Fresh off the success of its rookie-debut jersey patches, Topps is putting itself in the game again by inserting a new piece of memorabilia into packs.
The card brand announced Tuesday at its industry conference in Atlanta that it will be putting images — of either a player’s 2024 Series 1 base card or his Golden Mirror card — on the bat knobs of select major-league hitters. When those bats are taken out of rotation, the knob will be cut off and inserted as one-of-one pieces into cards. The images also will be autographed by the players.
The company is not revealing the complete list of players who will be part of the program, but Topps executives did say two players who are already using a bat that carries a card image are Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser.
Bat knobs have long been popular inserts that have commanded serious interest in the hobby.
A Honus Wagner bat knob card from a 2017 Topps set sold for $24,600 at Goldin Auctions two years ago. The modern record for the highest price paid for a bat knob card belongs to a Mike Trout bat-knob card from the 2021 Topps Sterling set ($12,360, PWCC, June 2022).
Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectible market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.