Top 10 Favorite Scott Rolen Cards
Presented here, you will find my Top 10 Favorite Cards (for now) in my collection. If you hover over the scans, you will find a little bit of information about the card and why it makes my list. I'm sure this list will change over time as other cards are added to my collection. These cards aren't necessarily listed in any particular order.
Limited to just 25 copies, this card is my #1 favorite in my entire collection. It took me more than a decade to finally add one to my collection, but I think it was worth the wait. The cornerstone to any player collection, this card will remain locked up in my PC for forever! It screams, "90s insert card". No gimmicks, no ugly sticker autos, no game used anything...just pure SHINY goodness.
The 1995 Bowman's Best set was easily a collector's favorite set when it was initially released. The base set consists of 195 cards with the refractor set consisting of only 180 cards. The odds of pulling a refractor card from a pack was 1:6. While not overly difficult to pull from a pack, it seems the Scott Rolen refractors are locked up in collections across the country. They rarely come up for sale and when they do, they command a premium over the base version of the card.
Due to Pinnacle's bankruptcy, this card was never distributed in packs...which is a shame! I don't know a single collector of cards from this era who isn't a fan of Dufex or etched foil, and this card has a lot of it. That, coupled with the fact that there are fewer than 10 of these in existence, makes this one of my favorite cards.
Who doesn't love a nice shiny refractor? With only 75 copies of this card available to collectors, I was happy to add this one to my collection when I did. Back in 1998, Topps really went all out on their production. Even the back of this card has that refractor shine to it. The design is wild and colorful and was such a hit with collectors that Topps brought the design back for a fresh set of The Man cards in their 2020 Finest release.
Another favorite card of mine that was never officially released. Originally slated to be distributed to dealers as part of a contest, Pinnacle's bankruptcy ultimately canceled that contest. The scan here doesn't do this card justice at all. In hand, this card is stunning! I also like the picture they used on this card. For a set called "Swing for the Fences", Scott looks like he just smashed one out of the park.
This is one of my favorite cards for a couple reasons. The first reason is because it's a BUTTON card! What player collection can be complete without a button card of their player (assuming one has been produced for your player)? The second reason is Scott is wearing a white jersey in the picture and the button is clearly from a white jersey. I hate when card companies can't be bothered to match the photo to the piece.
This card has been on my Top 10 Most Wanted list for quite some time. Serial numbered to just 50 copies, it took awhile for one to finally come up for sale. I seem to have a thing for shiny cards, and this one shines! I opened quite a bit of this product at the local card shop when it was released and never hit any Star Rubies cards. I was pretty excited to be able to finally add this one to the collection.
This is one of my favorite cards that I didn't even know I wanted until I saw it. I don't normally chase cards that are numbered to less than five, but this card checks a few boxes for me. I have always been a fan of the Diamond Kings paintings and this picture is of Scott during his rookie season with the Phillies. It's also part of an autographed Recollection Collection. A great looking, bold, on-card, 2004 era signature.
Sometimes the whole "game used" thing is played out. That isn't the case with this card. Upper Deck killed it with the picture they used of Scott on this card. I love the throwback uniforms with high socks. And the patch...just look at it! Although it isn't a patch from the jersey he's wearing in the picture, it is a nice swatch of the yellow bat. The other thing I like about this particular card is the use of a holographic foil. Not too much, not too little, it's just right.
Another card that looks far better in hand than it does in a scan. I love me some die cut cards and this one does it right. I also like the picture of the perennial All-Star here looking like he just belted one over the wall.