McFarlane Toys adds extra chase to Mike Trout’s debut figure
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
For those of you who will be looking for the debut release of Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout in SportsPicks form this month, there’s an added element of surprise.
McFarlane Toys has created a chase figure that includes an MLB-authenticated piece of one of his stolen bases from last season.
Limited to just 200 serial-numbered figures, this figure from the 31st series of MLB figures from the Arizona-based company includes a slice of Trout’s 48th stolen base last season. He hit is 30th home run that same day. Trout won the American League Rookie of the Year award after a campaign that included the first 30-30 Club performance from a rookie in MLB history.
The figures will be randomly mixed into cases with others in the seven-player series that also includes Derek Jeter, Clayton Kershaw, reigning NL Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Felix Hernandez and Andrew McCutchen. Kershaw also will have a game-used element for his chase figure with “real baseball pieces” promised on his, according to the company.
McFarlane has added autographs on the figure bases as chase elements in recent years with players such as Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, Florida Gators great Tim Tebow, baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and Detroit Tigers star Prince Fielder signing for the company.
If found at retail, the chase figures will cost the same as any other — approximately $15 or less — and the bonuses are visible through the packaging.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Basketball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Need a checklist or Online Price Guide for past McFarlane figure sets? Click here.
I haven’t collected these before, but I was just wondering. If the “bonus” or “chase” ones show up at a store, aren’t they extremely easy to spot since you can see the bonus thru the packaging? Looks to me like easy pickins for the employees (or the employee’s friends).
Yes, they are very easy to spot. In fact, about 2 weeks ago, after spending 5 years just going through various walmarts and targets (casually by the way), and while doing normal shopping, I would stroll into the toy isle to see if I could get lucky and I finally did.
I landed a “chase” variant of Drew Brees, all black uni. Not SUPER rare, but certainly exciting finally find a variation.
WOW! They need to make it less obvious to find. Just like pack searchers there ar figure searchers too. Good luck figurine collectors.
I love how these look nothing like the real people.
The Brees was probably one of the easier chase figures to find in a while. I even found one and left it hanging. Now days with McFarlane if it’s not numbered really low say 100 or less or a Yankee nobody wants it. Even ones that are numbered 500 just don’t see the same secondary market value as they once did.
At first the numbering was cool but now people have caught on that for the most part they aren’t any more rare than what a regular chase figure was back in the day they are just numbered now. And what they call the classic chase figures which aren’t numbered like the Brees figure are just glorified regular figures with the “Classic Chase” term slapped on them.
these figures will never see the store shelf. employees will be hiding these back to pay retail price then jack the price up on ebay.
“I love how these look nothing like the real people” ……umm the’re TOYS!!!!
Some of the pieces are much better than others.
If you haven’t, take a few minutes to look at the following pieces: Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr. (chase), Jackie Robinson, Willie Stargell, Jason Witten, Tony Dorsett, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Shaq, Dr. J in his ABA days, Shaun Alexander, Peyton Manning. In my opinion, Todd McFarlane’s best work may be the Jackie Robinson slide. Utterly remarkable. And indeed, it is a toy.
Sometime back in 2012 I went to my local Wal-Mart to buy diapers. As always I check out the toy section to look at sports figures first. To my surprise I stumbled upon a Rob Gronkowski collector level serial numbered 53/100 autographed! I almost missed it but I noticed writing on the right side through the package. I was like what is this? Not a bad pick up for $10.99 even though as a Broncos fan I despise the Patriots! I see where people can think the employees might snag them before they can even make the store shelves. I think I got lucky because I noticed an older lady and a teenaged girl stocking the shelves while I was in the toy aisle.
I’ve got the Mike trout.Tim Tebow autograph. The Clayton Kershaw and cam Newton Auburn university. Like to sell all if them