From Nick Tylwalk,
Your Guide to Sports Cards.
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Apr 11 2008

What to 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 # 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.