Topps official: Bryce Harper Aflac autographs on market are not certified by Topps

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Topps official: Bryce Harper Aflac autographs on market are not certified by Topps
September 1, 2009, 2:45 pm


A Topps official confirmed to Beckett Media on Tuesday that any 2009 Aflac autograph cards of Bryce Harper carrying a 3M sticker on the back are not certified by the company and did not originate from its session at the annual high school All-American game.

harperfrontAll of the cards signed by the highly touted high school prospect during the Topps autograph sessions at this year’s Aflac High School All-American High School Baseball Classic held last month in in San Diego will be certified and placed into packs of cards.

But only after Harper is drafted and signs with Topps.

One copy of the card carrying the sticker sold for as much as $750 recently on eBay and others have made their way onto the secondary market.

While it’s definitely possible that the teen who has appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Beckett Baseball signed some of these cards — he’s signing plenty of items these days — there wouldn’t be any need for a seller to add the sticker — other than to mislead potential buyers.

Chris Olds has collected sports cards and memorabilia since 1987. Before coming to Beckett Media, he wrote about the hobby for the Orlando Sentinel on his blog, SportsStuff, and for the San Antonio Express-News and The Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News. Do you have a comment, question or idea? Send e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.

Topps official: Bryce Harper Aflac autographs on market are not certified by Topps The Beckett Blog