In a continuing attempt at
including Johnny Manziel in to as many products as possibly Topps has decided
to include Manziel in the upcoming Bowman Draft Picks set being released in
December.
Manziel
was selected by the Padres in the 28th Round of the 2014 MLB Draft,
number 837th overall. Manziel last played baseball as a Junior in
high school in 2010, and while this wouldn’t be the first time that a NFL QB
was drafted by MLB it would be the first time that a NFL QB had his own
baseball card without even showing up for batting practice following being
drafted.
Other
NFL QBs that were drafted by baseball teams include Colin Kaepernick, Russell
Wilson, Jake Locker, Brandon Weeden and Tom Brady. Wilson and Weeden are the
only ones that have baseball cards but they both have played baseball in the
minor league system so it is reasonable for them to be included in Bowman sets. Topps
did include Wilson in this year’s Bowman release as a Texas Ranger but at least
he showed up for the Rangers in Spring League and took batting practice and did
drills with the team.
Johnny
“Baseball” is depicted on the Bowman card wearing a Padres jersey with a
Heisman logo on the sleeve, the picture was from a publicity shot when he threw
out the first pitch at a game in May 2013. They didn’t even have a shot from
after the draft. You think they could have tossed him in to a Padres jersey and
took him to Petco Park to at least claim it was an “Official” MLB picture.
This
is an interesting situation because one of the most collected rookies in both
NFL and MLB has seen limited time in only 2 NFL games and will never appear in
an MLB game.
I don't think I would chase the card down, but it's quirky enough that I would enjoy having it in my collection if I pulled it from a pack. I kind of want one of the Russell Wilson cards, but I guess I don't want it enough to go out and chase one down. I do have a bootleg Munnatawket Allen & Ginter What Could Have Been card featuring Wilson as a Ranger.
ReplyDeletehttp://razcardblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ebay-hath-wrought-119-more.html
Yeah, it'd be kinda cool to have that card (especially as a Padre fan), though I wouldn't go after it too hard (ie, pay a lot for it).
ReplyDeleteOh god, I loved watching that kid play for my school, but this is a bit ridiculous. I'd never hunt it down, but I'd set one aside if I pulled it. Or if it showed up my way. It fits with the old draft cards of Ricky Williams, or the '90 Score Eric Lindros that shows him hitting BP for the Blue Jays. I'd better stop myself before I start a mini-collection. Yikes.
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