The lights of Dodger Stadium have witnessed many legendary performances, and on a recent evening, they shone brightly on a new chapter in baseball lore. Hyeseong Kim, the electrifying rookie of the Los Angeles Dodgers, smashed his first MLB home run, a delightful spectacle that saw the ball soar majestically 385 feet into the history books. Amidst the cheers and high-fives, a parallel universe of baseball memorabilia was stirring, and the folks at Topps knew they had a moment worth capturing.
Topps, the illustrious torchbearer of baseball card culture, was not about to let Kim’s instant of glory go uncelebrated. Known for preserving these golden moments via its ‘Topps Now’ series, the company announced the release of a special card to commemorate Kim’s burst onto the scene – replete with something that has collectors practically doing the wave: Kim’s very first autograph card.
The beauty of Kim’s inaugural MLB blast was more than just its trajectory; it symbolized the promise and flair Kim brings to the Dodgers’ lineup. The rookie has proven more than capable, boasting a batting average of .360 across his first 11 games. With an impressive OPS of .840, Kim is already establishing himself as a burgeoning star amongst the proven talents in one of baseball’s most storied lineups. It’s no wonder Topps decided to encapsulate this rising moment in their distinctive style.
Topps Now cards capture lightning in a bottle, offering collectors a chance to own a piece of history, real-time. But this release carried more than just a framed moment— it brought enthusiasm to autograph collectors. For the first time, Hyeseong Kim lent his signature to a card, turning it into a coveted artifact. At the heart of this card release is a singular, 1-of-1 on-card autograph, inscribed with the words “First Home Run.” It’s a redemption prize that beckons dreams of grandeur for any collector lucky enough to find it nestled in their order.
However, Topps has ensured that more fans can grab a slice of this historical pie. Alongside the grand 1-of-1 autograph are 15 additional autographed cards interspersed throughout the collection, including limited editions numbered to /10 and /5. The thrill of the chase is inescapable, even if one misses out on an autograph; the release has an assortment of parallel card versions that ramp up the stakes with their scarcity and allure.
For those keeping a keen eye on these collectible treasures, the array includes:
– Gold Foil /50
– Orange Foil /25
– Black Foil /10
– Red Foil /5
– An elusive 1/1 FoilFractor
Besides the glitz of the numbered variations, Topps didn’t skimp on creativity, throwing a few curveballs in the mix. Collectors can hunt for three distinct card versions: the standard base card, a short-printed image variation, and a fantastic Korean-language super short print—a heartwarming nod to Kim’s cultural roots.
Keeping with Topps Now tradition, each card is available through four different buying bundles, offering flexibility for fans and collectors to partake in the excitement:
– A single card for $11.99
– A set of 5 cards for $49.99
– A pack of 10 cards for $89.99
– A grand lot of 20 cards for $169.99
However, there’s a catch: the buying window is tight, with orders open for just a brisk 24-hour period on the Topps website. Each card is printed to order, meaning the final print run will be finite and potentially priceless in nostalgia and rarity.
For Dodgers aficionados, rookie card hunters, and baseball historians-in-the-making, this release is more than a collectible—it’s an heirloom of the beginning of what could be an illustrious career. Topps’ attention to this narrative will not only find its way into card sleeves and binders but into the pages of time memorialized by Kim’s potential ascent to fame. Whether you hope to score an autograph, snag a foil parallel, or simply immortalize the excitement of Kim’s initial big league dinger, this Topps Now release presents an opportunity that promises to echo through both personal collections and the annals of baseball history.
