Pokémon and Major League Baseball (MLB) have each cultivated fervent fan bases over the years, but who could have predicted that these two seemingly unrelated worlds would collide in such spectacular fashion? Enter Evan Longoria, the third baseman with a flair for shining on the diamond and, evidently, in the trading card world as well. The latest buzz isn’t about his on-field heroics but rather a card that’s ignited a frenzied bidding war and captured the imaginations of collectors around the globe.
The card in question is a forthcoming insert in the 2025 Topps Tier One Baseball collection. It doesn’t just feature yet another action shot of Longoria; no, it’s adorned with an embedded knob from a game-used bat. But the real kicker? The bat knob is emblazoned with none other than Charizard, the fiery and iconic Pokémon. This unique mashup has sent shockwaves through both sports and trading card game (TCG) circles. It’s not every day that a relic card straddles two entirely different cultural phenomena, but this one has done just that, and with aplomb.
In the competitive world of collectible trading, timing is everything. Pokémon cards have been on a white-hot streak among collectors, a trend showing no signs of cooling off, while baseball card enthusiasts are gearing up for what looks to be an exciting season. Therefore, this unusual crossover between Pokémon and MLB couldn’t have arrived at a better moment. It serves as a kind of bridge between two worlds, opening dialogues where previously there were none.
Among the first to roll the dice on this golden opportunity is Alan Narz, owner of Big League Cards located in Casselberry, Florida. Not content with simply admiring the card, Narz has gone straight to offering a $100,000 bounty to make the card his own. “We’re all about being the top spot for sports and Pokémon,” Narz exclaimed enthusiastically. “Now this card shows up that’s basically the perfect blend of both? We need it.”
For Narz, a stalwart of the card trading community, this particular card may signify a historical first: a licensed MLB card featuring a Pokémon character. Although Topps has previously experimented with Pokémon-themed products under its official umbrella, this crossover card feels unprecedented in its audacity.
Bat knob cards are generally a collector’s delight, known for being the hefty slices of wood that once helped players like Babe Ruth make history. They’re cut from real game-used bats and set into thick relic cards, making them into veritable somethings of substance. The addition of a Charizard graphic catapults this card into a new stratosphere of desirability.
“When Topps works their magic on a card, it hits different,” Narz explained, and indeed, he’s not alone in this sentiment.
When news initially broke on social media, hobbyists acting with the speed of jaguars discovered that a Longoria game-used bat—complete with the same Charizard sticker on its knob—was up for grabs on eBay, listed for under $1,000. Doug Caskey, co-founder of high-profile card-breaking outfit Mojobreak, made his move and claimed the bat for $700. His impromptu purchase not only epitomized good timing but also generated its own bit of viral buzz.
“We’ve got a big Pokémon following and being from the Bay Area, where Longoria played for years, it felt like the right move,” Caskey explained, solidifying his stake in this fascinating narrative. Caskey, too, boasts a longstanding connection to Longoria. When Mojobreak kicked off operations in 2010, one of the legendary chase cards was Longoria’s elusive 2006 Bowman Chrome Superfractor. That particular card has never been publicly pulled, adding layers to a mythos Caskey is deeply familiar with.
“We were always chasing that Longoria Superfractor,” Caskey admitted. “And it still hasn’t shown up. It became a thing with us.”
As for the coveted Charizard bat knob card? Caskey won’t sit idly by. When Topps Tier One finally hits the stands, he’s ready to spearhead the hunt. “It’s the thrill of the chase,” Caskey revealed. “This card—it’s something else. Hunting that down? That’s what the hobby is all about.”
No one is entirely sure where this groundbreaking card will ultimately find its home, but it is clear that it’s more than just another piece of collectible ephemera. It symbolizes a cultural confluence, marking a once-in-a-lifetime moment for aficionados in both sports and Pokémon trading circles. Whether it ends up proudly displayed behind a Florida storefront or nestled in a prized collection in California, its legend is already well-established, destined to echo through the annals of trading history.
