SIX IMPORTANT EARLY FREDDIE FREEMAN CARDS
FREDDIE FREEMAN’S ROOKIE CARDS AREN’T HIS FIRST CARDS. THEY GO BACK SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE HIS MLB DEBUT TO WHEN HE WAS STILL A TEENAGER. HERE ARE SIX KEY CARDS THAT CAME OUT BEFORE HIS BIG LEAGUE DEBUT.
2006 Topps AFLAC Autographs Freddie Freeman #AFLAC-FF
If you’re after one of Freeman’s earliest signatures, this is it. Although it was included in 2008 Bowman Draft, the card was actually produced and signed a couple of years earlier when Freeman participated in the showcase for top high school talent. Participants were also given cards to do with as they pleased. The first step to spotting a pack-inserted card versus one that wasn’t is looking on the back. There should be a Topps hologram sticker. That said, even that’s not foolproof as holograms have been known to be peeled off of lesser cards, not necessarily here but with others. The safest route at this point may be to get a copy that has been authenticated.
2006-07 Upper Deck USA Baseball Signatures Jersey Black Freddie Freeman #37 /295
Freeman has several autographs in the 2006-07 USA Baseball product. Not only is this one of the most plentiful, but it also includes a memorabilia swatch.A similar card with a nearly matching print run exists without it.
Parallels:
Blue (/150), Red (/50), Green (/2)
2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Freddie Freeman #BDPP12
Freeman’s first MLB cards arrived just a few months after Atlanta took him in the second round of the 2007 draft. A prospect card and not a traditional RC, this is still one of the most important Freddie Freeman cards out there.
Parallels:
2007 Bowman Draft Freddie Freeman #BDPP12
As a hobby whole, Bowman Chrome may carry more value, but the regular Bowman version is still an important one. It’s also available in the same 2007 Bowman Draft packs.
Parallels:
Gold, Blue (/399), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Red (1/1)
2007 Bowman Sterling Prospects Freddie Freeman #BSP-FF
Topps also got Freeman into 2007 Bowman Sterling. The product is more premium-focused than Bowman Draft but that comes through more visibly with the quantity of autographs and memorabilia cards. That said, this is a noticeably tougher card to find than his 2007 Bowman Draft and Bowman Chrome Draft cards. Sterling doesn’t have the same level of brand prestige for early cards, but this is still a quality card.
Parallels:
Refractors (/199), Black Refractors (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Red Refractors (1/1)
2009 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Freddie Freeman #BCP101
Typically today, players have their first Bowman cards and autographs in the same product. For Freddie Freeman, there was almost two years difference. His first Bowman Chrome autograph didn’t release until 2009 Bowman Chrome Baseball. That hasn’t hurt its value or importance. When it comes to Freddie Freeman cards, this is one of the cornerstones.
Parallels:
Refractors (/500), X-fractors (/250), Blue Refractors (/150), Gold Refractors (/50), Orange Refractors (/25), Red Refractors (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1), Superfractors (1/1)