Why would a ML'er not have any cards?

Cjfrankum · 03-25-2025, 04:16 PM

There is a RP on the Boston Red Sox, brennan bernardino, who does not have any cards. Anyone know why this would be?

atk825 · 03-25-2025, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cjfrankum

There is a RP on the Boston Red Sox, brennan bernardino, who does not have any cards. Anyone know why this would be?

A lot of non prospects never get a bowman card. It's getting less common now just with how much Bowman gets produced now. But there's also players like Justin Steele who don't their rookie card until their third season.

awz50 · 03-25-2025, 04:54 PM

Very common, especially for relief pitchers. Will probably get a card in series 1 this year and series 2 at latest

JMStang · 03-25-2025, 05:51 PM

Interesting, a handful of appearances in 22, then a good amount in 23 & 24. Only 6 total cards, all minor league.

https://www.tcdb.com/Person.cfm/pid/...tName=&sBrand=

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

towerymt · 03-25-2025, 06:01 PM

Justin Topa finally got one. Seems to happen to RPs

https://www.startribune.com/twins-ju...card/601230225

mudder35 · 03-25-2025, 06:20 PM

My oldest son got his first MLB ball from Edgar Santana of the Braves. I looked everywhere for a card of him to make a display but there were none to be found. My second oldest son got his first ball from Jake Brentz of the Royals and he never got a base card from Topps (had some autos in different products) but did get some Panini Prizm cards.

Another one I stumbled upon is Jason Adam who has pitched 269 innings in relief with a 2.87 career ERA. He didn't get his first MLB card until 2024 update. Ironically, it came in a Rays uniform after he'd already been traded to the Padres.

Basically, if you're a pitcher and don't get a rookie card, you better stick in the league for 7-8 years if you want them to finally pity you in series 2 or Update.

mudder35 · 03-25-2025, 06:35 PM

Another quick story. I have 4 young boys (3, 7, 8, 11) and go to a handful of games every year. Ever since the Santana ball, my kids like to go early to games to get autographs. Because many of the RP's don't have any cards, we bring those team cards topps puts out every year to have something to sign. At a game 2 years ago, many of the pitchers were on the field and coming over to sign autographs and a young relief pitcher who didn't have a card refused to sign the team card. My then 6 year old son handed it to him, he looked at it and said "I'm not in that card" handed it back to him, and walked away. My son was confused and asked me what happened. I chuckled and repeated what he said and then told him that he actually wasn't in any cards yet. Not mad at the guy, but to each their own, I suppose.

rms13 · 03-25-2025, 06:44 PM

It is odd. He's pitched 55 and 57 games the last two years. Topps has given RC to multiple Red Sox players over the last 2 years who have less then 5 games in MLB

SaveMeTheGum · 03-25-2025, 06:46 PM

They have to sign contracts with a card company to have cards.

MiamiMarlinsFan · 03-25-2025, 07:36 PM

Zac Gallen and Eury Perez do not have any 1st Bowmans.

rms13 · 03-25-2025, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaveMeTheGum

They have to sign contracts with a card company to have cards.

I thought that was covered under the MLBPA contract with Fanatics? I don't think every individual player is signing a contract

rms13 · 03-25-2025, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

Zac Gallen and Eury Perez do not have any 1st Bowmans.

Bernadino is a guy that's pitched 2 full seasons with the Red Sox and doesn't have any cards. But he's also a lefty specialist reliever and he was 30 when he debuted in MLB

corockies · 03-25-2025, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

Zac Gallen and Eury Perez do not have any 1st Bowmans.

Neither does German Marquez. In fact, he's never had a Bowman or Bowman Chrome card ever.

boxbuster7 · 03-25-2025, 08:34 PM

cuz topps is incompetent

how is this a thread?

WizardofOz1982 · 03-25-2025, 09:59 PM

Couldn't put 15 cards of Ohtani in every set if they gave cards to everyone else.

mudder35 · 03-26-2025, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WizardofOz1982

Couldn't put 15 cards of Ohtani in every set if they gave cards to everyone else.

I'll only speak for myself, but I could definitely do without 3 cards a year of Ohtani, Trout, and Judge high fiving teammates, former teammates, or other random MLB players.

89Giants · 03-26-2025, 01:29 AM

Topps would rather put cards of old hof guys or retired fan favorites in every set than make cards of players who are on current rosters.

Handsome Wes · 03-26-2025, 07:42 AM

There's a story I remember reading many years ago, back in the ESPN Page Two era. Someone complained to a Topps rep that he didn't have a card. The rep responded "Dude, you play for the Royals."

OhioLawyerF5 · 03-26-2025, 08:03 AM

There were 949 players on the opening day rosters in MLB last season. That doesn't include the multitudes of other players who made an appearance during the season due to injuries and call ups.

People can complain about incompetence, oversight, etc... But the fact of the matter is, sets aren't that big. The full flagship run is usually around 1000 cards, but that includes lots of all-star, subsets, team cards, etc.. The real total number of base player cards is more like 6-700. Lots of players don't get cards. And relief pitchers are some of the first cuts. It is what it is.

Cjfrankum · 03-26-2025, 08:28 AM

Thank you for all the insight. He helps coach one of my kids baseball teams and my son wanted one of Brennan's cards. I don't know why I assumed everyone got cards.

f2tornado · 03-26-2025, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

There were 949 players on the opening day rosters in MLB last season. That doesn't include the multitudes of other players who made an appearance during the season due to injuries and call ups.

People can complain about incompetence, oversight, etc... But the fact of the matter is, sets aren't that big. The full flagship run is usually around 1000 cards, but that includes lots of all-star, subsets, team cards, etc.. The real total number of base player cards is more like 6-700. Lots of players don't get cards. And relief pitchers are some of the first cuts. It is what it is.

This is the answer. Upper Deck attempted to cover ever possible NFLer in the 2002 XL set. Topps did similar with the Total sets for a couple years. Then Panini Unparalleled for a few years. Some of those rookies go for good money since it's the only one. But for the most part, those products were not very popular and why they didn't last long.

Topps could probably do some on-demand adds for those players but not sure if the demand would justify the expense of doing so.

Raleigh504 · 03-26-2025, 10:21 AM

I never understood why Bowman Draft would include guys who already have 1st cards in other products. To me the name DRAFT means that they were just drafted, basically the whole checklist should be all 1st cards. They should look at MLB Pipeline Top 30 of each team (maybe even another site too for more guys) and say:

- Who doesn't have a 1st card?
- Will this player be in Bowman or Bowman Chrome instead with their 1st?
- If no to either then but their 1st in Draft and keep going down the line or down the current draft class until a Draft Checklist is complete.

Steven Kwan was another guy who didn't have a Bowman 1st too.

bigdog2003 · 03-26-2025, 09:54 PM

I’ve been waiting on my cousin’s husband to get in a Topps release. Hopefully series 2. All he has is minor league cards too. He also on the Sox.

Centauri3 · 03-26-2025, 10:17 PM

Steven Kwan had nothing when he made the team out of spring training his rookie year. Was very strange

Retired hobbist · 03-26-2025, 10:36 PM

I know in the old days many journeymen never got cards as sets were much smaller then.

In football this was much worse considering rosters were larger and players are more in and out due to the brutal nature of the sport.

03-25-2025, 04:16 PM	#1
Cjfrankum Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 25	Why would a ML'er not have any cards? There is a RP on the Boston Red Sox, brennan bernardino, who does not have any cards. Anyone know why this would be?

03-25-2025, 04:54 PM	#3
awz50 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: New Hampshire>>>Arizona>>>>Florida Posts: 33,067 awz50	Very common, especially for relief pitchers. Will probably get a card in series 1 this year and series 2 at latest __________________ Collecting Baseball Hof Autographs 248/351 Blowouts Official Red Sox face of the franchise Eduardo Rodriguez Super Collector

03-25-2025, 06:01 PM	#5
towerymt Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: VA Posts: 8,664	Justin Topa finally got one. Seems to happen to RPs https://www.startribune.com/twins-ju...card/601230225 __________________ In search of... 2018 Topps Chrome Update Max Scherzer #HMT77: Superfractor 2019 Topps Update Carter Kieboom #US109: Platinum

03-25-2025, 06:46 PM	#9
SaveMeTheGum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NH --> CA --> SC Posts: 16,252 Cardboard_Dynamite CardboardDynamite	They have to sign contracts with a card company to have cards. __________________ Pay fast. Ship fast. Deal with people honestly. IG: CardboardDynamite

03-25-2025, 08:34 PM	#14
boxbuster7 Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 12,042 boxbuster777	cuz topps is incompetent how is this a thread? __________________ Psa 9 > psa 10

03-25-2025, 05:51 PM	#4
JMStang Member Join Date: May 2024 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 314	Interesting, a handful of appearances in 22, then a good amount in 23 & 24. Only 6 total cards, all minor league. https://www.tcdb.com/Person.cfm/pid/...tName=&sBrand= Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-25-2025, 06:20 PM	#6
mudder35 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Illinois Posts: 539	My oldest son got his first MLB ball from Edgar Santana of the Braves. I looked everywhere for a card of him to make a display but there were none to be found. My second oldest son got his first ball from Jake Brentz of the Royals and he never got a base card from Topps (had some autos in different products) but did get some Panini Prizm cards. Another one I stumbled upon is Jason Adam who has pitched 269 innings in relief with a 2.87 career ERA. He didn't get his first MLB card until 2024 update. Ironically, it came in a Rays uniform after he'd already been traded to the Padres. Basically, if you're a pitcher and don't get a rookie card, you better stick in the league for 7-8 years if you want them to finally pity you in series 2 or Update.

03-25-2025, 06:35 PM	#7
mudder35 Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Illinois Posts: 539	Another quick story. I have 4 young boys (3, 7, 8, 11) and go to a handful of games every year. Ever since the Santana ball, my kids like to go early to games to get autographs. Because many of the RP's don't have any cards, we bring those team cards topps puts out every year to have something to sign. At a game 2 years ago, many of the pitchers were on the field and coming over to sign autographs and a young relief pitcher who didn't have a card refused to sign the team card. My then 6 year old son handed it to him, he looked at it and said "I'm not in that card" handed it back to him, and walked away. My son was confused and asked me what happened. I chuckled and repeated what he said and then told him that he actually wasn't in any cards yet. Not mad at the guy, but to each their own, I suppose.

03-25-2025, 06:44 PM	#8
rms13 Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: California Posts: 7,040	It is odd. He's pitched 55 and 57 games the last two years. Topps has given RC to multiple Red Sox players over the last 2 years who have less then 5 games in MLB

03-25-2025, 07:36 PM	#10
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 13,324	Zac Gallen and Eury Perez do not have any 1st Bowmans.

03-25-2025, 09:59 PM	#15
WizardofOz1982 Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 1,342 wizardofoz82 WizardOfOz1982	Couldn't put 15 cards of Ohtani in every set if they gave cards to everyone else. __________________ I PC Jeff Frye, Ozzie Smith, and Ryan Helsley. https://jefffryecollection.com - My collection website with galleries and want lists

03-26-2025, 01:29 AM	#17
89Giants Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 812	Topps would rather put cards of old hof guys or retired fan favorites in every set than make cards of players who are on current rosters. __________________ Collecting Barry Bonds and SF Giants Tradelist: http://samstradingpost.com/trader/bonds25.aspx

03-26-2025, 07:42 AM	#18
Handsome Wes Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 901	There's a story I remember reading many years ago, back in the ESPN Page Two era. Someone complained to a Topps rep that he didn't have a card. The rep responded "Dude, you play for the Royals."

03-26-2025, 08:03 AM	#19
OhioLawyerF5 Member Join Date: Feb 2022 Posts: 6,825	There were 949 players on the opening day rosters in MLB last season. That doesn't include the multitudes of other players who made an appearance during the season due to injuries and call ups. People can complain about incompetence, oversight, etc... But the fact of the matter is, sets aren't that big. The full flagship run is usually around 1000 cards, but that includes lots of all-star, subsets, team cards, etc.. The real total number of base player cards is more like 6-700. Lots of players don't get cards. And relief pitchers are some of the first cuts. It is what it is.

03-26-2025, 08:28 AM	#20
Cjfrankum Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Posts: 25	Thank you for all the insight. He helps coach one of my kids baseball teams and my son wanted one of Brennan's cards. I don't know why I assumed everyone got cards.

03-26-2025, 10:21 AM	#22
Raleigh504 Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: NC Posts: 2,653 ig_bljhsports	I never understood why Bowman Draft would include guys who already have 1st cards in other products. To me the name DRAFT means that they were just drafted, basically the whole checklist should be all 1st cards. They should look at MLB Pipeline Top 30 of each team (maybe even another site too for more guys) and say: - Who doesn't have a 1st card? - Will this player be in Bowman or Bowman Chrome instead with their 1st? - If no to either then but their 1st in Draft and keep going down the line or down the current draft class until a Draft Checklist is complete. Steven Kwan was another guy who didn't have a Bowman 1st too. __________________ https://myslabs.to/brasm_sports5 https://www.ebay.com/str/jrbuddysportsandmore

03-26-2025, 09:54 PM	#23
bigdog2003 Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Newberry, SC Posts: 8,903 jammons52 bigdog2003	I’ve been waiting on my cousin’s husband to get in a Topps release. Hopefully series 2. All he has is minor league cards too. He also on the Sox. __________________ Looking for Football: All South Carolina Gamecocks. Baseball: Carl Edwards Jr, Nick Ciuffo, Jackie Bradley Jr, SEARCHING FOR BILLY O'DELL PSA/SGC GRADED CARDS FOR THE PC

03-26-2025, 10:17 PM	#24
Centauri3 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 280 b-mor	Steven Kwan had nothing when he made the team out of spring training his rookie year. Was very strange

03-26-2025, 10:36 PM	#25
Retired hobbist Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 1,435	I know in the old days many journeymen never got cards as sets were much smaller then. In football this was much worse considering rosters were larger and players are more in and out due to the brutal nature of the sport.