D-Backs Win Rookie Card World Series!

Oct 11 2007 3:17PM

There has never been a solid formula for figuring out which playoff team has the best chance to win the World Series. After all, baseball, like all sports, isn't ultimately decided by which team looks best on paper.

In honor of the just-started LCS and impending World Series, Beckett Baseball has decided to offer its own postseason prognostication using the formula it knows best -- trading card values.

Our foolproof method for determining this year's champion? The team with the highest cumulative Rookie Card values for their respective starting lineup and pitching rotation. We figure our system is as good as any because, bottom line, playoff baseball is just plain tough to predict.

1B -- Ryan Garko: 2005 SP Authentic AU RC #183 - $50
2B -- Asdrubal Cabrera: *2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BC87 - $1.50
SS -- Jhonny Peralta: 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft RC #107 -- $8
3B -- Casey Blake: 1999 Fleer Tradition Update RC #U97 - $1.25
C -- Victor Martinez: 2001 Donruss Elite/410 XRC #206 -- $125
LF -- Kenny Lofton: 1991 Bowman RC #565 - $0.60
CF -- Grady Sizemore: 2000 Bowman Draft Picks RC #109 - $15
RF -- Franklin Gutierrez: 2003 Topps 205 RC #180 - $5
DH -- Travis Hafner: 2001 SPx JSY AU RC #145 - $125
SP -- C.C. Sabathia: 1999 Bowman Chrome RC #344 - $6
SP -- Fausto Carmona: 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Edition RC #254 - $15
SP -- Paul Byrd: 1992 Bowman RC #349 - $3
RP -- Rafael Betancourt: 2003 Upper Deck Finite RC #268 - $5
CL -- Joe Borowski: 1997 Ultra RC #530 - $0.40

Team Total $360.75


Boston Red Sox

1B -- Kevin Youkilis: 2003 Bowman Chrome AU RC #336 - $60
2B -- Dustin Pedroia: 2004 SP Prospects AU 400/RC #340 - $80
SS -- Julio Lugo: 1999 Bowman Chrome RC #378 - $2.50
3B -- Mike Lowell: 1998 SPx Finite RC #199 - $8
C -- Jason Varitek: 1992 Topps Traded RC #123T - $12
LF -- Manny Ramirez: 1992 Bowman RC #532 - $25
CF -- CoCo Crisp: 2001 Bowman Draft Picks RC #BDP49 - $8
RF -- J.D. Drew: 1998 Leaf Rookies and Stars SP RC #332 - $20
DH -- David Ortiz: 1997 Ultra RC #518 - $50
SP -- Josh Beckett: 1999 Ultimate Victory SP RC #138 - $40
SP -- Curt Schilling: 1989 Donruss RC #635 - $4
SP -- Daisuke Matsuazka: 2007 SPx AU RC EXCH #128 - $300
RP -- Hideki Okajima: 2007 Ultra RC #220 - $12
CL -- Jon Papelbon: 2003 Bowman Chrome Draft RC #51 - $30

Team Total $651.50

Arizona Diamondbacks

1B -- Tony Clark: 1994 Bowman's Best RC #B62 - $1.50
2B -- Augie Ojeda: 2000 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks RC #85 - $0.50
SS -- Stephen Drew: 2005 Ultimate Collection AU RC #238 - $300
3B -- Mark Reynolds: 2007 SPx AU RC EXCH #110 - $50
C -- Chris Snyder: 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft RC #52 - $1
LF -- Eric Byrnes: 2000 Pacific Omega RC #245 - $5
CF -- Chris Young: 2005 Bowman's Best AU RC #104 - $60
RF -- Justin Upton: *2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects AU #BC223 - $175
SP -- Brandon Webb: 2003 Ultimate Collection AU RC #123 -- $125
SP -- Doug Davis: 1999 Fleer Tradition Update RC #U91 - $1
SP -- Livan Hernandez: 1996 Finest RC #G294 - $10
RP -- Brandon Lyon: 2001 Ultimate Collection RC #96 - $10
CL -- Jose Valverde: 2002 Sweet Spot AU RC #144 - $15

Team Total $754.50


Colorado Rockies

1B -- Todd Helton: 1993 Topps Traded RC #19T - $15
2B -- Kaz Matsui: 2004 Ultimate Collection RC #222 - $10
SS -- Troy Tulowitzki: 2005 Topps Rookie Cup AU RC #159 - $50
3B -- Garrett Atkins: 2002 Donruss Elite RC #251 - $15
C -- Yorvit Torrealba: 2000 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks RC #40 - $0.50 LF -- Matt Holliday: 1999 Bowman Chrome RC #400 - $12
CF -- Ryan Spilborghs: 2005 Ultimate Collection RC #233 - $8
RF -- Brad Hawpe: 2001 Bowman Draft Picks RC #BDP10 - $4
SP -- Jeff Francis: 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft AU RC #169 - $25
SP -- Josh Fogg: 2001 SPx JSY RC #132 - $8
SP -- Ubaldo Jimenez: 2005 Donruss Signature AU RC #159 - $80
RP -- Brian Fuentes: 1998 Bowman Chrome RC #368 - $1.00
CL -- Manuel Corpas: 2006 Upper Deck RC #1064 - $0.75

Team Total $229.25

Congratulations Arizona, you've proudly claimed your second World Series title this decade. Meanwhile, Cubs fans are still waiting until next year.