Collectors/Prospectors Chasing Aumont's EEE Cards
April 03, 2008

Philippe Aumont has yet to throw his first professional pitch, but savvy collectors already have been buzzing about the 6-foot-7 Seattle Mariners' top pitching prospect.

Sales of Aumont's 2007 Elite Extra Edition autographs have steadily climbed over the last month, including two recent eBay auctions that closed with sales topping $400 and $100 respectively.

On April 2, an Aumont EEE autographed Gold Status parallel #'d 4/5 brought a winning bid of $401.01, after attracting 22 bids. One day later, an autographed Aumont Red Status parallel #'d 42/50 closed with a Best Offer sale of $110.

Aumont, the Mariners' first-round draft pick last June and the 11th overall pick in the 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft, signed late in the season last year and thus did not play. He was assigned to the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League out of spring training this year, and the Rattlers were scheduled to open their season April 3 on the road.

Aumont is ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in the Mariners' organization by Baseball America. His 2007 EEE card is the only '07 card of the righthander issued by one of the three major manufacturers.

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