window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-12381093-3'); A Cardboard Problem: A very special Derek Jeter card to me

October 20, 2014

A very special Derek Jeter card to me

I’ve had a few moments throughout my life where I’ve had to stop, take in everything around me and say, ‘Wow.’

Lately, that’s happened a bit often (getting married had something to do with it), but when it comes to cards, this may be a first. Of course, there are cards that I love and enjoy, and have thought ‘Wow’ when I saw them, but this was something entirely different.

In June, I started working for Topps creating baseball cards. Not going to lie, the moment I walked through the building for the first time, I had to take a pause, and then the next pause-inducing moment came this week.

One of the first products that I worked on at Topps was 2014 Update Series. I had a hand in picking the All-Star images for the base subset and the retail insert of All-Star Access. I tried to pick good images, fun ones because the ASG is an exhibition. I also didn’t want to screw up in any way.

On Thursday, I opened packs of 2014 Update, and while there were a number of cards in there that I helped create, one of them made me halt …



I have more than 2,000 Derek Jeter cards in my collection, but this is the first one that I had a hand in creating. I selected that image and cropped the photo. I had nothing to do with the design of the card, but the image was all mine. I immediately put it in a penny sleeve and top loader, and currently it’s sitting in my wallet. I know, it’s a bit dorky, but this is now my favorite Derek Jeter card.

Of course, I start working at Topps at a time when Derek Jeter had already announced his retired. But I can at least say I made his last flagship base card.


Wow, indeed. 

11 comments:

  1. That's awesome. Great looking card. Congrats!

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  2. Congratulations! That's incredible - and you'll be able to share it with your kids and grandkids one day. Very cool!

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  3. Not dorky at all. We are the sum total of these moments. Enjoy and congrats.

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  4. You're working at Topps now!!??!! Congrats. I always thought that'd be a great job. And that's a great story, especially knowing how big of Jeter fan you are.

    If you get to work on Ginter let me know I've got all sorts of great insert ideas!

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  5. You are living our collective dream Sooz. Allow us to live vicariously (professionally) through you.

    Card looks great. And now I can happily say that one of us in the Hobby Blogging Community has now infiltrated Topps.

    Sincerely,

    JayBee Anama
    bdj610

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  6. First of all, CONGRATULATIONS, a collector/blogger working for Topps.

    May our voices be heard.

    Second, that is a beautiful looking card.

    Did you have a hand in any others?

    Can you describe the "process" as it were?

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  7. Wow is right! Can't imagine being able to say I had a hand in creating a baseball card. That's flippin' awesome! Have fun on your journey with Topps and of course with married life. Sounds like some pretty amazing changes.

    But if I could change one thing... I'd go old school, pull that Jeter from a penny sleeve and top loader... then cram it back into your wallet. Then again... I'm a sucker for cards with character.

    Congratulations!

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  8. Congratulations on the wedding and your new job at Topps. That has to be the ultimate career for a blogger/collector, especially when you actually get to see your own handiwork put in to packs.

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