What do you do when some of the top first-year players don't make their MLB debuts in time to make it into Finest Baseball? Topps has been countering this problem for several years by inserting redemption cards good for ten different rookies, and it's proven to be a popular solution.
The exchange cards in 2008 Finest Baseball are seeded one per three mini boxes (or one per full hobby box), and each one can be mailed in to receive a specific card of a first-year player with the official MLB Rookie Card logo. Topps announces the subjects of each card gradually during the first part of the baseball season and plans on starting to ship the cards beginning in September 2008.
Topps has set the deadline for mailing in the redemption cards for April 30, 2009, allowing plenty of time for collectors to obtain their cards. Here are the players who have been announced so far:
Finest Redemption # 5 - Chris Davis, 1B, Texas Rangers
Talk about making an impact: Davis homered in his first two MLB games, becoming the first Ranger ever to do so. The former fifth round pick showed that early outburst was no fluke, slugging 11 homers through August 3.
Finest Redemption # 4 - Jeff Samardzija, P, Chicago Cubs
Samardzija could have been selected on the first day of the NFL Draft after starring as a wide receiver at Notre Dame, but he decided to make his living on the mound instead. After a rapid rise through the minors, he was called up on July 25 and recorded his first MLB save just two days later. Collectors love strikeout artists, and Samardzija has proven he knows how to rack up K's
Finest Redemption # 3 - Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Chicago Cubs
Is Fukudome the next Ichiro? There are definite similarities: both are strong-armed outfielders who arrived in Major League Baseball after successful careers in Japan. Fukudome might not be quite as good at the plate, but through June 21 of his first season in the U.S. he was batting .300.
Finest Redemption # 2 - Jay Bruce (autograph), CF, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds resisted the temptation to rush Bruce to the major leagues after he won Baseball America's Player of the Year award in 2007, batting a combined .319 with 26 home runs in three minor league stops. The speedy outfielder made himself right at home when he made it to Cincinnati this season, going three-for-three with a stolen base in his first MLB game.
Finest Redemption # 1 - Johnny Cueto, P, Cincinnati Reds
Cueto blazed a quick trail through the Reds organization using a fastball clocked up to 97 mph as well as a slider and a change that he can throw at any time. He made quite the impression in his MLB debut, striking out 10 over seven innings to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 3.