Bryce Harper has been the darling of the minors for close to a year, and now that he has been called up, many of the people who have waiting to cash in on the values are doing so en force. Cards that were once selling for below 100 bucks are breaking 200 on a regular basis now, and autographs are almost impossible to find at a reasonable price.

These prices HAVE to be at their peak:

2010 Bowman Bryce Harper USA Refractor BGS 9.5 – FOR A BASE REFRACTOR!

2011 Bowman Chrome Bryce Harper Blue Refractor Auto – This kind of cash for his THIRD autograph is nuts

2011 Bowman Chrome Bryce Harper Auto BGS 9.5 – Another ridiculous price.

After a huge game last night, its obvious that Harper has potential to be a great hitter, and that is only adding fuel to the fire. The cards that were once driving the market upon release are accompanied by hundreds of others now, but the value is holding true regardless. Unlike Stephen Strasburg during the 2010 season, Harper spent enough time in the minors and with the USA team to have more autographs in circulation.

Similarly, Bryce Harper will play every day, and will get National attention as long as he continues to perform. As it has always been said, chicks dig the long ball, and Harper should deliver in spades.

Im continually surprised by how many people still think there is money to be made at these prices, and I refuse to buy in. However, if he manages to turn the Nationals into a competitive team, it may change the opportunities collectors will have to buy at even these prices. It’s a crap shoot in the very definition of the idea, and that is where I get spending 20 bucks to buy into a prospect with not much to lose, but to buy in at a few grand is a completely different story!