Hyeseong Kim, the 21-year-old rookie sensation of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has achieved more than just sending a baseball into oblivion; he’s launched himself into the lore of Dodgers history with his first major league home run. In a show-stopping performance against the A’s, where his solo blast contributed to a 9–3 triumph, Kim has made quite the entrance into Major League Baseball. Topping off this milestone, collectables giant Topps Now has released a special edition card immortalizing this iconic moment. But that’s not all—there’s a twist that has collectors scrambling like kids at an Easter egg hunt.
On that fateful day in the third inning, Kim stepped up to the plate with a calm demeanor that belied the storm he was about to unleash. With a perfect swing, he sent the ball hurtling 385 feet through the crisp air, straight into the fever-pitched excitement of the Dodgers’ crowd. This home run not only highlights Kim’s potential to become a mainstay star in the illustrious Dodgers lineup but also his knack for lighting up the field when it counts most. With a batting average of .360 in just 11 games and an OPS standing proudly at .840, one can sense that this is just the tip of the iceberg for the young prodigy.
Enter Topps Now, the ubiquitous chronicler of baseball’s landmark moments, which has once again harnessed the emotional energy of America’s pastime. The card series is renowned for its real-time celebration of unforgettable instances, but this release has been paired with a unique offering—Hyeseong Kim’s first-ever autograph card.
The centerpiece? A one-of-a-kind 1-of-1 on-card autograph inscribed with the words “First Home Run.” Hidden as a redemption in a random pack, this holy grail of memorabilia promises to be a treasured artifact among the Dodgers faithful, not to mention the crowning piece for any serious card collector. For those on a quest for perfection, 15 additional autograph cards are in the mix, with serial numbered variations including /10 and /5, offering plenty of chances for an autographed discovery.
While only the luckiest will land an autograph, the rest of the Topps drop offers its own set of thrills. A dazzling format of parallel versions, each more exclusive than the last, is available, spanning the spectrum of collector desires:
– Gold Foil numbered to 50 copies
– Orange Foil limited to 25
– Black Foil slashed down to just 10
– The fiery Red Foil with only five
– And the mystical singular FoilFractor 1/1
As if this hot drop needed more layers, there’s also a cultural nod through a trifecta of card variations. Besides the standard edition, a short-printed image variation and a rare Korean-language super short print edition have been included. This not only pays homage to Kim’s Korean heritage but also adds more glitter to this already brilliant gemstone of a collection.
Collectors, whether seasoned veterans or new recruits to the hobby, have a tight 24-hour window on the Topps website to place their orders. Each card is printed to order, a Dominican cigar-style guarantee of rarity and exclusivity. The available purchase options make it as easy for newbies to dip their toes in as it is for seasoned veterans to dive headfirst into the frenzied chase:
– A solo card for $11.99
– A party of five for $49.99
– A sweet deck of ten at $89.99
– Or for the committed, a bundle of twenty priced at $169.99.
For fans of the Dodgers, collectors of rookie cards, or just appreciators of baseball’s unmatched drama, this release represents more than a simple souvenir. It’s a tangible slice of an unfolding narrative, the start of what could be an illustrious career.
The magic of Topps Now is capturing the transitory joy of such talent, frozen in a moment just waiting to thaw into legend. Whether your aim is to reel in the auto, snag a splashy parallel, or simply cherish Kim’s powerful first swing, there’s a promising glow to this release that suggests it will ripen beautifully with time. For Hyeseong Kim, this is just the beginning of what promises to be a saga replete with even more thrilling chapters.
