Topps has made waves in the world of baseball card collecting by teaming up with artist and former MLB player Micah Johnson to introduce a groundbreaking series of cards paying tribute to the Negro Leagues. This collaboration marks the release of the first-ever Topps Negro Leagues Baseball Card Set, a project that Johnson has described as a significant personal achievement. The debut of the series commenced with the introduction of a Satchel Paige card in Kansas City as part of the “Road to Rickwood” campaign.
As the countdown to the prestigious Rickwood Classic progresses, a new card will be unveiled each week, leading up to a special MLB match at Rickwood Field on June 20, 2024. This commemorative game and the accompanying card series serve as a homage to the oldest professional baseball park in the United States, formerly the home of the Birmingham Black Barons. To mark this historic occasion, towering 24-foot replicas of the cards will be showcased at various MLB stadiums across the country.
Micah Johnson, the talented artist behind this extraordinary series, has successfully transitioned from his professional baseball career to a renowned artist on a mission to inspire and empower through his work. The Topps collection features intricately hand-drawn portraits of legendary Negro Leagues players, blending artistic finesse with historical reverence.
In addition to the standard base cards, collectors have the exciting prospect of obtaining limited edition Numbered Parallel Cards in each print run. These exclusive parallels include Silver Border (/99), Blue Border (/49), Purple Border (/25), Red Border (/10), Orange Border (/5), and Gold Border (/1), adding a thrilling element of rarity and collectibility to these already prized items.
Not only does this card series celebrate the profound history and enduring legacy of the Negro Leagues, but it also provides fans and collectors with a remarkable opportunity to possess a piece of art that encapsulates the essence of these baseball legends. With new cards set to be released every Thursday leading up to June 20, avid enthusiasts eagerly await each addition to this momentous series, brimming with historical significance and artistic splendor.
