I wonder if former card bloggers ever consult their dormant blog for information?
I am always looking through my blog for a card or factoid that I wrote. It comes in handy in lots of ways, mostly regarding some timely social media moment, but also for when I'm writing a magazine article, or even for my job, or simply when making a blog comment.
And there are those times when I'm wandering through my blog for some other reason and stumble across a post that needs updating. BAM! Instant blog post idea!
Seven years ago I wrote a post called "Almost Done" in which I listed the second-to-last card -- the penultimate card -- for each Topps flagship set. It didn't get a lot of interest. I don't expect this one to either. But I can't let this information stall out at 2018! What happens next???? People need to know even if they think they don't or never thought about something like this in their entire life! Plus, I got to use the word "penultimate"!
So here are those cards for Topps sets since 2018. I'll throw in the added bonus of letting you know what happened to the player since appearing on his almost-done card.
2019: Felix Hernandez, Mariners, No. 699
The 2019 season was Hernandez's last. He made his first showing on Hall of Fame balloting this year and finished 10th with 20% of the vote
2020: Sheldon Neuse, Athletics, No. 699 (rookie card)
Neuse lasted three years in the major leagues then played in Japan for two years. He was released by the Hanshin Tigers after last season.
2021: Alec Mills, Cubs, No. 659
Mills, a sometimes starter/sometimes reliever, pitched until 2023 with the Reds.
2022: LaMonte Wade Jr., Giants, No. 659
Wade was designated for assignment by the Giants in June, which surprised me (I wasn't following closely) as he always seemed to be a pain in the butt when playing the Dodgers. The Angels picked him up but released him earlier this month.
2023: Luis Liberato, Padres, No. 659 (rookie card)
Liberato's entire major league career thus far has consisted of five at-bats in 2022. I'm pretty sure in Topps' zeal to add yet another rookie card to its set, it skipped over a more worthy veteran reliever for this guy. But at least Liberato's got a card to commemorate his big league career. He's played in South Korea and Mexico this year.
2024: Sean Bouchard, Rockies, No. 699
Bouchard's still playing for the Rockies though most of his time each year since 2022 has been with Triple A Albuquerque.
Note that Topps went back up to 700 cards after dropping down to 660 for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
2025: Hayden Birdsong, Giants, No. 699 (rookie card)
Birdsong has appeared in 21 games for the Giants this year. The one game I saw him pitch against the Dodgers was not good. Which I have no problem with, of course.
And now you're up to date. As far as the "almost done" tie-in that I used to kick off the first version of this post, I suppose you could cite the summer season, which I already covered in my last post. Or the final stages of the baseball regular season. I'm sure the Rockies and White Sox are glad they're most done. There's also the fact I'm three cards away from finishing 1969 Topps.
As for updating other posts, there's a little matter about once doing a post about the last card in a Topps flagship set ... which I wrote in 2011. Yeah, that's 14 years of sets to update. Maybe I'll see how the reaction to this post goes before tackling that one.
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