Death Bump

Death Bump: A brief, momentary, increase in the value of a player's collectibles after his/her death. Death bumps are more profound when an active or recently retired player dies young.

An example of a player who had a death bump was former New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, who died in a airplane crash shortly after the conclusion of the 2006 season. Before his death, 2006 Topps Updates & Highlights was scheduled to have a card of Lidle (he had been traded from the Phillies to the Yankees during the season). Topps issued the card adding an "IN MEMORIAM" blurb to the front of the card. Despite the fact that the card was an ordinary common of a now-dead average pitcher, copies of the card were selling for $5-$10 soon after release. The card's value has since settled and is now worth about the same as any other common.