JASPER, Ind. (AP) -- Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio. Allare big names in the world of baseball and trading cards. But ScottRolen?
In this southern Indiana city, Rolen, the newest infielder on thePhiladelphia Phillies, is the hottest card around.
'Everyone is talking about Scott Rolen,' said Sheila Pierce ofFido's Sports Cards & Collectibles. 'People are just tickled todeath that he's doing so well.'
Rolen, a native of Jasper, has been in the big leagues for just afew days, yet sales of his baseball cards in his hometown areoutpacing those of established superstars, including Frank Thomas andKen Griffey Jr.
So far, Rolen's statistics had been documented only on minorleague cards -- more than 20 of them. But that may have ended forgood when the Phillies called up the infielder last week.
In his major league debut Thursday, Rolen went 1-for-4 with adouble in a 2-1 Philadelphia victory over the Cardinals. Playingthird base on Monday night in a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates,Rolen had a single in three at-bats.
Overall, he's batting .316 (6 of 19) with three doubles and threeruns batted in during his brief major league career.
At Sports Cards and More, owner David Stenftenagel said he's soldhundreds of Rolen cards since the rookie was called up.
'I'm calling all over the country to get more,' Stenftenagel said.'It seems like everyone in Jasper either has a Scott Rolen card orwants one.'
Rolen's cards sell for $3 to $20 locally, with the rarest cardfetching $75.
'It's very flattering,' Rolen said. 'I'm grateful for all thesupport I've gotten, but I still haven't quite grasped why people indifferent parts of the country would pay so much for a baseball cardof some 21-year-old kid from Jasper.'
Rolen remembers when collecting the cards was a hobby, not abusiness.
'When I was a Little Leaguer, I'd buy cards in bubble gum packsand try to piece a set together, nothing too serious,' he said. ForRolen, it still isn't.
