It’s not every day you hit your first major league home run as a rookie, and it’s certainly not daily when that iconic moment gets immortalized in a Topps Now card, complete with your autograph. Dodgers’ up-and-coming star Hyeseong Kim has done exactly that, making waves both on the field and in the collectible world.
The electric scene unfolded when Kim stepped up to bat and, with the Los Angeles sun shining down on him, unleashed a 385-foot solo homer off the Oakland Athletics’ pitcher. It wasn’t just another run on the board during the Dodgers’ 9-3 victory; it was a statement. The swing that launched the baseball into the stands was more than athletic prowess—it marked the hopeful beginning of a potentially prolific career. Kim, with his solid batting average of .360 over his first 11 games and an OPS of .840, is showing signs of being more than just another rookie. He’s showing promise of being great.
Recognizing this brewing stardom, Topps Now has aptly seized the moment to release a commemorative card that celebrates this milestone, further adorned with Kim’s very first-ever autograph. This is the sort of item collectors dream of; a memento that captures a young player’s career inception with potential narratives yet to come.
What makes this series of cards even more thrilling is the inclusion of a highly coveted 1-of-1 on-card autograph inscribed with “First Home Run.” Such a rarity is a collector’s nirvana, an emerald gem in the Dodgers’ storied history. Imagine holding something so singular, bound to be a talking point for years—possibly traded stories with tales of other legendary moments with the Dodgers.
In addition to the unique autographed card, this Topps Now drop gets even spicier with 15 other autographed cards being part of the release, including versions numbered to /10 and /5. Each card becomes a piece of Dodgers’ lore, seeded with future potential.
Still, not every fan will strike gold with an autograph, but Topps ensures there’s plenty to chase. The myriad of parallel base cards keeps hearts racing and wallets, perhaps naively, open. Collectors can look out for Gold Foil (/50), Orange Foil (/25), Black Foil (/10), and Red Foil (/5) editions. The pièce de résistance? An ultra-rare 1/1 FoilFractor, a testament to exclusivity.
But Topps didn’t stop at scarcity. Reflecting Kim’s Korean heritage in a beautifully perceptive way, three different card versions are released: the standard base, a short-printed image variation, and a special Korean-language super short print. It’s an inclusive nod that adds depth not just to the card’s value but its cultural relevance.
Oh, and the chase comes with urgency. The cards are available for only 24 hours on the Topps website, ensuring that every second counts. The printed-on-demand nature of this drop makes each card even more special, granting only a limited number.
Topps understands the restless spirit of collectors, providing several purchasing options to facilitate the hunger for memorabilia. You can snag the card at $11.99 for a single, or go all out with a bulk of 20 for $169.99—a package that screams investment in both cardboard and sentimentality.
For Kim, this moment is a narrative written with ambition and served with pristine potential. His first major league shot is one of those moments that transcends simple sporting achievement. It tugs at the heartstrings of longtime Dodgers supporters, rookie collectors, and those who just enjoy the thrill of seeing a star being born. Topps Now cards have captured such milestone moments time and again, and each release generates an aura of nostalgia and speculation about what’s to come.
Whether you’re in it for the thrill of potentially possessing a historic rookie card or you want a keepsake from Kim’s beginning luminescent chapter, this Topps Now offering hits a home run of its own. The potential appreciation of value and the fine touch of personal and cultural homage make it more than cardboard—it’s a part of Kim’s story, a page in baseball lore just waiting to turn.