First look: 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts baseball (updated)

Donruss‘ unlicensed return to the baseball card market just took a high-end turn.

Scheduled for release on Dec. 26 is Playoff Prime Cuts IV — a $200 per box installment of the popular line last seen in 2005.

“We’re as thrilled about this product as any we’ve done in quite some time,” said brand manager Ben Ecklar, “as it will contain Pete Rose and ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson in a high-end, very limited release. The program will include low sequentially numbered cards, jumbo swatches and some very unique cards never seen before.”

Each box will contain five cards — four of those being autograph or memorabilia cards.  The checklist also will include game-used cards for Dodgers great Jackie Robinson and Yankees legend Lou Gehrig.

The standard set will include 150 cards — including 50 rookies — and all of the cards will be serial-numbered to 449 or less.

But enough with the details — here’s a first look:

[slideshow id=2954361355571335615&w=450&h=475]

Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.