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Dan Hajducky, ESPN
For the first time, game-used relics from Major League Baseball’s City Connect jerseys will be embedded in cards and MLB stars have signed dual-autographed cards, called Signature Tunes, with the musical artists who perform their walk-up songs.
New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto is paired with Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee and Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker is paired with Houston rapper Travis Scott.
“The City Connect [cards] for example; for us to be able to put a jersey embedded into that card, or for a player to sign it, it just takes you one step closer to your hero,” Fanatics Collectibles senior vice president of product development Clay Luraschi told ESPN. “That’s what we’re working hard on: Trying to improve the experience.”
Women in Baseball — featuring Olympic gold medalist Jessica Mendoza; Ronnie Gajownik, the first woman to become a manager in professional baseball; Alyssa Nakken, the first woman full-time coach in MLB history; and Olympic gold medalist Veronica Alvarez — will also be new.
“The participation of women in the game for years has been somewhat overlooked,” Luraschi said. “There’s a massive presence and we’re gonna play our part, again, as a company that commemorates the sport and the game.”
New in 2024 Topps Series 2, as well, is 1989 Topps All-Star Baseball relics, or game-used memorabilia in the 35th anniversary-themed “All-Star” cards.