Masahiro Tanaka 2017 MLB All-Star Game Trading Card Appraisal
Category: Sports Trading Card
Description
The item is a sports trading card featuring New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka at the 2017 MLB All-Star Game. The card is in a standard trading card size and appears to be made of cardstock. The main image depicts Tanaka in his pinstriped Yankees uniform, touching the brim of his cap while looking to his left. His pitching glove is visible on his left hand. The background shows a blurred image of a baseball stadium crowd. The card has a silver foil watermark across the center that reads "MLB ALL-STAR GAME 2017". Below the image is a red bar with "MASAHIRO TANAKA" printed in white capital letters, and below that, "NEW YORK YANKEES" in a smaller font. A round New York Yankees team logo emblem is partially visible on the lower left corner. The card is protected inside a clear plastic trading card page, indicating it is likely part of a collection. There are no visible signs of major damage such as creases, tears, or excessive wear, although the reflective surface of the card and plastic sleeve make it difficult to assess the precise condition. The card appears to have sharp corners. The overall quality seems good, typical of modern trading cards. There are no visible manufacturer's marks, but based on the MLB and Yankees logos, it is likely produced by a licensed trading card company.
Appraisal Report
I have examined the provided image of the Masahiro Tanaka 2017 MLB All-Star Game trading card. Based on the visual evidence, the card appears to be of standard modern trading card stock, featuring a clear image of Tanaka in his Yankees uniform. The silver foil 'MLB ALL-STAR GAME 2017' watermark and team logos suggest this is a licensed product, likely from a major trading card manufacturer. The card is protected in a clear plastic sleeve, which hinders a definitive assessment of its surface details. However, I do not observe any obvious major flaws such as creases, tears, or significant corner wear from the image. The corners appear sharp, and the image quality is good, suggesting *potentially* Near Mint or better condition, but this cannot be confirmed without in-hand inspection. Authenticity appears likely based on the visible branding, but full authentication would require examining the card's reverse side for manufacturer markings and potentially comparing it physically to known authentic examples or verifying provenance. Scientific testing is generally not applicable to modern trading cards like this for authenticity. Masahiro Tanaka was a notable pitcher, but this base All-Star insert card from 2017 is relatively common. While there is collector interest in Yankees players and All-Star selections, this specific card typically does not command high values on the secondary market unless it is a rare parallel version, an autographed card, or graded in a Gem Mint or perfect condition. Market conditions for these types of common insert cards from this era are generally stable but not experiencing significant growth. Comparable sales data for base versions of 2017 MLB All-Star insert cards of similar players places their value in a modest range. Without knowing if this is a numbered parallel or variant, valuing it above a few dollars is speculative. Factors significantly impacting value would be rarity (parallel/serial numbering), condition (professional grading), and autograph status, none of which are confirmed by this image.
Appraisal Value
$1 - $5