Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm will be carrying a signed 2024 card of himself in each of his back pockets as well as a belt made of his 2024 Topps cards when he makes his All-Star Game debut Tuesday night.
Strahm plans to flash the cards to the camera during player introductions prior to the game in Arlington, Texas.
In a Hobby first, PSA announced it had graded multiple “game-worn cards” carried in the back pockets of Bobby Witt Jr. and Corbin Carroll during opening weekend, exposing the cards to the wear and tear of the game. Both players inscribed and autographed the cards afterward. PSA then slabbed them with condition grades (none higher than 4) and autograph grades, with the special “game-worn” designation.
Strahm will join the exclusive club, with his signed cards to be graded and authenticated by CGC and displayed at next week’s National Sports Collector Show at the CollX and CGC booths in Cleveland.
Strahm is a major collector and hosts “The Card Life,” a card-focused TV show that airs nationwide on regional sports networks.
“I’m a pack-rat and love opening cards, and it’s just surreal to me that I’m still on a card,” Strahm said. “What a better way to show that I’m a card collector for the All-Star Game and have a little fun with it.”
“The Card Life” producer Brandon Verzal originally pitched Strahm on the idea shortly after seeing Witt Jr. and Carroll make headlines earlier in the season, but Strahm never quite agreed to the plan, as he’s extremely superstitious.
“The reason his hair is long is because he blew out his knee on the day he got a haircut in Kansas City, and then he never cut his hair again,” Verzal said. “So, me asking him to wear cards in a regular-season game in his pocket ... could jinx him.”
But this past Sunday, Strahm texted Verzal and asked if he could have a Card Belt, produced by a company in Colorado previously featured on the show, made for the All-Star Game.
Strahm figured it would be the perfect time considering it’s just an exhibition game.
It’s also a priority for the MLB star to promote the hobby to a national audience, which he will surely do if the cameras spot his flashy belt.
“Cards tell stories, and I’m gonna have some wrapped around my waist that will tell a pretty cool story.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.