In a twist that no one saw coming—perhaps not even the man himself—WWE superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has pitched his way into a different kind of ring: Major League Baseball. But before you start envisioning The Miz in a batting lineup, let’s clarify: he’s not swapping body slams for base hits anytime soon. No, his MLB “debut” comes in the form of a special trading card in the 2025 Topps Series 2 set.
Trading cards enthusiasts and Miz fans alike have been caught in a whirlwind of buzz since the revelation. For The Miz, a self-proclaimed lifelong supporter of Cleveland sports, this card isn’t just memorabilia—it’s a slice of his hometown pride immortalized in cardboard form. His ceremonial first pitch at Progressive Field manifested not just in air—but now in ink. It seems the universe, or at least Topps, saw fit to capture his moment on a collectible card differently but equally as theatrically as his WWE accomplishments.
Topps is known for its tradition of memorializing ceremonial first pitches by personalities crossing over from diverse entertainment sectors into the world of baseball. Mizanin’s addition to their repertoire of special Short Print (SP) cards underscores his star power, allowing him to join the ranks of other luminaries like rap tsar Travis Scott, basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama, and musical sensation Bad Bunny, all commemorated for their cameo pitches at MLB games in prior years.
For The Miz, the card symbolizes a homecoming of sorts. Born and raised in Parma, Ohio, he has never shied away from proclaiming his Cleveland allegiance. Tossing a ceremonial pitch at a Guardians game was more than just an honor for him—it was a love letter to his origins, crafted mid-air over home plate. It’s as if the roar of the fans merged with the crinkling sound of a freshly opened pack of baseball cards.
As for the fans, this crossover of WWE into MLB collectibles offers a novel treasure hunt. With SP cards notoriously hard to find due to their limited production, nabbing a card featuring Mizanin is akin to drawing a royal flush in the land of baseball card collecting. Collectors from every fandom corner now have a new “holy grail.” Wrestling enthusiasts, perhaps more accustomed to collecting Topps WWE cards celebrating their idol’s ring victories, now have baseball aficionados vying for a piece of The Miz magic. The borders these cards cross are as close as you’ll get to a merging of two seemingly disparate sporting universes.
The Miz himself greeted the news of his cardboard incarnation with enthusiasm and surprise, lighting up social media with his trademark bravado, “Wait, this is real?! I need this!” His frothy excitement only amplifies the allure, spinning the wheels of desire even faster for fans who can nearly hear his incredulous laughter echo through their screens.
Available now online and in specialty hobby shops, the 2025 Topps Series 2 set has quickly become a narrative centerpiece in the minds and hearts of collectors. With each pack holding the tantalizing possibility of uncovering a Miz SP, what was once a simple card search now feels more like an adventurous quest befitting a Hollywood narrative—one that interestingly enough, mirrors the flair and frenetic energy of a wrestling bout, minus the folding chairs.
This moment, a surprising overlap between the high-octane, choreographed spectacle of professional wrestling and the storied, tradition-laden realm of baseball, has harmonized beautifully, showing that sports and entertainment lovers across multiple domains are often drawn by the same magnetic pulse: the allure of spectacle and triumph over unpredictability. Whether Miz will bask in more baseball moments or if Topps will revisit this crossover delight in future series remains veiled in the mists of time, but one thing’s certain: the ripples of this crossover will be felt long after the last pack is unwrapped.
In the world of trading cards, especially with the legacy of baseball, few things ignite passions quite like a novel, unexpected crossover. And as The Miz can surely attest, adding a little spice to life’s grand tapestry—even if just on a baseball card—stirs up excitement that keeps audiences coming back, whether it’s from the wrestling ring or among the bleacher seats.