Topps snafu puts Royals prospect in hot demand

OK, so Alex Gordon's baseball card isn't as valuable as the 1909 Honus Wagner gem that sold for more than $1.2 million a few years ago.

But Gordon's card, which was mistakenly released in limited numbers by Topps, sold last week for $7,500 on Internet auction site eBay. Pretty impressive considering Gordon, a top Kansas City Royals prospect, is playing Double-A ball in Wichita, Kan.

"It's crazy," Gordon said Thursday. "I'm in shock at the price and still don't believe it.

"I think sometime soon I should give Topps a call and see if I can get one, just to put it in a frame."

Under Major League Baseball Players Association rules, Gordon's card should not be in circulation.

The former University of Nebraska star was the second pick in last year's Major League draft, and he didn't sign a contract until September. The rules say cardmakers can put out rookie cards only for players who make the 25-man opening-day roster or for those who played in at least one major league game the year before.

Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi said Gordon's card was ready to go this year just in case he made the Royals' 25-man roster. But the third baseman was assigned to Wichita, where he's batting .310 with seven home runs.

"We were anticipating," Luraschi said, "because we consider him a big prospect."

Topps tried to destroy the Gordon cards, cutting out his face from cards and breaking the printing plates. Still, about 100 slipped into circulation, Luraschi said.

Darrell Jolley of Rochester, N.Y., said he paid $1,700 for a Gordon card and almost immediately put it on eBay. As of Thursday, bidding was at $3,000, with the auction closing Sunday.

Jolley, a certified public accountant, said he doubts many of the people looking for Gordon cards plan to keep them.

"People are collecting it just to flip it and make a quick profit," Jolley said. "You pull it out of a pack you bought for $2 and then you can sell it for $3,000. Obviously, you're going to put it on there as quick as you can."