Collectors who open boxes of 2007 Finest Baseball will find a number of rookie cards, including some of the autographed variety and a host of parallels. That's not all though - Topps is making sure that Finest covers the newest 2007 rookies by inserting a rookie redemption card into one out of three Finest mini-boxes.
Each of the 10 rookie redemption cards can be mailed to Topps in exchange for a specific card with the official MLB Rookie Card logo. Since the company needed to wait until the players made their big league debuts before they could be included on the cards, it announced the subjects of each redemption one at a time over the course of the 2007 season.
The redeemed cards will begin to ship to collectors some time after December 31, 2007, which is the deadline for the program. Now that all 10 of the redemptions have been announced, everyone can find out which players they will receive when they send in their redemption cards.
Finest Redemption # 10 - Joba Chamberlain, P, New York Yankees (autograph)
Yankees fans have to think Topps saved the best for last. The fast-rising Chamberlain made it all the way from single-A ball to the Major Leagues during the 2007 season, striking out many along the way. He certainly brings the heat, occasionally hitting triple digits with his fastball. Chamberlain's card is the only 2007 Finest redemption that is autographed.
Finest Redemption # 9 - Philip Hughes, P, New York Yankees
After showing some promise early in the 2007 season, this former first-round pick saw his season put on hold by a pair of injuries. The Yankees had to be happy to see him return to action in August, as his live fastball and nasty curveball could make a difference down the stretch.
Finest Redemption # 8 - Justin Upton, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The brother of Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton, Justin was the first overall pick in the 2005 draft. He just barely made his big league debut in time to get into the Finest promotion, playing his first game on August 2. Only 19 years old, Upton has already hit his first MLB home run and was batting over .400 when Topps announced his inclusion in the redemption program.
Finest Redemption # 7 - Daisuke Matsuzaka/Hidkei Okajima, P, Boston Red Sox
Both pitchers already received individual Finest cards (see below), but Topps decided to do a special dual card featuring both of the Red Sox rookie hurlers. Though the hobby world may not treat this as an official rookie card, it may not matter because just about everything with Dice-K on it is hot.
Finest Redemption # 6 - Ryan Braun, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers
Following an outstanding college career at the University of Miami, the Brewers made Braun the fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft. He's hit for power and average at every minor league stop, and he's already shown the ability to do damage to major league pitching. Braun is even a threat to steal bases, giving him the complete set of offensive tools.
Finest Redemption # 5 - Daisuke Matsuzaka, P, Boston Red Sox
After the Red Sox shelled out millions of dollars just for the right to negotiate with the man nicknamed Dice-K, you know they were expecting something special from the 26-year-old Japanese import. While he has had trouble giving up runs - especially at Fenway - Matsuzaka has kept his buzz going among collectors by averaging about a strikeout per inning. He's on pace to win 15-20 games and make good on Boston's large investment in him.
Finest Redemption # 4 - Tim Lincecum, P, San Francisco Giants
Despite getting selected in both the 2003 and 2005 drafts, Lincecum decided to bide his time in his home state pitching for the University of Washington. His patience paid off when the Giants made him the 10th overall selection in 2006, and it took him only one season to make it to the majors. Thus far he's looked every bit the part of a top pitching prospect, striking out more than a batter per inning.
Finest Redemption # 3 - Akinori Iwamura, 3B, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Iwamura was known for his glove in Japan, where he won five Gold Gloves for his work at the hot corner for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He can swing the bat too: he went 4-for-4 with a home run in the Devil Rays' home opener. He'll likely share time at third base with youngster B.J. Upton, but the 28-year-old Iwamura appears to be too useful to leave out of the lineup for Tampa.
Finest Redemption # 2 - Elijah Dukes, OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The talented but troubled Dukes, who's had numerous legal issues and was suspended multiple times by the Rays while playing in the minors, tried to distance himself from his past by homering in his very first MLB game - in Yankees Stadium no less. He's part of an outfield rotation that excites fans and collectors alike with names like Carl Crawford, Delmon Young and B.J. Upton.
Finest Redemption # 1 - Hideki Okajima, P, Boston Red Sox
He's not the most famous Japanese rookie pitcher for the Sox, but he may turn out to be just as important. That's because Okajima gives Boston a valuable left-handed arm out of the bullpen to set up closer Jonathan Papelbon. His April 2 debut was a rough one - he gave up a home run on his first MLB pitch - but he has pitched very well since then and looks like he will be a key member of the Red Sox staff.
