Philip Humber’s gem creates perfect opportunity
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
Chicago White Sox pitcher Phillip Humber — a right-hander from Texas with an 11-10 career record and not a single complete game entering Saturday’s contest at Safeco Field — threw nine perfect innings against the Seattle Mariners for just the 21st gem in MLB history.
In all, Humber appears on just 539 cards in the Beckett.com database with 219 of those featuring a certified autograph and a total value of more than $3,250. (Need a complete Humber checklist or OPG? Click here.) He appears on 33 Rookie Cards beginning in 2005 when he was a member of the New York Mets, many an affordable option.
His most valuable RC before the news was his 2005 Leaf Limited card, an autographed issue limited to just 99 copies, that typically sells for $50 or less. In all, 14 of his RCs were produced by Upper Deck, while Donruss/Playoff produced 11 and Topps made just eight.
For those who have an autograph and want more of a challenge, Humber only appears on 25 different game-used memorabilia cards to collect. His first game-used cards were made in 2002 when he appeared on cards showing him with USA Baseball.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Hat’s off too a fellow Texan who grew-up down the road. It’s a testament to Baseball- On any day, any player can be magical…. Sometime’s- PERFECT !!!!
I have a 2005 bowmans best Philip Humber auto # 320/399, and i only bought for $.50! How much is it worth now?
More than .050
.50 cents oopps machinist
Maybe $0.75??? It’s Phil Humber
It all depends on what he does the rest of the season.
The last perfect game was done by Roy Halladay, very popular player.
But the two before that are Dallas Braden and Mark Buehrle who are not
exactly hobby hot.
If Humber stays healthy he could still have a decent career, but it would take
quite a bit to have a HOF career at this point; at 29 he is a bit late getting into
the game even when we now have a guy in his late 40’s playing.
Congrats to him. I have been sitting on his Sp Authentic USA Future Watch since 2002. Maybe will finally see some Beckett movement on it other than it going down.
first……he beat SEATTLE !!
second……it does depend on rest of season & its more or less a ‘novelty’ thing right now
third……fiddy-cents-the Rapper ??