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There’s a ton of demand for game-worn apparel in the sports memorabilia world, but it’s hard to imagine a ton of people are clamoring to get their hands on something a player sported at a press conference. However, Topps is hoping fans of Juan Soto want to do exactly that.
Juan Soto spent the 2022 season with the Padres, but earlier this month, he became the newest member of the New York Yankees in the wake of the blockbuster trade that brought the outfielder to The Bronx.
On Wednesday, the lefty held his first official press conference via Zoom while speaking with reporters who got the chance to throw questions his way for the first time since the transaction was finalized.
Soto was rocking a Yankees hat and a shirt plucked from Dwayne Johnson’s Under Armor collection, and if you’re hoping to secure a baseball card containing tiny swathes cut from either of those pieces of apparel, you’re in luck.
The folks at Topps wasted no time getting their hands on both of those items, as they plan to sell cards containing pieces of the cap for $349.99 a pop, while those with patches cut from the shirt will “only” set you back $89.99.
Topps is selling “event-worn” hat and shirt cards from Juan Soto’s Zoom presser yesterday
The hat cards are listed for $349.99 and the shirt cards for $89.99 pic.twitter.com/ciWtFt5tSQ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) December 13, 2023
Look, I’m not in a position to tell people how they should spend their money, but I have a hard time imagining this is going to be a great investment.
It would be one thing if we were talking about a hat Soto was rocking on the field while achieving something significant (like winning the World Series the Yankees are probably hoping he’ll help them secure), but—at least in my opinion—there’s a very big difference between “game-worn” and “press conference-worn.”
Is there a chance that second category ends up becoming the hottest new thing in the memorabilia streets? I guess, but I’m not holding my breath.