World Series Showdown: Dodgers vs Yankees, But Collectors Just Care About the Cards

 

 

In what should be the pinnacle of baseball’s historic rivalry, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are set to face off in a highly anticipated World Series. Fans are gearing up for a showdown between two of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball. But let’s be honest—most people don’t care who wins. What they really care about? The sports cards.

With Shohei Ohtani now suiting up for the Dodgers and Aaron Judge still holding down the fort for the Yankees, collectors across the globe are ignoring the games and frantically refreshing eBay listings, desperate to secure the latest cardboard gems featuring their favorite players mid-strikeout or maybe chewing gum in the dugout.

“I Haven’t Watched a Game Since 2019,” Admits Collector

“I mean, sure, it’s cool that the Dodgers and Yankees are playing,” said Greg Martin, a lifelong Yankees fan who has meticulously avoided watching any actual baseball since discovering sports card trading. “But did you see that new Topps *World Series Special Edition* Ohtani card? He’s signing a baseball! That’s the real action right there.”

Martin, who hasn’t watched a single inning this postseason, claims he’s been too busy scouring Twitter for rumors of which pitcher will next be featured on a limited-edition holographic insert card.

“I heard they’re doing one for Kershaw sneezing into his glove during warm-ups,” he said with reverence. “I need that in my collection. It's what the hobby's all about.”

Topps Releases 15,000 New Cards Before Game 1

Topps, always quick to capitalize on a moment, has taken full advantage of the Dodgers vs Yankees matchup. The card company released an astonishing 15,000 different World Series-themed cards before Game 1 even began. Collectors can now enjoy such iconic moments as:

- Shohei Ohtani Waves to Fans in Pre-Game Stretch (Topps NOW #2467)

- Aaron Judge Walks to the Plate with Purpose (Topps NOW #2489)

- Clayton Kershaw Adjusts His Cap, in the Dugout (Topps NOW #2513)

“We wanted to capture every single moment,” said a Topps spokesperson, gazing lovingly at a newly printed Aaron Boone Walks to Mound for a Pitching Change card. “There’s no such thing as too many cards. If Ohtani blinks in Game 2, we’ll have a limited-edition card out by the seventh inning.”

For the ultra-high-end collectors, Topps has also teased the release of the “Dust Cloud” Series, featuring nothing but artist-rendered close-ups of players sliding into home plate.

“I Don’t Even Know Who Won” – The New Normal

Die-hard card collectors seem genuinely unaware that the World Series is a best-of-seven series, let alone which team is favored. “Look, I haven’t followed the box scores,” said Emily Roberts, a Dodgers fan who was seen outside Chavez Ravine ripping open packs of cards with glee. “But did you hear there’s a limited-edition Judge card where he’s standing on second base after a double? That’s a must-have for my Judge collection.”

Roberts also admitted she has no idea if Judge actually hit a double this postseason but remained unfazed. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? The moment’s captured on cardboard—that’s all I need.”

Meanwhile, fans have taken their love of collecting to the next level. At the World Series Fan Fest, collectors were seen trading “Game-Used” dirt from the Yankees' bullpen, signed copies of Dodger Stadium parking stubs, and autographed hot dog wrappers from vendor carts.

Players Confused, Collectors Thrilled.

Even the players themselves seem perplexed by how much attention their trading cards are getting versus their actual performance. “I pitched a complete game shutout, and no one asked me about it,” said Dodgers ace Walker Buehler. “Instead, they wanted to know when my PSA 10 Rookie Card would go up in value if we won Game 3.”

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge expressed similar confusion. “I hit a 450-foot homer in Game 1, and the only question I got was whether or not I’d be signing the card of me wiping my face with a towel,” he said. “I’m not mad, just… puzzled.”

Collectors’ Ultimate Dream: World Series-Ending Walk-Off Home Run

For most card collectors, there is only one thing that could make this World Series complete: a walk-off home run, which could spark a rush of ultra-rare, one-of-one, commemorative autograph cards. The prospect has collectors sitting on the edge of their seats—not because of the tension of the game, but to be first in line for the “Game-Ending Hero” card drop.

“I don’t even care who hits it,” said one collector, fingers crossed for a memorable moment that will be immortalized in a limited-edition foil parallel card. “I just want that sweet, sweet cardboard glory.”

As the World Series progresses, one thing is clear: in this era of sports fandom, the real winner won’t be the team that lifts the trophy—but the collector who pulls a Shohei Ohtani holographic refractor from their booster pack.