2017 BBM Rising Sun

One set I missed this year when it was originally released was the 2017 BBM set titled Rising Sun. While it is identified as a 2017 release, the set came out last December - about one year ago, to be exact. It wasn't until this fall that I finally got a card for my type collection, but you won't see that card; it was filed away without being scanned!

Why did it take so long to get a Rising Sun single? This is an ultra-premium release that followed in the footsteps of Master of Insert. As such, even commons from the base set don't come cheap, and the set has been on the back burner for a while.

With a price point of 13,000 yen per box and only six cards per box, this is a gamble, similar to US products. But, since I'm in Japan, card prices tend to stay relatively high. Unlike America, where that $150 box will most likely net you $20 in cards.

Only 1500 boxes total were produced, which means only 9000 cards total were made for this issue. That includes all base, parallel, insert, and hit cards. BBM advertises that each box contains six cards - one is an insert card, while another is an autograph or memorabilia card. Based on print runs, you'll get 2.4 base cards, 1.2 parallels, 1.4 inserts, and one hit. (If my math is correct, 55 boxes contain two hits.)

 There are 36 subjects in the base set. Those are numbered out of 99 copies, making it one of the most limited base sets in existence. A parallel set is numbered out of 50 copies, though some players are numbered to 48 or 47.

 The Prime 3D is a perfect example of Japan's overuse of "the". Each card in this 12-card set is serial-numbered to only 25 copies. As you might have already guessed, these cards have a 3D effect.

 Each of the 36 players has a card in the Nightbreaker insert set, serial-numbered to 50 copies each.

 While autographs are probably the biggest draw in a premium product, they aren't exactly easy to come by. Only 19 players have autographs, with print runs from 5 to 30 copies each. I count 259 autographs total.

 Memorabilia cards appear for 23 players. Most of these are jerseys or undershirts, but Sakamoto has a bat card. The clothing swatches are numbered to 30 or 50 copies each, while Sakamoto's bat card is numbered to only 6. And for 15 of the players, a patch parallel version of their jersey card was issued; each of those are numbered to 15 copies. One player has an autographed batting glove memorabilia card. That card is numbered to five copies.

Yuki Matsui is the only player that can be found in the Autographed Authentic Ball set. Matsui signed 20 authentic baseballs which were chopped up to be used in this set. Or maybe only a few balls were chopped up, but he signed each in multiple places. Anyway, there are 20 of these cards.

Sure, pulling a Shohei Ohtani autograph (only 5 copies) or relic (180 copies total among three cards, two with patch parallels) would give you pretty good value for your investment. And that Matsui ball probably would pay for the box and maybe then some. But I honestly can't seeing this being a smart break. Yes, you'll get some additional money - better than in the States - for the other five cards. Oh well, it's not like I'll ever drop 13,000 yen on a 6-card box anyway!

Note that all images used in this post are promotional images from BBM. I don't have any of these cards.