Since everyone else is talking about 2011 Bowman Bryce Harper, I’m going to make a simple post about it.

I understand Bryce Harper was the number one pick and is projected to be a great hitter and a great player. But the prices for his cards are absolutely outrageous right now. Why are people paying such high prices for someone who hasn’t stepped foot in the Major Leagues yet? It’s like signing bonuses given to players after the draft or the guaranteed money the NFL gives newly drafted players. You are overpaying for someone who no one really knows how they will produce, it’s a giant gamble.

People are paying HUGE numbers on these freshly produced Bryce Harper sports cards. A simple eBay completed listings search will show you how much people are really selling these for. Just the other day, the 2011 Bowman Bryce Harper Red Version 1/1 was pulled and is expected to get between $7,000 and $10,000. Does this tune sound familiar? Anyone remember last year? Stephen Strasburg lit up collector’s eyes with money when they pulled one of his cards. Prices grew even more after his major league debut in which he struck out 13. Prices took a hit from reality when it was discovered Strasburg needed Tommy John elbow surgery. The Nationals GM just stated yesterday that Bryce Harper will not play in the majors this year. But prices are still out of control.

The way the hobby market works is that there is an initial price surge on cards for prospects when a product comes out. These prices will slowly come down as more and more come into the market. If he is still tearing up the minors, the price will finally flat line at a number, probably still kind of high. If he starts struggling, prices will dip a very small bit. The day he is called up the majors, the price will rise again and if he has a monstrous first game, prices will rise a bit more. The thing is, with Bryce Harper’s hype machine, prices may never reach that initial surge that people paid and are paying right now. That is unless he does something absolutely crazy like breaks DiMaggio’s hit streak or hits .400 his first season.

People are overpaying for Bryce Harper and the people lucky enough to pull his more rare cards are making a killing because of these idiots spending so much money. I thought everyone learned last year with everything surrounding Strasburg, but I guess not. This is just too crazy, it’s boggling the mind.