[HOF Auto Rookies]

It has taken me ten looooong years to finally be able to pick this card up. Mauer's rarest rookie card in existence. This is the 2002 Bowman Chrome FACSIMILE version, only about 20 in EXISTENCE! The 2002 BC's (Bowman Chromes) of Mauer and others either have a normal facsimile card or an autographed card, not both I believe. There are about 20 players or less in this who have autographed BC's that have the facsimiles as well. I don't know why this is, but I'm guessing that maybe there was a contract dispute, and they didn't know if he was agreeing to do autographed cards for Topps, and so they started printing these to be on the safe-side so that Mauer (the no. 1 pick) had a rookie.

Or maybe, this was supposed to be released. His BC auto is number 391, base bowman is number 379, and the facsimile is number 316...

This is my Mauer Holy Grail, I finally have it, and super ecstatic about it. I have just about every single Mauer rookie in existence. Finally crossed off the toughest one no doubt on this list.

Enjoy!