collected a lot of his other cards, and hope nothing but the best for Matt in all his future endeavors.
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