Topps Now: Franklin Barreto, MLB History, and James Shields

Tag Archive: Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics

Category Archive: Sports

Updated:

Three new cards were added to the 2017 Topps Now MLB checklist – all from the same game. Franklin Barreto, James Shields, Matt Olson, and Jaycob Brugman are all featured in what turned out to be a historic baseball game.

Franklin Barreto was called up from the minors and wasn’t expected to start Saturday’s game but when Jed Lowrie was scratched from the lineup at the last minute, Barreto was added in replacement. His debut went off pretty well, going 2 for 5 and bashing his first major league homer in the third inning. Where history was made, though, was when Matt Olson and Jaycob Brugman, also rookies with the team, hit their first big league jacks in the first and second innings. Olson would also hit his second home run during the same game.

[the_ad id=”11148″]If you exclude the 1914/1915 Federal League (which we do), this marks the first time in baseball history for three players to hit their first home runs in the same game. All three appear on one of today’s Topps Now cards and Franklin Barreto received his own card as well, since his home run came during his debut.

Overshadowed by the home run anomaly, though, was the fact that James Shields threw his 2000th career strikeout during that same game. His achievement is also commemorated with a Topps Now card and this trio of cards may be the only time (although we have not confirmed it) that every release came from the same regular season game.

A full checklist of 2017 Topps Now MLB cards can be found on the Topps Now hub (link at the top of the screen) and the cards may be purchased until 1:00 (PST) Monday afternoon. Here is the detailed list of today’s releases.

  • 286 – Matt Olson, Jaycob Brugman, and Franklin Barreto (RC)
  • 287 – James Shields
  • 288 – Franklin Barreto (RC)

This also marks the first solo major league baseball card for Barreto who is Oakland’s top prospect. To purchase any or all of these cards, please use the links provided on this page.