At the heart of every great baseball story lies that magical moment: the first big league home run. For 21-year-old Dodger rookie Hyeseong Kim, that moment came like thunder on a clear day, reverberating from the stands all the way to the anxious, trading card-pulsing heart of the collecting world. His breakout dinger off the poor, unsuspecting A’s on a 9–3 Dodgers victory night became more than just a scoreboard stat. It became the stuff of memorabilia magic, childbirth for the legend of Kim’s Topps Now commemorative card.
Kim’s magical third-inning home run didn’t just send baseballs orbiting 385 feet — it sent Dodgers fans and the entire realm of Topps collectors into an exuberant frenzy. Performing under the high-pressure glare of spotlights that would make a movie star stammer, it’s like Kim was born for this; his bat speaking the international language of home runs and potential. With a batting average of .360 in his first 11 major league games, his OPS at a slangy .840, and the world seemingly his oyster, there’s no denying the young infielder has inserted himself seamlessly into a star-loaded Dodger lineup.
While Topps Now has always been about capturing the crystallized moments of baseball history, they’ve outdone themselves this time—adding a rare dose of mystical allure. Not just a picture-perfect memento of his first homer, but these cards come with Kim’s inaugural autograph. Picture this—a 1-of-1 on-card autograph painstakingly inscribed with “First Home Run”, hidden like a golden ticket amidst the chocolaty cards, making it a Dodgers holy grail for the ages. The fortunate soul who pulls this treasure from the jaws of randomness will possess not just a card, but a piece of history etched with the promise of Kim’s rising star.
Don’t fret if you don’t land the grand prize; the drop is structured like a hobbyist treasure map with several X-marks-the-spot moments. There are also 15 other autographed iterations of Kim’s cards, Thin Lizzy rare at /10 and /5 numbers, and they’re poised to enchant collectors with their promise of scarcity and potential future worth.
For those not aiming solely for an autograph journey, there’s parallel nirvana. Standard base cards are just the iceberg’s tip, with Gold Foil (/50), Orange Foil (/25), Black Foil (/10), Red Foil (/5), and one mythical 1/1 FoilFractor. Yes, each foil variant contributing more pressure than a seventh-inning stretch to bite your nails in charming anxiety over which rare beauty the random gods will grace you with.
The cherry atop this collectible confection? Topps sprinkling a cultural touch with a Korean-language super short print edition, a nod to Kim’s heritage that injects even more soul into this release. This type of effort makes the cards more than flashy memorabilia—they become a testament to integrating cultural identity into the narrative of sport and fandom.
Did I mention there are only 24 hours to swing your purchase? The clock ticks as Topps promises this fleeting opportunity on their website. With four different purchasing options—ranging from a singular $11.99 card to a deck-worthy $169.99 for 20, each card printed to order—the quantity you choose will be all she wrote once time’s up.
For Dodgers loyalists, rookie card enthusiasts, and fans of Kim’s meteoric rise, this Topps Now card drop is like Pluto’s past being reclassified: universally significant and a collector’s trophy. Whether you’re chasing that autograph, banking on a foil hit for your personal hall of fame, or simply wanting a keepsake of Kim’s MLB debut triumph, these offerings are the kind of moments that gain luster with time. Much like Kim in the Dodger lineup, this Topps Now release could transform into an essential piece of baseball history. Will you hold a part of this unfolding story?exion.
