Theodore had a keen interest in baseball from a very young age. His father would take him to local minor league games every weekend during the summer, sparking Theodore’s love for America’s pastime. By the time Theodore turned 8 years old, he had amassed a collection of 24 baseball cards that he treasured dearly.
Each of Theodore’s baseball cards held significance and had a story behind it. The oldest card in his collection was a 1969 Topps card of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, who was Theodore’s father’s favorite player while growing up. His dad had kept the Seaver card in a scrapbook for years before passing it down to Theodore, instilling in him an appreciation for the history of the game.
Another meaningful card for Theodore was a 2001 Topps Traded card of Sammy Sosa. He remembered being at a Cubs game in 2002 with his dad when Sosa hit his 500th career home run, cementing Sosa as one of Theodore’s favorite players. He couldn’t believe he owned an official card from Topps chronicling such an important milestone for Sosa and his legendary home run chase against Mark McGwire.
Aside from sentimental cards like the Seaver and Sosa, Theodore focused on building a well-rounded collection representing different eras of baseball. He had a 1974 Topps card of Hank Aaron, allowing Theodore to learn about Hammerin’ Hank’s home run record chase to surpass Babe Ruth. There was also a 1988 Fleer card of Ozzie Smith, honoring one of the greatest defensive shortstops of all-time. Both cards provided Theodore a window into MLB history before he was even born.
The modern player cards in Theodore’s collection reflected the teams and players he grew up watching in the late 90s and 2000s. He proudly displayed 2013 Topps Update cards of Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, two budding superstars he looked up to. A 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects card of Clayton Kershaw gave Theodore insight into the lefty ace’s journey from highly touted prospect to three-time Cy Young winner. Seeing stars evolve from minor leaguers to MLB all-stars kept Theodore engaged with the ever-changing baseball landscape.
Theodore organized his baseball cards carefully in plastic sleeves secured safely inside multiple binders. He knew the importance of proper protection and preservation to maintain the condition and value of his cherished collection. Each summer, he looked forward to new additions from the current year’s Topps Series 1 & 2 packs. His goal was to someday complete full sets representing different seasons to complement the individual star cards already in his possession.
As a young collector, Theodore learned valuable lessons that extended beyond just baseball. The research required to understand the historical significance and stats on each card cultivated his interest in exploring sports history. Properly caring for and showcasing his collection also taught Theodore responsibility and organization. Most importantly, the bonding experiences making the journey with his father at ballgames created special memories that Theodore would cherish forever.
While the individual cards themselves were meaningful, the collection as a whole represented Theodore’s deep passion and connection to America’s favorite pastime. Whether reflecting on heroes of the past or following current stars coming of age, each card served as a doorway transporting Theodore further into the rich tradition and culture of baseball. His expansive 24 card collection, built with care and curated purposefully over the years, would lay the foundation for a lifelong appreciation and fandom of America’s national pastime.
