I know baseball cards are so 1990’s and earlier but Topps,
the leading maker in baseball cards, is doing something that I felt was worth
mentioning. Topps is releasing a new set of baseball cards that will feature
and showcase ballplayers who have overcome disabilities and health changes on
their path to stardom in Major League Baseball. This is quite the gesture, and
marketing ploy but stick with me, by Topps and it deserves recognition in my
opinion.
The set is to be called “Pride & Perseverance” and was
released this week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of National
Disability Employment Awareness Month and also honors the 25th
anniversary of American with Disabilities legislation.
Wendy Lewis, Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President
of Diversity, Inclusion and Strategic Alliances, released a statement praising
Topps for the new set and for bringing these players into the limelight once
again. Players like Jim Abbot who was born without a right hand but went on to
pitch in Major League Baseball and even throw a no-hitter with the New York
Yankees after winning a U.S Olympic medal with the countries baseball team in
1988. Players like Curtis Pride who was legally deaf but still went on to play
outfield and hit at a Major League level for 13 years with the New York
Yankees, Detroit Tiger and others.
Jim Eisenreich will also be honored in the series after battling
Tourette’s syndrome alongside Pete Gray, the St. Louis Browns outfielder who
lost his arm in a childhood accident, and William Hoy who was born deaf but was
still able to play centerfield from 1888 to 1902. There will be current players
in the mix as well as the Chicago Cubs ace starting pitcher and first baseman
Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo, both cancer survivors, will be in the pack along
with former New York Yankees reliever Buddy Carlyle, who was diagnosed with
diabetes. Houston Astros outfielder George Springer, who deals with stuttering
on a daily basis, will be in the pack along with Jake Peavy, the San Francisco
Giants right-hander, who is legally blind without corrective lenses or
contacts.
Well played Topps, you may have just convinced me to get
back into buying baseball card sets again.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)