This was one of the rare World Series where I really had no rooting interest. I can usually find some reason to root for or against a team (see the Dodgers post from a few weeks back), but with this matchup I completely failed. I still watched, but only as someone who appreciates a number of the players and coaches who participated. On one hand you’ve got the Astros – a team full of undeniably great players but with residual baggage from their sign stealing scheme. On the other, there’s the Atlanta Braves and everything they represent – from the ‘chop’ to inviting an anti-vaxxer to sing the anthem, to welcoming Donald Trump so he could do a his own version of the chop, surely with no ulterior motives…
The Atlanta ownership’s choice to lean into culture war stuff is a real shame because on an individual level, I really do like a lot of their players. I’ve been all-in on Joc Pederson since he was a Dodgers prospect and always thought he deserved to be an everyday player in Los Angeles. Ronald Acuña is one of the most exciting players in the game. There’s literally nothing not to like about Freddie Freeman. Finally, although he was outrighted off the 40-man roster months ago, it was a delight to see Sean Kazmar Jr. back in the bigs earlier this year as one of the few former Portland Beavers who’s still getting paid to play.
If I remove the culture stuff from the equation the Braves winning is not a terrible outcome. It doesn’t hurt that I’ve come to know a few Braves fans in the hobby who seem like really good people and whose stuff I enjoy. So rather than focusing on all the things I don’t like about baseball’s new champions, I thought I’d show some of my favorite cards of some of my favorite new champs.
First up, Ronald Acuña’s 2018 Bowman Chrome Mega Box Prospects Refractor. I was lucky enough to pull two of these from Mega Boxes back in 2018 when I was hunting for a Shohei Ohtani WBC card that I never found. The value has dipped a bit thanks to his knee injury, but I’m not selling so that doesn’t bother me.
Next is Ian Anderson’s 2016 Bowman Chrome Draft Draft Pick Autographs Gold Refractor. This is simply one of the best cards I’ve ever pulled from a Bowman product, back when I could afford to buy a box of Bowman Draft Jumbos each year. That box yielded a trio of pitcher autographs, which is pretty much the worst possible result for most prospectors. For me, it just means I’ve got a new player to watch. This one has worked out pretty well so far.
My favorite Freddie Freeman card is his 2011 Topps Heritage rookie. Its not the most valuable or the most notable of his rookie cards, but I just like the look of it. There’s the added bonus of the fact that I found this card along with a bunch of other 2010-2013 rookies in a 5,000 count box from Goodwill that cost less than $10.
Yung Joc! Its a sticker graph and the fabric is VERY not from a Dodgers jersey, but I was beyond pumped when I pulled the redemption card for this 2014 Bowman Platinum Relic Autograph. He just declined his player option for 2022. Here’s hoping his relatively strong 2021 season helps Pederson find a full-time job for next season.
What’s not to love above a team-color parallel? This 2015 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Blue Refractor is one of a few parallel autographs I lucked into from Soler’s rookie campaign with the Cubs. A fantastic looking card from my favorite Topps set of the last 30 years.
This one is all about the hunt. I purchased this 2014 Leaf Perfect Game Showcase Autograph of Austin Riley for one dollar from a show bargain bin few years ago. The unlicensed product, sticker graph, and being part of a checklist of high school players presumably fed the dealer’s disrespect for the then-minor leaguer with a high strikeout rate. Fun fact – I also bought a Luka Dončić Optic rookie from the same dealer, but it cost a quarter.
Last but not least, Dansby Swanson on his 2015 Grandstand Hillsboro Hops issue. This one makes the list since I was able to see him during his time with the local then-Low A Northwest League team. In fact, I was present for his first professional home run, which happened to be a “shirt off their back” jersey auction night. I bid on his jersey that night, but from what I can recall it ended up selling for something like $900. Not to fear, I ended up with Alexis Olmeda’s jersey for significantly less. I think I’m probably happiest for Swanson. I do love it when good things happen to guys I watched in the minors. Plus, he got to win a ring for his hometown team – especially since the Braves now play outside of Marietta. What could be better than that?