Million Card Giveaway

Everyone has a favorite card and over the years many have been lost. Maybe you traded it, maybe you lost it flipping, maybe your brother or sister put it in their bike spokes or maybe your mom threw it out. Whatever the story, we want to hear about the card that got away.

Throughout the year we'll post the best ones here. Submit your story. (approx 500 words or less)

1959: Stan Lopata

by By T.L. Rogers

First Let it be said that I am stubborn, my sister, Debbie was stubborn, my whole family was stubborn.

1974: Pete Rose

by By Courtland Fiero

It was the spring of 1974 and I had just purchased my first two packs of baseball cards from Emerson Pharmacy. On the way home, I decided to open them as I walked past Orville Wright Junior High School. Growing up in Los Angeles, I was hoping to get some Dodgers but ended up with a Pete Rose card. Although I have always been a Dodgers fan, I really admired the way Pete played the game. After looking at my last pack, I put the cards in my back pocket, putting a big crease in the Rose card.

1971: Roberto Clemente

by By Steve Lessman

Growing up in a small town in Oklahoma, there was not a professional baseball team to root for. However, when a new family moved in down the street from Pittsburgh, that all changed for me. With 2 boys a little older than me, the Fetkovich’s were a great addition to the neighborhood ballgames. They quickly introduced me to the Pittsburgh Pirates, baseball cards, and Roberto Clemente.

1968: Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman

by By George McCloskey

In the late 80’s, I was serving as a youth pastor. Some of my kids were into baseball cards and truthfully I understood their excitement as I had collected cards when I was a kid. However all I could produce were stories of the cards I had. You see I was living half way across the country from where I grew up and pretty much assumed my cards were long thrown out. Imagine my surprise when my brother called one day out of the blue and told me they had found my old collection in a closet. He wanted to know if I wanted it.

1980: John Castino

by By Dave Forstad

My favorite card of all time is the 1980 topps John Castino rookie card #137. This may stun a few people considering I have over 100,000 cards in my collection, but I will tell you the story so you can understand my life long obsession with this card.

1979: Rod Carew

by By Greg Konkoff

Growing up in Southern California, my sister and I used to be shipped up to San Francisco for a couple of weeks a year to visit our grandparents. Every year, we could count on Grandpa Lou and Grandma Helen taking us to the toy store to pick out our special gifts.

1975: Fred Holdsworth

by By Deb Williams

My favorite story revolves around a little known pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Our family moved to Michigan in 1973 and I quickly became a Tiger fan. Like most kids I would save my dimes and head to the local drug store to buy a pack or two at a time. I became intrigued by the cards, the stats and the little known facts that where sometimes placed on the back of a card.

1964: Gus Triandos

by By Mike Morsch, Executive Editor of Montgomery Newspapers

There has always been a little magic in baseball cards. They almost always remind me of a story that makes me smile. Pitchers and catchers reported last week, and as a nod to the start of the new season, I decided I would buy my first pack of 2010 Topps baseball cards, kind of my own official kickoff ceremony.

1978: Frank Tanana

by By Greg Schaum

I grew up a Royals fan but my favorite player ever was Frank Tanana. People do not realize that he was the best young pitcher in the game at one point. Pitching behind Nolan Ryan teams considered themselves very lucky when they missed them on the schedule. Tanana hurt his arm about 5 years into his career and eventually he re-invented himself and came back as a craft lefty lasting in the big leagues into his 40’s. Ok, now that this is out of the way why is this my favorite card?

1960: Bob Friend

by By James Rodman

I was 14 and in the throes of my baseball card fixation when I decided to pony up for an old, yet affordable, 1960 Topps at the local card store. I had seen the guy's name and address in the back of a card pricing magazine, and I thought I'd send it to him to see if he'd sign it. I wasn't all that hopeful that he'd reply. But, then again, I wasn't dealing with just some random old ballplayer. I was dealing with Robert (Bob) Bartmess Friend of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

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If you have a great story about your baseball cards, we would love to hear it. Did your "1958 Jackie Robinson" card get tossed out accidentally? Or did you have a favorite card for the spokes of your bike? Tell us about it! Email us at toppsmillion@topps.com with your best memory. Include a picture when you send it!

Story FAQ

We may not publish every story sent to us, but we do have a few requirements. Keep your story lively, conversational, and try to keep the length between 250-500 words. This is a family friendly site, so keep that in mind when you send us something. We may need to edit your story for publication on the site.

Please note that, in order to publish or otherwise use these stories, we will need to obtain certain rights in those materials. See Terms of Use for more information on our submission policy.