The Great 2025 Baseball Whatever!
That picture has bugged me for 30 years now…
This box is the grand total of 2025 baseball cards I have. And I didn’t buy even half of these. The rest came from my mom's collection. She abandoned card collecting this summer, after a run matching mine, dating back to the late 1980’s. I started sorting and sleeving this box, but gave up after several attempts. The realization hit that I just have no interest in looking at 2025 baseball cards. The overproduction combined with sky high prices, the over saturation of ridiculous and stupid parallels, and the current economic climate (thanks, president pig shit) have almost completely soured me on buying baseball cards.
Congratulations Fanatics... You managed to do something that even stretches of near poverty couldn’t do…
Make me completely uninterested in buying baseball cards.
Starting off 2025, I bought some Topps Series One and was underwhelmed. I bought a little Heritage and was underwhelmed. And then I was done. Wrote about my dabbling with Bowman over a pair of Mega Boxes. Then I caused the closure of the Riverdale WalMarts over the battle of two Topps Chrome blasters. There were also three separate ebay shopping sprees. One for Bowman Twins prospects, and the other two filling out my Jeff Innis collection. A blaster of Donruss and Prizm, and that was it. Other than four hanger boxes of Topps series 2 (even more underwhelming). I’ve debated a little retail, then quickly and easily talked myself out of it. Don’t know how many times I’ve turned down 2025 Bowman Chrome Mega Boxes, walking past them at the WalMarts and Targets, over the past few months.
I’ve seen enough of other collectors regretted gambles on Reddit, to know that walking away is now the wisest move.
Not to say that I’m never buying cards again. I’ll likely pick up some Stadium Club, whenever it shows up on the retail shelves. But with as disappointed as I was with 2024 Stadium Club, I doubt I'll buy much of it.
2025 Bowman - Nick Kurtz
Maybe I’ll start up again if this guy ever learns how to hit…
Worst big leaguer since Al Newman, right Super A’s Fan Rob?
Nailed it!
So this will be my recap of what I thought of the few 2025 issues I did take a look at. But it will also explore my own thoughts on the state of a near 40 year collection, after helping my mom pare hers down to bare bones.
Spent a few afternoons at my mom’s apartment, going through albums and boxes of sleeved and Top Loadered cards. I’ve helped keep her collection under control since I moved back to Minnesota. Tossing tens of thousands of commons after the fire destroyed my parents house in 2020, and keeping it tidy afterwards. Most of the junk had been filtered out prior to this summer.
Over the last five years, she gave me all the cards she didn’t want. I’d bring them home, remove what I didn’t want, and file the rest away in sorted team boxes. Combining all of those boxes is a chore where I still haven’t been able to get much steam.
She was looking to sell was all stuff that has a market. Hall of Famers and should have been Hall of Famers, cards that are definitely not junk. For example, a 2022 Mosaic Mark McGwire whatever parallel this is, numbered to 25, is going to have a market. She had hundreds of numbered cards like this, out of 50 or less. Understandably, she didn’t want to mess around. I don’t have the time or means to deal with them in online sales. So her plan was to shop them around to area card stores. Not the best way to cash out a collection that isn’t worthless, but I get her reasons.
My job was to sort the cards into categories. The high dollar stuff that you would want to meet a specific price. The lesser, high quality cards, that you have a wider range. (Like a Mark McGwire, numbered out of 25.) Then what I considered the quality bulk. Stuff that sells for around $5. I looked at 130pt, to find completed sales of the best stuff. I sent her out on her mission, armed with notes, to make sure she wouldn’t be taken advantage of by an unscrupulous dealer, looking to make a quick buck off a 75 year old woman, walking in the door with a shoebox full of Top Loaders.
After hearing the results of her mission, I felt somewhat disappointed. She did a decent job of getting what she wanted, but I felt she should’ve gotten a bit more. But I get the variables involved that brought the prices down. Overall, she was happy with the results.
However, I was kind of sad. This effort represented nearly 40 years of us collecting baseball cards. Going all the way back to the Junk Wax Era, we would split hobby boxes, doing pack drafts and comparing the results. A huge part of my collecting history ties into those days. Both of us have completely lost interest, based on the same reasons I mentioned above.
Whatever…
Going through the boxes of cards, of course I had to set some aside for myself. Obviously not the huge high dollar stuff that she could sell, but some that would logically sell for a few bucks a piece, or fodder for a dime box. (A dollar box, adjusted for inflation.) All cards that I would add to my various PC’s, for various reasons. There’s not a whole lot of Twins, Expos or Rockies left. My mom is keeping most of her good Twins cards, and I’ve already snatched the Expos and Rockies.
So in the spirit of the Whatever, here’s the…
Top 56 Cards Poached from Mom’s Sell Off!
I’m not considering the thousands of low level base and common inserts, because I didn’t want to dig them out for this story. There’s likely a lot of cards cooler than what made the Whatever, but this list is just covering cards that were Top Loadered. To keep it easier on me. So it’s not a “best” type list. It’s just Whatever…
#56 - 1994 Leaf Gamers - John Kruk
Leaf Gamers were a pretty hot insert back in 1994. John Kruk -while a personal favorite- wasn’t going to net my mom much more than a quarter at best. She did have the major stars from this insert set, that I put in the $5 range pile, and sold. She got this Kruk (and most of the rest of the Gamers) from the Riverdale WalMarts. That same WalMarts I closed in August 2025… They had a killer card section during the Junk Wax Era. After that craze died down, that part of the store was partially closed off to sell cigarettes.
That WalMarts was too much of a metaphor for my life…
#55 - 2022 Finest - Steven Kwan
2022 Finest was kind of an ugly set. But I’ll take a flyer on a decent rookie card from the set.
#54 - 2010 Topps ProDebut - Lonnie Chisenhall - Autograph
Chisenhall was a top prospect in 2010, and had a decent, but unspectacular, major league career. Playing mostly 3rd base and right field, for Cleveland, between 2011 and 2018. My mom didn’t buy 2010 ProDebut, but got this card as a “hit” in one of those card store-issued, promotional re-packs. An autographed card of a former Top Prospect falls into the parameters of my various PC’s.
#53 - 2021 Bowman Inception - Tristan Casas
If Tristan Casas is so good, why are the Red Sox so interested in trading him? I don’t know. I hate the Red Sox. Don’t know much about Cases either, but this is a nice looking card. My mom would occasionally buy stuff like Inception, despite the high price per card ratio. Overall, her splurges on cards like Inception didn’t pay off. Her guaranteed autographs pretty much all flamed out. (I got most of those too.)
#52 - 2022 Gypsy Queen Chrome - Andrew Benintendi - Blue
The Gypsy Queen Chrome parallels, housed inside bonus packs inside Gypsy Queen hobby boxes, are really nice. So a I needed a color matching, serial numbered parallel of a former Royal and current White Sock. One who’s hitting is nearly as poor as Nick Kurtz. This came from a hobby box we split from Pal’s. My luck in the pack draft gave me an autographed Juan Soto card. That definitely fits in the PC’s.
#51 - 1996 SP Special FX - Randy Johnson
So does this really cool and poorly scanned card. Baseball was better when Randy Johnson was still pitching. Just like the last card, this also came from a hobby box split and pack draft. That took place shortly after I moved to Colorado, in 1996. Obviously this card went to her. But now it’s mine. Nearly 30 years later.
Whatever…
******
August 30, 2025
Earlier this summer, the Twins placed a statue of Hall of Fame, Joe Mauer, on Target Plaza, outside Target Field. Featuring Joe in his heyday, a pre-concussion catching pose where he’s readying a throw. It’s a good choice of a pose for a catcher, since most of the other statues around Target Field show great hitters hitting. (And Cranky Tom Kelly just standing there, looking cranky…)
Celebrating the new Joe Mauer statue is tonight’s promotional giveaway, a miniature Joe Mauer replica statue. For a change, Laura and I made it to the game before it started, so we both got one. To remain sealed in our respective Twins collections. So if you found one on the ebays, it wasn’t one of ours.
Hours after the game, I found this on Reddit:
Yikes… What is up with that neck? This is a bronze stick man wearing catchers gear…
Yeah.. I’ll keep mine boxed.
Knowing the TV booths were behind me and to my right, I stood up to take a picture. Padres color commentator Mark Grant waved to me, then gestured to my Montreal jersey while mouthing the words: “Go Expos!” Which now ranks number one on my list of best reactions to wearing an Expos jersey in public, that I’ve personally experienced. (It’s not a long list…) Would have been better If Grant had been a former Expo, but he is part of my favorite non-Twins MLB broadcast team (with Don Orsillo). That being said, his 1989 Upper Deck card had always been one of my favorites. Standing in the dark, under some hazy Jack Murphy Stadium lights. Should have scanned it…
Padres games are among the more frequent featured games on MLB Network when I get home from work. I like to watch whatever west coast game hasn’t ended, to unwind after my shift. Padres broadcasts are the most entertaining. Problem is we almost always get Dodger games, because Dodgers… I’d much rather watch the Padres, and I know who I’ll be rooting for to beat the Dodgers.
Now who is in the press box that I can recognize tonight?
There’s Aaron Gleeman of the Gleeman and the Geek podcast.
The only Minnesota Twins podcast you need to listen to.
******
Whatever…
Cards My Mom Sold - 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum - Dave Parker - Autograph
I decided to donate one of my stray gray beard hairs to the jet black of Parker’s. Wish I would have noticed that before it was too late for a redo… Parting with this Parker was kind or sad to me. He didn’t have a whole lot of certified autographs, and when he signed his cards, his Parkinson’s disease was advancing. I remember the 2019 MLB Network documentary, showing some of the everyday struggles Parker dealt with. Making the fact his signature was this clear, kind of amazing. Sadly, Dave Parker passed away from Parkinson’s, in June 2025. Just a month before he would be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
#50 - 2021 Topps Platinum Anniversary - Tim Hudson - Autograph
My mom and I opened tons of 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum hobby boxes, in an effort to build a complete set. (Still about 40 cards short.) Hudson was a box hit that went her way in a pack draft. I grabbed it to add to my stash. Not because I’m a Hudson fan, but a fan of the set. In fact I already have two Tim Hudson autographed cards (from other releases). She also had two that were sold. I just wanted it for the warm fuzzies this set brings.
Other autographed cards from 2021 Topps Platinum Anniversary that she sold include: Steve Carlton, Gary Matthews, Ron Guidry and Jay Buhner. Buhner was one of the rare Pink Black and White Mini-Diamond parallels. (Does Pink Black and White even make sense?) either hit, it was a rare hit from the Lite boxes. I think it was numbered to 15. Wasn’t more than that.
#49 - 2007 Bowman Draft - Madison Bumgarner
I never had a Madison Bumgarner from this set. She got it in the pack draft from the split hobby box.
#48 - 2005 Sweet Spot - Justin Verlander
Not sure where she got the Verlander from. I was living in Colorado in 2005, and she was typically buying only retail at the time.
Either way, it’s a worthy addition to my collection.
#47 - 2024 Prizm Hype - Chase Dollander
This card was a recent appearance from a Targets Blaster. I met my mom at the McDonald’s by the Targets after picking up some needed items. We both ripped a Blaster of 2024 Prizm, after eating our McYuck. I immediately wanted this card of the Rockies 2023 First Round Draft Pick. Will Dollander be the next big time high draft pick, Rockies pitcher to flame out under the thin atmosphere of Coors Field? Probably… You’d hope the Rockies staff would eventually figure out how to develop pitching. It’s only been 32 years of failing now.
Though I will give the Rockies credit, offseason management changes at least bring new, if not changes, Who knows if plucking Jonah Hill from a decade of running an NFL team, is the right move. But it’s a different move.
Walker Monfort, Jonah Hill and Dick Monfort (and his 44oz fountain drink)… Thanks Getty Images!
There are signs that Dick Monfort is starting to understand that he’s out of touch, and the way he has run this organization is a joke. So he’s letting his son take over more of the team operations. Jonah Hill was brought in from the Cleveland Browns, to become the President of Baseball Operations. They then hired Josh Byrnes from the Los Angeles Dodgers, to become the General Manager. Combine all three of those things together, and you can hope that it’s the start of much needed change with the Colorado Rockies.
2025 Topps Heritage Chrome - Ryan McMahon
It started last July, when the team woke up and realized that when you’re losing 100 games a year, highly paid talent doesn’t need to be retained beyond its sell-by date. McMahon was sent to the Yankees for two (rather old for) A ball pitchers. Other than the starting pitching trio of Freeland, Senzatella and Marquez, inexplicably still being in Denver, no other Rookie had been with the team longer. Nothing against McMahon, he was a good -not great- second and third baseman, going back to 2017. But he wasn’t helping the Rockies win, and would be a free agent LONG before the Rockies would be in position to compete. They missed the boat on trading him for meaningful prospects, two years ago.
The McMahon card was pulled in 2025, from a 2025 Topps Heritage Mega Box, at the WalMarts, back in May. This next card was also in the Mega Box. Which was the last 2025 Topps Heritage I bought. No attention paid the the high numbers release…
2025 Topps Heritage - Bryce Harper SP
There was also a Bryce Harper photo variant inside that Mega Box. Which is cool. While I rarely buy Harper’s cards, any that come from packs will go to the PC. Well, not base stuff. Got enough of that… Better than the Justin Verlander photo variant I pulled from a Heritage Blaster (the only other Heritage purchase in 2025).
I didn’t feel like scanning any other Heritage cards. None of them stood out and the set kind of bored me.
2025 Topps Series One, was written about earlier this year. That was before I picked up a Mega Box, on a whim at the Targets. Thought it might be a fun rip. I was partially correct. But it did result in my second best retail pull of the year. (Debatable next to the 2025 Topps Chrome Shohei Ohtani Ultra Violet All Stars Green Refractor that closed a WalMarts.)
2025 Topps 1990 Anniversary - Cal Ripken - Black Foil Crackleboard
Maybe that’s the right name? I give up on learning all of Topps parallels and parallels of parallels. It’s just gotten stupid. That being said, I’ve always been a Cal Ripken fan. Accented by his incredible 1991 season and cemented by breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak, in 1995. Needless to say, I was pleased by this card.
01/10 as well.
By the time 2025 Topps Series Two released, I tried to care, but just couldn’t. I bought 4 hanger boxes and pulled an unreasonable amount of duplicates and triplicates, which did not win me over.
2025 Topps - Austin Martin
Thanks for trying Austin…
2025 Topps - Trevor Story - Team Color
My big hit from those Series Two Hangers was a Team Color parallel of former Rockies shortstop, Trevor Story. One of my favorite Rockies from our last couple of years in Colorado. But now he’s with the Boston Red Sox… And you know how we feel about them… According to stuff on the Googles, this flavor of parallel has an estimated print run of 400 cards. But the card is not serial numbered.
Story will absolutely find a home in the PC…
A collection which is scattered throughout New Baseballcardland…
With the arrival of new cards slowing down to a trickle, the number one collecting goal has become bringing order to this chaos, currently under the supervision of Megatron. Cards are always going to be the dominant resident of New Baseballcardland, and more space needs to made for them. My mission, for as long as it needs to take, is to start getting rid of non-card items I no longer want. Clearing room to clear out the cards I no longer want.
What I do want is for this space to work.
Combination of storage and display that isn’t just a big mess. Don’t even know where all my assorted PC’s are located.
Something that would immediately clear several boxes worth of space, would be a serious thinning out of magazines. Most of which are general baseball card related. Mostly Becketts, with a little Krause Publications sprinkled in, dating back to 1988.
Camp has been set up on the couch, with the scanner to my immediate left and the Big Box of Becketts behind it. I’m going through each magazine, scanning pages that may have some future use, and recycling the rest. Once you eliminate all of the redundant newsprint price guide pages, there’s not a whole lot left to them.
The official televised entertainment of the big magazine scanning party, has been Superstore. I started watching it in 2015, when it first debut. After a few episodes, I forgot all about it. The show popped into my head a few months ago for reasons I forget. So I looked it up and found the entire series on the COCK! Cool… Now that I’ve finished the run, I really enjoyed it. It was sitcom cliche, yet smart and sharp in parodying a corporate monolith, and their business practices under a large retail setting.
One of the stories I found in an old Becketts, covered the topic of dealing with an out of control collection.
Which ran in the June 2005 issue.
Didn’t need to include the accompanying image, but Super A’s Fan Rob would like it.
Kind of relate to it.
You just saw what New Baseballcardland looks like…
While I don’t leave stacks of loose cards sitting out on any and every flat surface, I have been guilty of storing cards in open packs, with the hits removed. I agree with the idea of acquiring cards mindlessly causes clutter. That was 2018-2023 for me. Now the need to organize is key. The sentiment isn’t absolute, but I can agree with “not knowing where things are’. I keep supplies on hand, and have gotten much better at marking boxes. Since I’m already into the process, instead of starting at the beginning, those cards are in one of several sorted sets of boxes. I’m that far along.
When it came to the subject of accessibility, he mentions a collection buried under “a year’s worth of Maxim (heheheh… I remember Maxim…) and the mountain of Starting Lineup figures from the 90’s.” That definitely is a problem with my collection. While I’ve gotten rid of a lot of the magazines throughout the years, they were all boxed and just taking up room. And it never was Maxim. So for now, I’m concentrating on moving out the clutter I’ve kept for no good reason.
Consolidation options are brought up next. I’ve already discovered I have waaayyyy too many cards that I both don’t care about AND wish would go away. Suggested noble options like selling, donating or giving them to anyone that wants them is fine. But you have to store them for additional time. Taking up space until you find a willing sucker to take them off your hands. That space being the primary reason you want it gone. Sorry if it sounds extreme, but trash it goes…
Now, I’m just talking about bulk commons. Those are long gone. I’m talking about bulk cards that have a specific market. I’ve got tens upon tens of monster boxes filled with that kind of stuff. The exhausting part is figuring out what of all of those cards I want to keep. Then I’ll figure out how I want to get rid of that stuff.
Wouldn’t be a mid-2000s Becketts feature without a heavy dose of self-promotion. Suggesting that once your collection is organized, they start schilling the My Collectors package at the Becketts web site. I don’t know if that’s still a thing, but I do know that’s a thing I would still never use.
The story wraps up with more tips on both cleaning up your collection, and habits to adopt to keep it organized as you go. Mainly, putting cards where they need to go when opening packs. Good advice, as long as you’re not buying more unopened product than you can keep up with. More advice from the Becketts warned not to try to keeping up with other collectors, lowering your expectations and accepting lesser condition cards. The bottom line is to collect what you want, and to not let outside influences steer your enjoyment of the hobby.
Otherwise, you may just leave it all together…
“But an organized collection, one in which everything has a place and purpose… That’s a thing of beauty.”
True… Now I have to get there.
That Becketts article mentioned Kenner Starting Lineup figures, which immediately brought to mind the several boxes I still have of these little guys. This ad is from the November 1988 issue of Baseball Cards Magazine, one of quite a few Krause Publications titles also meeting the scan and dump fate. A couple of notes about this advertisement…
1. Over 360 figures in the series is an ambitious venture. Especially considering there were only 26 teams in 1988.
2. You can’t claim “detailed uniform” when you were never able to replicate pinstripes. The New York Yankees did not play in solid white home uniforms.
3. “Each comes with an autographed collector’s card.” No, they absolutely do not! They came with a collector card on each package, but it had only a facsimile printed autograph on the card back. This was a very misleading statement for Kenner to make, and would not fly today at all. Had each of these had an actual autographed card, these would be worth hundreds of dollars. Not nickels.
4. “They’re sure to be a sound investment.” Well… Looking at recents sales of the Kenner Starting Lineup figures I own, including a few that were considered to be fairly rare, not one of the had a resale price over $10. Most were around a couple of bucks, before including shipping.
As far as the several boxes of Kenner Starting Lineup figures goes, many of them will be set free of their cardboard backing cards. Some will be kept intact (Twins, Rockies, Expos, PC players, etc…), but a bunch of them will go away.
I’ll keep the cards though… The space they take up is simply not worth the value they hold.
Because New Baseballcardland sorely needs room for the team collections. These shelves; Expos on top, Twins beneath, then Rockies, with boxes of Twins (and other) publications on the bottom shelves, need a lot of work. With the shelf outside of frame to the right, housing more Twins memorabilia, like autographed baseballs, boxed bobble heads and assorted random baseball and card stuff. All of which needs a better organized system.
Whatever…
#46 - 1992 Donruss Rookies Phenoms - Moises Alou
Wow, that card scanned absolutely awful… Alou had somehow gone missing in my Expos collection since this card came out in late 1992, but will soon find a permanent home one of those blue Expos binders on the second shelf.
Earlier this year, I learned that in 2025, you can still buy the official Hot Dogs of the Montreal Expos?!? More than 20 years after the team ceased to be, Expos Wieners are still on the market in greater Montreal. Now that had to be one hell of an endorsement contract!
Thanks, Reddit!
#45 - 2000 Fleer Club 3000 - Wade Boggs
Already had 2 of this card, I like that die-cut a whole lot.
And Wade Boggs the Tampa Bay Devil Ray is always worth something.
#44 - 2021 Select Stars - Miguel Cabrera - Silver Prizm
So is Miguel Cabrera, in Imitation Refractor form. I’ll always keep Cabrera cards. Only Triple Crown winner in my lifetime.
Which is over 50 years now.
Damat…
#43 - 1999 Stadium Club Chrome - Kerry Wood - Refractor
If I’m remembering correctly, 1999 Stadium Club Chrome Refractors were a pretty tough pull. I know I didn’t buy much, but I never pulled one. Unfortunately for Wood, I think he was already rehabbing from his case of Tommy John Surgery, when this card came out in 1999. He had a fine career, but nothing that lived up to his incredible 1998 rookie season.
#42 - 2000 Bowman’s Best Franchise 2000 - Ken Griffey Jr.
Wasn’t a big fan of this insert set, the widely rounded corners bugged me.
But it’s Griffey…
But it’s Cincinnati…
Speaking of Ken Griffey Jr., I recently did a little checking on 130 Point, for my prized Griffey card and came back stunned.
Not only had the card sold recently, and for a VERY nice price of $4,200, it was an exact match to my card. Right down to grading service and final grade, BGS 8.5. Nice! I looked at the completed auction and saw their subgrades: Centering 8.5, Corners 9.5, Edges 10, Surface 7.5. Hmmm… It’s a little strange that those scores would equal 8.5, under whatever standards that Becketts uses in grading.
Now I had to dig mine out of its hidden house of isolated darkness.
My subgrades: Centering 8.5, Corners 9.5, Edges 10, Surface 8.5. Mine scored a whole point better in Surface, but both scored an 8.5. I feel I hold a 9 here, if the one that sold was an 8.5. Either way, it was nice to see the most accurate estimate of value possible. It’s worth $420(0)!
Reminder to myself that I paid considerably less than $300 for it, in June 2010.
In honor of Griffey’s value, I’ll share an unpaid Beckett Grading Service advertisement, from the October 1999 Becketts Baseball magazine.
Whatever…
#41 - 1998 Finest Mystery Finest - Mark McGwire
Topps had Finest doing the peel-off coating gimmick for a few years before deciding to take it further in 1998. They issued cards with a black film covering both sides of that card. Calling it Mystery Finest (or Mystery Topps, if that’s what you bought). My mom ripped a decent amount of 1998 Finest, while I was living in Denver. Most of those cards were thinned out in the early aughts, when I helped her get rid of thousands. This card, and several others of the ilk, came from what she bought. She was unable to peel the cards herself, so they were saved until I came back to Minnesota.
So they were an actual Mystery for a few months.
#41 - 1998 Finest Mystery Finest - Frank Thomas
This is not a tie for 41st place, just a double sided card.
McGwire is actually the B side, making Frank Thomas the top selling single, I guess…
#40 - 2021 Optic Mythical - Ryne Sandberg - Silver Prizm
RIP Ryne… Starting to bother me more seeing players whose careers lined up with years that I paid attention, now passing away.
#39 - 2024 Prizm - Bryce Eldridge - Silver Prizm
This card most likely came in the same Blaster box that Chase Dollander was hanging out inside.
Panini’s Silver Prizm’s may just be Imitation Refractors, but they are still damn nice cards.
#38 - 2022 Prizm - Harmon Killebrew - Red White & Blue Prizm
So are the Red White & Blue flavor. My mom has always liked Refractor cards, and Panini Prizms are lower cost alternative. In relation to how they are packaged in retail products. Over the last few years, she had bought a lot of Panini product. Mosaic, Select, Optic, Prizm and Chronicles would get you far more Refractor-type cards than what Topps was offering up.
And I’m definitely nabbing a Killebrew that I didn’t previously have.
******
August 30, 2025
When she picked out tickets for this game, Laura wasn’t considering the miniature Joe Mauer replica statue as the selling point. Thanks to increasing fan anger/apathy, she found an absolute steal of a price on seats in the Thrivent Club, on a Saturday night, against an opponent worth going out to see. San Diego has a better roster than say, yet another White Sox game.
I’d never seen a game from this level of Target Field, and our seats were behind home plate, slightly offset to the left. She sold me one another key feature, the Thrivent Club has scattered museum type exhibits focused on Twins Hall of Famers. So even if I lose interest in the game, I can easily lose myself in Twins history. Bright spots dotted on a pretty negative timeline.
Could probably make a story out of it!
Along the first base line of Target Field is the Kirby Puckett Atrium. With a two story image of Puckett burned into the wood, backing a full bar. The level above the Thrivent Club is the Target Field Suite Level. Can’t imagine we’ll be seeing a game from there any time soon.
Lotsa cool Rod Carew stuff in this display case. I have an empty Rod Carew Coke bottle just like that in my collection. Also likely drank a similar can of RC Cola at some point. But I want to make special note of the framed 1991 Hall of Fame Game scorecard. Starting in 1940, a yearly exhibition game was played at Doubleday Field, between an American League and National League team. The traditional AL vs NL game was adapted to any two teams in 1986. In 2003, the game was moved from Induction Weekend, and in 2008, Major League Baseball scrapped the game altogether.
With Major League Baseball loving to play games in different locations, why haven’t they brought back the Hall of Fame Game? Every year now, we have to play two games in Japan or Korea, right in the middle of Spring Training. There’s games in England… Games in Mexico and Puerto Rico… Games at the Little League complex in Pennsylvania… A game played in a 100 year old Negro League ballpark…
Even a game played on a NASCAR race track, that became an embarrassing debacle thanks to rain no one saw coming?
Building an actual ballpark on the Field of Dreams farm, in the middle of Iowa…
(Which will see the Twins play the Phillies, amongst the corn, in 2026.)
But no games in Oakland or Montreal.
MLB has spent tens of millions of dollars building places for teams to play exotic games over the last 15 years, but no money on promoting a “wacky location” game at the most logical of places. Just spend a few million to TASTEFULLY upgrade Doubleday Field, and play a Major League game at the Mecca of Major League Baseball.
Doubleday Field, Cooperstown, New York. July 17, 1995.
Makes a lot more sense than playing a game in the middle of a NASCAR stadium.
During a monsoon.
And the stadium runs out of food during the 3 hour rain delay.
However, the skies were clear in Minneapolis tonight, so let’s see what the Twins do in the bottom of the first.
Well, nothing…
Before the second inning, a fan was selected to play a game on the scoreboard. Continuing the Target Field Statue theme of the night, the fan had to guess which of these 9 names had statues outside the stadium. They had to get 5 correct answers, before guessing 3 incorrect answers in order to win.
I recognized the problem with the game right away. There were only 2 incorrect answers on the board. Bob Casey and Bert Blyleven are the only names listed that do not have Target Field statues. The woman playing the game picked two correct answers, and stated “Tom Kelly” (she left out the Cranky) for her third name. Twins employee says: “Oh, I’m sorry that is incorrect…”
What happened next was an immediate 10,000 people reacting WTF?
Twins employee stammers for a bit and tells the fan that there was a mistake, and they just gave her the prize. No harm, no foul.
Outside Target Field, there is also a statue of Carl Pohlad and his wife Eloise. They had to include Eloise to protect a solo Carl statue. That would have been just inviting terrible acts to be committed to it. Twins officials had to know that even pasting the Pohlad name on the scoreboard would be the absolute WORST thing they could have done. That poor fan would have been booed out of the stadium through no fault of her own.
Another correct answer (with an asterisk) would have been Legendary Racist Calvin Griffith. His statue was original to the ballpark’s opening in 2010. However, everybody remembered that he was a Legendary Racist, and his statue was removed in 2020. (To be fair, Rod Carew defends Griffith, saying he was never racist towards him both during and after his playing career.) Griffith’s statue was replaced by one of TC Bear.
I would have preferred Bob Casey.
Whatever…
This next portion is just a bolstering of my Miami Marlins collection. With all their failures, lack of fan support and terrible ownership, I’ve long viewed this franchise as sort of an Expos south.
#37 - 2020 Topps Chrome - Jordan Yamamoto - Autograph
There are a lot of ties between the organizations in the first decade of Marlins baseball.
They even have a former owner in common… That slimy piece of crap, Jeff Loria.
#36 - 2021 Prizm Blue Mini-Donuts - Sixto Sanchez - Autograph
But the Marlins do have two World Series championships…
#35 - 2021 Mosiac - Nick Neidert - Autograph
Pretty much a three-way tie for 37th through 35th place. Three interchangeable autographed cards of failed Marlins pitching prospects. Either ineffectiveness and/or injuries cut their careers short. Yamamoto already retired from baseball, but there’s a slight chance Neidert or Sanchez could resurface somewhere. Maybe the Twins will push their budget and offer a minor league deal?
#34 - 2021 Bowman Inception - Xavier Edwards
Digitally painted as a Ray, Xavier’s establishing himself as a pretty valuable middle infielder for the Marlins. Another from her terrible hits Inception gambles.
#33 - 2021 Mosiac Aces - Trevor Bauer - Prizm
While going through Top Loaders, my mom found this Trevor Bauer card and told me if I didn’t want it, she was going to throw it in the trash. Bauer’s wacky bedroom antics aside, I thought it was a cool card. She still hates the player, so it was in the get rid of without trying to sell (not like it has any collector value) pile.
If she’s this harsh on Bauer, imagine how she feels about a player accused (and convicted) of far worse?
Cards My Mom Sold - 2021 Chronicles - Mike Trout
I’m definitely not talking about Mike Trout. One of many superstar, rookie and hall of famers numbered to (around) 100, she was looking to sell. Like the McGwire /25 earlier, these players have a specific market. Bt unless you are selling directly to it, have to accept the bulk price. Looking at 130 Point, shows many Trout cards (numbered to 99) that sold for anywhere between one penny to $100. Assuming a Panini Zenith would be closer to the penny, than a Finest Refractor. Despite both cards being numbered to 99. So tossing it in with the bulk stuff is the way to go.
So what did Panini offer up in 2025?
I bought one Blaster of 2025 Donruss earlier this summer, when I found a few at the local Targets. Panini is a good option for cheap base cards of prospects and hall of famers, with a hefty amount of attractive inserts and parallels. All without team logos. Which is an absolute shame. Panini (or anyone) competing with Fanatics on a level playing field, is the biggest thing the hobby needs right now.
2025 Donruss - Billy Martin
Wasn’t expecting to see Legendary Alcoholic Billy Martin show up in a 2025 set. With an added bonus of the green seats amongst yellow poles of old Comiskey Park. This is a great card, despite it missing two A’s.
2025 Optic - JD Dix - Orange
Heheheheheh… Dix…
2025 Optic - Mike Piazza - Black
Once again, if you want a great looking Panini card, you always go with a fielding catcher.
Remove the Optic logo, and this a Topps Chrome insert.
2025 Donruss Marvels - Charlie Condon
Panini also loves their comic book insert sets…
2025 Donruss Jersey Kings - Kumar Rocker
Because I don’t feel like deciphering a list of hundreds of parallels, I don’t if this is an orange parallel, or if this is what the base Jersey Kings look like. Still a nice looking card, and I’m curious to see how Rocker’s career plays out, after being a top draft pick and big name coming out of college.
Too bad it’s not autographed…
Whatever…
#32 - 1997 Donruss Signature - Derrick Gribson - Autograph
So we’ll go back 28 years to when Donruss was still its own company, and hadn’t had its assets sold in bankruptcy. Back when they were pioneers in making autographed card sets. This Gibson was a promotional giveaway my mom picked up at the 1998 Pinnacle All Star Fan Fest, in Denver, Colorado. Pinnacle had just purchased Donruss, but would itself go out of business laster in the year. Gibson seemed like a can’t miss 5 tool prospect for the Rockies…
But he missed.
#31 - 1996 Flair Diamond Cuts - Juan Gonzalez
Diamond Cuts were a pretty tough pull from packs of 1996 Flair. I don’t remember buying any 1996 Flair, but I know my mom bought a few packs, probably not a full box. Never was a Juan Gonzalez fan, and I’m definitely not a Texas Rangers fan, but this card is pretty nice looking, and will fit in with my Texas Rangers collection. A collection smaller than all but a few teams.
#30 - 2021 Panini Obsidian - William Contreras
Obsidian was one of the re-imagined brands packaged under the Panini Chronicles umbrella. We both were big fans of the brand, with cheap hobby boxes that were generous on hits. And we bought a lot of it between 2019-2022. May as well add a rookie card for the Brewers catcher, who looks to have some staying power in Milwaukee.
#29 - 2022 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Nolan Arenado - Refractor
Arenado has really fallen off over the last couple of seasons, and I wonder which team the St. Louis Cardinals will pay him to play for in 2026. Boston seems to be taking on a lot of the Cardinals players and payroll considerations, Maybe if Bregman signs with the absolutely appropriate D-Bags, the Red Sox will look to the Cardinals for another past-his-prime All Star?
He’d never approve it, but send him back to the Rockies!
#28 - 2022 Topps Update - Hunter Greene SSP
I bought a Hobby Box of 2022 Topps Update and pulled an Albert Pujols photo variation. (Plus a Greg Maddux and Shohei Ohtani autograph, in what turned out to be the greatest hobby box I ever opened.) My mom only bought a couple of packs, and found this Hunter Greene photo variation. Only as I’m writing this did I learn this Greene was one of Topps Super Secret Stunningly Special Short Print.
I wish Topps was still only this stupid these days
#27 - 1993 Select Stars - Edgar Martinez
1993 Select Stars and Select Rookies marked the first appearance of Pinnacle’s patented Dufex Technology. I never pulled one from a pack, but she did. I bought the Griffey Jr. from the Stars insert set, and Sam Militello from the Rookies insert set. The Militello was lost to theft in 1994, and never replaced (though I really should).
#26 - 1997 Bowman’s Best Mirror Image - Larry Walker & Karim Garcia - Refractor
Just like with the Mystery Finest, the B-Side tops the hit single… You have a Colorado Rockies hall of famer, and Karim Garcia. Who managed to play parts of 10 seasons in the majors, with 7 different teams. And was below average all along the way.
#26 - 1997 Bowman’s Best Mirror Image - Albert Belle & Ruben Rivera - Refractor
Albert Belle had an interesting career, both as an awesome slugger and a crabby asshole. He played in over 1500 games between 1989 and 2000, posting an outstanding .295/.369/.564 slash, with 381 home runs. He was forced to retire after the 2000 season, due to degenerative hip osteoarthritis. But he was such a Legendary Asshole, that he garnered zero support for the hall of fame, despite numbers that should have made him a lock.
Ruben Rivera is Mariano’s cousin, and a former overhyped New York Yankees prospect, traded to the San Diego Padres for Hideki Irabu (future Expos legend…). He found his way back to the Yankees, but was released after he stole Derek Jeter’s glove and bat from the locker room, then sold them to a memorabilia dealer. Some 23 years later, I still do not understand why he would have done that.
Whatever…
About now, I think it's time for a little musical interlude, before continuing...
Further entertainment for card sorting and/or writing over the last few months, has included a lot of the MeTV Toons channel. Finally, a cartoon channel that isn’t all insulting post-2000 cliche animation. Classic cartoons dating back to the 1930’s, mixed with random stuff I barely remember from the 1980’s. I’ve now watched more episodes of the Police Academy cartoon in 2025, that I ever did 40 years ago.
And the original 1933 Popeye the Sailor theatrical short credit screen, sends a definite message… An anchor and a shotgun, with a sailor cap. Even though the cartoon was about Popeye and Bluto fighting over Wimpy’s patronage of their respective Penny Arcade’s. Punchline being that Wimpy didn’t have any money, so Popeye and Bluto were just spending their own money to impress him. Something something spinach something…
What else did Panini offer up in 2025?
Prizm is back for 2025!
I guess Prizm would probably considered Panini’s flagship brand. It dates back almost 15 years now, and has stayed pretty consistent during that time. You pretty much knew what you’d get with Prizm. Even after the MLB Players Association yanked their endorsement, to focus all the attention on Fanatics.
And they always scan pretty terrible.
2025 Prizm - Christy Matthewson
So you get an assortment of Hall of Famers and prospects…
2025 Prizm - Paul Skenes
Unexplained current major league stars appearing…
2025 Prizm - Zac Veen - Green Prizm
And a multitude of attractive parallels…
Congrats on making the majors, Veen. Now you need to figure out how to stay there…
Cards My Mom Sold - 2020 Chronicles - Fernando Tatis Jr. - Buyback Autograph
This was actually a tough one to price. 2020 Chronicles had some randomly inserted autographed buyback cards. In this case, Panini bought back a card that was only a year old. And they only bought 7 of them. So technically, it’s an autographed Tatis rookie card. Only it was signed a year later. She sold it for around $500, which wasn’t terrible.
We had both dropped a bunch of money at Pal’s, the afternoon she pulled this card. We each bought a box of 2020 Chronicles, and split a hobby box of 2021 Bowman’s Best. A notable card popped out of that Bowman’s Best box, that I’ll get to later. And I’m not talking about the autograph redemption of Twins top prospect, Emmanuel Rodriguez. She isn’t selling that card. (I wanted dibs…)
Whatever…
#25 - 2021 Stadium Club Chrome Beam Team - Fernando Tatis Jr.
We also bought a bunch of 2021 Stadium Club Chrome, when Pal’s was blowing them out for $100 per hobby box. I probably had at least 2 of this card already, but the Beam Team inserts are so nice looking, I’ll take another.
#24 - 1995 Stadium Club Ring Leaders - Frank Thomas
Speaking of nice looking, from 30 years ago… 1995 Stadium Club was one of my favorites from the mid-90’s, and Ring Leaders were the best insert. I have a few of them, Griffey, Puckett, Piazza, amongst them, but Thomas just feels like it should be in my collection. It’s a mid-1990’s insert, you have to include the 1990’s best hitter.
#23 - 2022 Mosiac - Oneil Cruz - Blue Prizm
Both Pittsburgh and I are hoping to see Cruz take that step forward into superstardom.
#22 - 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Jose Canseco - Aqua Shimmer
More than Canseco, this is an Aqua Shimmer of the great Comiskey Park Exploding Scoreboard!
#21 - 2022 Stadium Club Chrome - Carlos Correa - Blue
Serial numbered out of 50, and a reminder of that brief period of time that Minnesota Twins were pretending to be an actual big boy major league franchise.
Who was it the Twins received in trade for the highest paid player in franchise history?
Whatever…
******
August 30, 2025
How about looking at some of the tools of choice of the Twins previous highest paid player…
Joe Mauer’s multiple Thrivent Club display cases contain bats, baseballs, game worn equipment and other Mauer memorabilia.
But I was momentarily distracted by the only Twins highlight of tonight’s game…
Just as he did when Laura and I went down to Spring Training, in March of 2025, Byron Buxton hit a home run! This was his 28th of the season, an opposite field blast to right, scoring James Outman, in the bottom of the 5th inning. Living up to his name, Outman scoring certainly didn’t happen too often in 2025. But this temporarily gave the Twins a 3-1 lead.
They didn’t win tonights game…
2025 Topps - Byron Buxton
Topps continued their run of choosing excellent Buxton photos for his flagship base card…
But the rest of tonights game absolutely sucked. So I’ll go look at some more Twins memorabilia, in the Thrivent Club.
Several display cases were dedicated to the 1965 All Star Game, at Metropolitan Stadium. I’d love to flip through that issue of TV Times. I really want to know what happened when a bear attacked WTCN 11’s Rodger Kent! The 1985 All Star Game, at the HHH Metrodome also got a few display cases. But the 2014 All Star Game, at Target Field got even more space. As it probably should. Though I was far less interested in 2014, than 1985 or 1965…
Another display case was dedicated to Jim “Kitty” Kaat, who pitched 15 of his 25 major league seasons with the Twins and Washington Senators. The large sign in the middle of the case, was Kaat’s locker sign from Metropolitan Stadium. I’ve seen a few of these in my day (Is the museum that was at Dome Souvenirs Plus, still around somewhere?) and I love them.
Speaking of kitty…
It’s pretty rare when a TV show can get a spit take out of me.
Whatever…
#20 - 2020 Topps Archives Fan Favorites - Darin Erstad - Silver Autograph
Had 2001 Topps used a silver border, instead of that weird dark aqua green, it would have been a far nicer looking set. Erstad wasn’t a player I collected, but as a former first overall draft pick (1995), it falls into the parameters of some PC or another.
#19 - 2020 Stadium Club - Bo Bichette
Probably my favorite Toronto Blue Jays photo to ever appear on a card.
So... What's the hold up on re-signing with the Blue Jays?
Where's the "better" situation that's going to be worth a few extra million dollars?
#18 - 2022 Panini Essentials - Bobby Witt Jr.
There were so very many Chronicles cards in her collection. I’m not turning down Bobby Witt Jr. rookie cards, though I’m sure base like this won’t have much for future value.
Unlike this…
Cards My Mom Sold - 2020 Elite Extra Edition Future Threads - Bobby Witt Jr. - Orange Autograph
Witt’s signature looks like he just wrote the word “Butt”, really fancy.
I would have loved to add this to my collection, but it was sold quickly in the first round of redistribution.
#17 - 2006 Bowman Chrome - Ichiro - XFractor
Thrilled she didn’t mind me sniping an attractive parallel of 2025 Hall of Fame inductee, Ichiro Suzuki (named on 393 of 394 ballots cast). His induction speech was the highlight of the ceremony. Doing his speech in English, he told engaging stories and was downright funny with his take and observations. It was a side of him I’d never seen, in nearly 25 years of television and media coverage. As soon as he came into the league in 2001, he was different. The game was all power all the time (unless you were the Twins). In comes a skinny Japanese import, speed and contact guy. With a batting stance and swing that are a throwback to a century earlier. If you combine his totals from the Japan Pacific League and Major League Baseball, Ichiro had 4,367 base hits.
That’s over 100 more career hits than Pete Rose.
#16 - 1997 Bowman’s Best - Eric Milton - Atomic Refractor
1997 was a big year for both of us buying Bowman products. We would split hobby boxes of Bowman’s Best and Bowman Chrome, during her visits to Colorado, after I moved. She would bring a few boxes with when my parents came out, so we could do a pack draft. Her half of the Bowman’s Best box had this Milton, as the big box hit (different times). Milton was a recent New York Yankees first round draft pick (1996) and top prospect, because he was a Yankee. After Chuck Knoblauch’s Twins suck tantrum in December 1997, Milton was part of the return to get Knobby off the team. Milton was a steady middle of the rotation guy for the early-aughts Twins teams, that won a bunch of division titles and lost early in the playoffs, each year.
In 2025, his 1997 Bowman’s Best Atomic Refractor finally has a home in my PC.
Stored with the Yankees, because… Though he belongs in the Twins bin.
#15 - 2008 Spectrum Swatches - Mike Piazza
When I drove back to Minnesota in May, 2008, my mom took me to the new Beyond Shinders in Maplewood. I wrote that story many years ago, in the early days of this blog. We each bought a few packs of 2008 Upper Deck Spectrum to open. That story detailed the sheer unbeieveousity of what those few packs yielded (thank you, Major Nelson), but this Piazza card was one she found in her packs.
Barely remember Piazza as an Oakland A. This is definitely the first Athletics relic card I’d see of his.
#14 - 1992 Classic Collector’s Club - Brien Taylor - Autograph
Now holding my second copy of this card. We both got our copies in early 1993, as part of a promotion at Coaches Corner, in the old Apache Plaza shopping mall. She knew that Taylor hurt his shoulder by being stupid, but hadn’t heard just how bad things had gotten for him later in life, until I told her. Former first overall draft pick (1991) to three years prison for cocaine trafficking, 20 years later.
Whatever…
When I discovered that MeTV Toons was airing the old Pac Man cartoon, I was really excited. I remember it when I was a kid, but I didn’t remember it being this terrible. My 80’s loving co-worker called it a “shameless cash grab by Hanna Barbara.” I didn’t realize the Scooby Doo Crew were responsible for this hastily put together Saturday morning kids cartoon. I still keep recording it on the DVR, sometimes watching them in the background as I write stories like this one.
However, the list of voice actors who worked on the show is a who’s who of that day… Both Megatron AND Optimus Prime lend their voices to the animated Pac Man embarrassment. As does Garfield.
******
August 30, 2025
Let’s check on that Twins Padres game. See if I’ve returned to my seat yet…
Nope, still looking at Thrivent Club display cases. Where I found one of my favorite things inside of Target Field.
I knew that former Twins manager, Cranky Tom Kelly, was originally taken by the Seattle Pilots in the 8th round of the 1968 MLB Draft, but I had never seen a photo of him as a member of the Seattle Pilots. Too bad this was taken at their spring training complex in Tempe Arizona, instead of poor, old Sicks Stadium in Seattle. The Pilots only played in Seattle for the 1969 season, before Bud Selling swooped in and moved them to Milwaukee, for the 1970 season.
Milwaukee released Tom Kelly (probably not Cranky yet) in April, 1971, and he signed with the Twins. After a few seasons at AAA Tacoma, he made it into 49 games with the 1975 Minnesota Twins. You know, that should have been more than enough to get him a Topps card in their 1976 set… Kelly never made it back to the major leagues (and never got a Topps card as a player), so perhaps that’s the root of his crankiness?
The case next to the one featuring Tom Kelly, Seattle Pilot, had something that amused me… A champagne bottle from after Scott Erickson’s April, 1994, No-Hitter against Milwaukee, inscribed: “Thanks for letting me finish it.” Erickson and the Twins manager had a notoriously icy relationship, during his time in Minnesota. Cranky Tom Kelly was known to yank pitchers early, to bring in a less than reliable bullpen. What he had for tools in 1987 and 1991, were long gone by 1994. Funny thing is, Erickson finished the game after throwing 128 pitches. That would never be allowed today, which shows you how much the game has changed over the last 30 years.
Say… How is the game I’m at going?
Ouch… 12-3 San Diego, in the top of the 9th.
Here’s a tip for fans who have to endure a Twins game in person. You can always find an amusing quip on the scoreboard, for the visiting team. It’s one thing the Twins do well, employing a snarky scoreboard operator… Mason McCoy? “Still not a fan of the Hatfields.” That’s pretty funny…
Whatever…
#13 - 2020 Panini Spectra Signatures - Enyel De Los Santos - Autograph
Another card that went my mom’s way in a Panini Chronicles pack draft. De Los Santos has been bouncing around the major leagues since 2018, and has played for 8 teams in 7 seasons. And was only above average for 2 of them, both with Cleveland. I’m not cure how you get “Enyel De Los Santos” out of whatever he drew at the bottom of the card, but it looks cool.
#12 - 2020 Panini America’s Pasttime - Yu Chang - Autograph
And Another card that went my mom’s way in a Panini Chronicles pack draft. Chang played for 4 teams in parts of 5 seasons. Strangely, he played for all 4 of those teams (Guardians, Pirates, Rays and Red Sox) during the 2022 season. This was just a cooler looking card than De Los Santos, and it’s serial numbered 10/10. After his release from the Tampa Bay Rays, in May, 2024, Chang signed with the Fubon Guardians in New Taipei, of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Now 29 years old, he didn’t exactly hit that well when he was in the major leagues, so I don’t see a North American comeback, any time soon.
#11 - 2022 Allen & Ginter Chrome - Joe West - Refractor
I thought this was a cool card. My mom didn’t see the value in a card of an umpire, so she let me have it. (We also pack drafted a bunch of 2022 Allen & Ginter Chrome, those were a fun rip!) Joe West was an MLB umpire from 1976 through 2021. West holds the record for umpiring 5,460 games over 43 seasons. It’s cool that Topps honored him with a card in the set. It’s even cooler to have the Refractor parallel.
#10 - 2000 Ultra Platinum Medallion - Alex Gonzalez
Coming up in the mid-90’s, A-Gone was seen as every bit the shortstop prospect as A-Rod, Jeter and Nomar, but his game never went to the next level as theirs did. He did appear in 35 games with the 2004 Montreal Expos, so that was enough reason to add this tough parallel to the Toronto Blue Jays PC.
If you look closely at the card back, you can see a serial number of 35/50, next to a Platinum Medallion foil notation. The is the rarer parallel to the Gold Medallion, which fell one per pack. I remember this coming from a pack draft of 2000 Ultra, during my visit to Minnesota in the spring of 2000.
#9 - 2006 Bowman Chrome - Jim Thome - Blue Refractor
Assuming the Thome came from the same round of 2006 Bowman Chrome, that brought the Ichiro X-Fractor, a few cards back. Wasn’t a big Thome fan, since most of his career was spent with AL Central rivals Indians and White Sox. But Thome hit his 600th career home run as a Minnesota Twin (in 2011), so that warmed me up to one of MLB’s all time greatest sluggers.
#8 - 1997 Metal Universe - Magnetic - Derek Jeter
I wasn’t around when she bought 1997 Metal Universe, but there wasn’t a whole lot of it in her collection. Looking up recent sales show it selling between $5 and $15, with wide variance for condition. Apparently it’s a tough grade in mint. Noticed the uptick in late 1990’s insert prices, over the last five or so years. Collectors of past mega stars are noticing how hard to find some of these cards are today.
#7 - 2005 Leaf Certified Materials - Justin Morneau - Blue
Not sure where my mom got this card from. She said to give it to Laura, for her Moreau collection. But she already had it. Same blue parallel, numbered to 100. Well, I didn’t have one for my Twins hits box, and now I do. Funny, there are only 100 copies of this card, and 2 of them are in the same house.
I guess that’s not all that special… But you know what was?
******
September 19, 2025
Tonight was Laura and my 10th Anniversary of our commitment ceremony, and she set up another Twins game from the Thrivent Club. The Guardians were in town on a rainy Friday night, and she had set up a few surprises on the night…
Utilizing connections I hadn’t known she established with Twins Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Dustin Morse, Laura was finally able to meet former Twins MVP, Justin Morneau, outside the press box, before the game. They talked for close to ten minutes, he posed for this picture, gave her an autograph and went back to work on the pregame show.
While they talked, we got a bonus appearance by Hall of Famer, Tony Oliva.
Twins Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Dustin Morse, is at Tony’s left.
Rain went away after the first inning, and only returned after the game as we waited for the light rail train that never came. So we only had to use the shared umbrella for a few minutes.
Another surprise guest at the game was my Doktor! Who appeared over my shoulder with Laura in the 5th inning. He was invited here by Laura, for her and I to do a renew our vows deal. Since my Doktor was the one to civilly unify us, 10 years ago tonight.
The Twins also lost this game, but only 6-2.
Whatever…
#6 - 2024 Topps Chrome - Coco Montes - Gold Wave
My mom and I had gone down to Twin Cities Sports Cards in Golden Valley, MN, last summer. We both needed card supplies, and picked up a 2024 Topps Chrome Mega Box each. On the way back, we stopped for lunch at Portillo’s in Maple Grove. After eating, we ripped the Mega Boxes at the table. This card was the big hit from hers. Very nice looking and a Colorado Rockies parallel of a player no longer in the system.
2024 Topps Chrome - Alex Jacob - Purple Speckle - Autograph
Not part of the Whatever, this was the hit from the Mega Box I opened. Jacob isn’t likely to be a star, but he did pitch for the Padres in the August 30, 2025, game we attended. And he did hold the Twins scoreless, to close out the 9th inning…
#5 - 2021 Bowman’s Best - Wander Franco - Gold Refractor
Actually had to talk my mom out of throwing this card in the trash. Can’t say I blame her at all. But I wanted it. Not in any way to celebrate or honor the player, because of what he did. He will never again play Major League Baseball, and that's fine. For a brief moment, this card was pretty significant in the hobby. Due to the pointless debate over whether this would be considered to be Franco’s official rookie card. Although it didn’t fit the bullshit parameters of what MLB wanted Topps to print as official rookie cards. I can’t really summarize what the debate was, because I never understood it. Or cared…
The card came from the 2021 Bowman’s Best hobby box I wrote about earlier. Ripped along with the Chronicles that netted her the Tatis Jr. autographed (sort of) rookie.
#4 - 1995 Zenith Z-Team - Mike Piazza
Pinnacle went sorts of Dufex-wacky with this 1995 insert set. The card actually looks a lot better than the scan. Its origin story was as follows… Splitting a newly released hobby box of 1995 Zenith, purchased at Coaches Corner in the Apache Plaza shopping mall. Pack draft and ripped after lunch at the Coon Rapids Fuddruckers. She get the box hit.
That’s the about going through all of her cards with her. And helping her get rid of key cards to raise money. I remember nearly every organ story for the hits. Which brings back memories of the where, why and when of each card. And what else came with it. For nearly 40 years, the card collection is a very significant pile of memories, on the level of my piles of notebook journals. So I’m glad I get to keep a few of these, as I’m sad to see the rest go.
Hopefully they end up in someone’s PC, that will appreciate them.
#3 - 2022 Panini Recon - Payton Henry - Autograph - 1 of 1
Flipping through a box of Top Loaders, I stop and ask: “How about a Payton Henry autograph?”
“Yeah, no one wants his cards.” She replied
“His family probably would… It’s a one of one…”
“If you want it, take it.”
Done and done. I’ll gladly take an autographed one of one card, of any player. Especially from a team I’m starting to collect. Payton first arrived in her collection from a box of 2022 Chronicles. We’re still digging out from the Wander Franco avalanche from ripping those packs.
Whatever…
The Whatever is rapidly reaching the top spot. Before I reveal the #2 card on the great 2025 Baseball Whatever, I feel I need to give context to the header image, way back at the start of this story. For several months in early 1996, the Becketts ran a campaign to get kids into card collecting. One of their comics featured “Mason”. A kid learning about baseball history in a card store. This one was titled: Mason’s Memorable Moment.
Something about that kids face has always bothered me. And the whole pasting his face on a baseball bat and ball, just looks creepy.
He’s eating a number 2… Sorry…
#2 - 2021 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary - Don Mattingly - Refractor
Don Mattingly has been one of my PC’s since I started collecting. He was arguably baseball’s biggest star in 1987. Among superstars of the day, I was drawn to his cards over anyone else’s. So yeah, this was a must have.
Cards My Mom Sold - 2023 Topps Chrome Update Future Stars - Anthony Volpe - Red Refractor - Autograph
Born from a retail Targets Blaster. We had each done our shopping, bought some cards and met at Pizza Ranch for fried chicken. (Which is fantastic, by the way.) She pulled the Volpe from her pack and was excited that it was an autographed card of someone who had a some hobby steam behind him. I looked at it and flipped it over and told her it was serial numbered, 3/5. Suddenly it was more than a nice card.
By late 2025, Volpe had lost most of his hobby steam. But she still managed to get $400 for the card.
Dragging this out further, I have to add a four way honorable mention…
These 4 Matt Olsons were also saved from her sell stacks, but had already been filed away in my A’s keeper box before I started this story. Since they weren’t scanned in with the rest of the Whatever, they’ll just go here. Any of the 4 would have been logical fits in the Whatever, with the top 2 being near locks.
So, is this a fair representation of Olson the A?
Thank you for your approval.
And now it’s finally time to reveal the #1 card of the 2025 Baseball Whatever.
#1 - 2021 Leaf Metal Draft - Matt Mikulski - Green Wave Autograph
“Oh my god… You have a Matt Mikulski autographed card, and it’s numbered 5/5…”
My mom asks who that is. Well, Matt Mikulski was the only thing the Twins got back in the Carlos Correa trade. A 26 year old lefty, whose control problems never let him advance beyond A ball. A player who had only been signed as a free agent, by the Astros a couple of months before the trade. A pitcher who was so bad, the Astros hadn’t let out of Rookie League.
That’s who the Twins got for Carlos Correa.
Minnesota assigned him to High A Cedar Rapids, after the trade. He only made it into 6 games, for a total of 5 and a third innings. During which, Mikulski managed to walk 13 of the 33 batters he faced. Realizing there was no point in keeping up the charade, Mikulski was released after Cedar Rapids season ended.
Mikulski was a decent prospect at one time. A second round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, in 2021. His college numbers were good, except for all the walks. If he could have made is control better than scary, there may have been something a team could have done him. But he didn’t, so he’s just another failed prospect.
My mom got the Mikulski card is a box break at Pal’s Sports Cards, in early 2022. It’s a visually striking card. The green and the waves prism effects look great. And it’s numbered 5 of 5, so it’s rare. But just year years after release it’s completely worthless.
Unless you value a punchline.
Which I do.
For all those reasons, I believe this 2021 Leaf Metal Draft Green Wave, Matt Mikulski autograph is the most dead-on perfect representation of baseball cards in 2025, to me.
Whatever…
Let’s wrap this lengthy piece up with a few more baseball thoughts. First off, I’m sure you’re all dying to know who won that big Twins Padres matchup, back on August 30, 2025…
Padres reliever (and old friend) Alek Jacob pitches to Royce Lewis, with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. Lewis pops out to first baseman Jake Cronenworth, to finish the game. A mercy killing in tonight’s case.
Congratulations on your victory, San Diego.
You beat the ever loving crap out of poor Mick Abel, and the rest of our depleted St. Paul Saints bullpen.
Hey, weird old dudes… PLEASE write a terribly embarrassing diss track for your convincing victory over the Minnesota Twins!
I’m begging you!
Cuz That’s What’s INNNNNNN!!
******
As for the Minnesota Twins, there were a few post season consequences for the death spiral the franchise has been under. Manager Rocco Baldelli was fired the day after the season ended. Rightfully or wrongfully, he was the chosen scapegoat. Except Baldelli wasn’t responsible for who the team employs for him to manage. I'm sure Rocco didn't want to see the team gutted at the trade deadline.
So it was awesome to see Joe Pohlad, and his tiny sports coat, getting shown the door a couple of months later.
On December 17, 2025, the Minnesota Twins officially addressed rumors of a shake up with ownership, and a restructuring of team management. Their new limited partners were announced, so we finally had names for who was going to help pay down that ridiculous $500 million debt the Pohlad’s insist is only related to the Twins. (No fucking way that $500 million is baseball related.) Joe’s older brother Tom Pohlad is taking over. Will he be any different?
Most likely not.
Talk of competing for a division title in 2026 ring hollow, when they are trotting out essentially the same team the did in 2024 and 2025, with no impact additions, but a ton of key subtractions. After 40 years of Pohlad bullshit, I just want that family gone. Go make your poor commercial real estate decisions far away from where it affects the Major League Baseball team that plays less than 20 miles from my house.
Makes me feel as sad as this guy…
The soaking wet and sad Pink Wizard is my lasting memory of the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic.
Probably the entire 2025 season.
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