New Cardinals and an Old Friend

New (to me) Cardinals cards and a fun surprise.

 

Earlier this year, Padrographs opened some new card packages and was kind enough to send some of the Cardinals spoils my way. We once again had a couple of major Topps releases from 2024 bleed into the 2025 calendar, including this fun "rookie year" insert of Masyn Winn that's a throw back to a mid-90s insert design.

From the 2025 Topps Series 1 set came a few Nolan Arenado inserts, as he is one of the lone players still with the Cardinals that could be considered a star these days.

Arenado did not get traded in the offseason despite at least one serious attempt, and did not get traded at this year's trade deadline. I imagine the market for him had shrunk even further, as his production at the plate has fallen off dramatically (and he is currently injured.)

Topps swiped a few insert concepts from canceled sets like Big League and Opening Day recently to assimilate them into the main flagship set. I think these must have only been available in some special retail configuration or another.

Stan the Man gets in on the 2025 Series 1 fun.

I assure you this is a rainbow foil parallel, one of the only shiny parallels that exists these days that doesn't throw a bunch of weird glittery patterns at you. Of course, it scans just like a base card.

The 2024 Topps Heritage High Numbers product was the other carryover from last year. From left to right, top to bottom, we have a guy in a City Connect jersey who was recently dealt ahead of the trade deadline, a Rule 5 pick from last year who recently rejoined the active roster, a speed demon who is still developing at the plate (or so they tell me), a "sunset card" of sorts of one of my favorites, and a guy who was recently DFA'd twice and is currently in the minors for another unmentionable team.

The big fun surprise, of course, is this Paul DeJong signed card of his "Bowman 1st" Chrome card. DeJong is with the Nationals right now and has recently smacked a couple of homers. Good for him!