Caleb Thielbar and other players who deserve Topps cards
Getting your first Topps card is a rite of passage for major leaguers. But these players have reached the bigs and still don't have a Topps card to show for it.
Getting your first Topps card is a rite of passage for major leaguers, the way to show you've made it.
But what if you reach the bigs and don't have a Topps card to show for it?
This week's release of the Topps Series 1 checklist offers a chance to take a look at players who've been overlooked by Topps in recent years.
The most egregious example (noted on Twitter by @tropicalchik) appears to be Twins pitcher Caleb Thielbar, a St. Paul Saints product who first made his way to the majors in 2013 and bounced around the minors for a while. After the 2019 season he nearly retired, but he gave it one last shot and has spent the past two seasons with Minnesota. He had a big impact in 2021, notching a 7-0 record and 3.23 ERA in 59 games.
Thielbar has cards in 2010 Topps Pro Debut, a minor league product, and then a few minor league team set cards, and ... ?
Having a Topps card of your own can be a big sense of pride for players — and missing out can be a letdown, even decades later. That was the case for Roger Samuels, who pitched for the Giants in 1988 and Pirates in 1989. "It was disappointing not getting a Topps card in 89," Roger, who recently passed away, wrote to me in an email in 2016. Instead, Topps included Randy Bockus -- who wasn't even in the Giants organization anymore -- in the single-series 1989 Topps set (Topps also missed out on including a Mariners rookie named Ken Griffey Jr. in its base set that year and had to add him in its Traded release).
Besides Thielbar, there are at least a dozen other active multi-year MLB players who don't have a card in a mainstream product such as Topps flagship or Topps Heritage (some of these players have appeared in the online-only product Topps Total, which isn't considered a mainstream or traditional release).
Below, I’ve noted other current players Topps has recently overlooked. No, they aren’t superstars. But they all have fans who would be interested in having at least one Topps card to collect.
If there are other active players I missed, let me know in the comments below and I will add them to this list! I have not included players who made their debut in 2021, since not enough time has passed, but I will monitor their card appearances (or lack thereof).
Casey Sadler
MLB debut: 2014
Teams: Pirates, Rays, Dodgers, Cubs, Mariners
Notable: Had a miniscule 0.67 ERA in 42 games for the Mariners in 2021 after missing time with a right shoulder impingement.
On Twitter: @sadler_squared
Mike Mayers
MLB debut: 2016
Teams: Cardinals, Angels
Notable: Made his MLB debut on Sunday Night Baseball, surrendering nine earned runs and only recording four outs ... has struck out 203 batters in 185.2 innings pitched.
Joely Rodríguez
MLB debut: 2016
Teams: Phillies, Rangers, Yankees
Notable: Pitched in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in 2018-19 ... traded to New York in Joey Gallo deal.
Tim Mayza
MLB debut: 2017
Teams: Blue Jays
Notable: Mayza, like the author, is a product of Millersville (Pa.) University ... Recovered from torn UCL to go 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 2021.
Paolo Espino
MLB debut: 2017
Teams: Brewers, Rangers, Nationals
Notable: Panama native who was on the country's roster for 2009 World Baseball Classic ... went 5-5 for Washington last season.
Tyler Kinley
MLB debut: 2018
Teams: Twins, Marlins, Rockies
Notable: His 70 appearances in 2021 ranked 10th in the National League ... Has one of baseball's best mustaches.
On Twitter: @TylerKinley30
Taylor Hearn
MLB debut: 2019
Teams: Rangers
Notable: His grandfather, Cleo Hearn, is a rodeo pioneer and the first black professional cowboy on the rodeo circuit.
On Twitter: @thearn14
Cole Sulser
MLB debut: 2019
Teams: Rays, Orioles
Notable: Pitched in 60 games in 2021, going 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA and 18 games finished.
J.P. Feyereisen
MLB debut: 2020
Teams: Brewers, Rays
Notable: Initials stand for Jonathon Paul ... Made two straight Opening Day rosters for Milwaukee ... had a 2.73 ERA in 55 games in 2021.
On Twitter: @jpfeyer20
Nabil Crismatt
MLB debut: 2020
Teams: Cardinals, Padres
Notable: Colombia native ... pitched in 45 games for San Diego in 2021, serving as an "unsung hero" for a bullpen stretched too thin.
On Twitter: @NabilCrismatt
Caleb Baragar
MLB debut: 2020
Teams: Giants
Notable: Ranked second in the National League in win-loss percentage (.833) in 2020, ahead of Clayton Kershaw. His win total was noted on a league leader card in 2021 Topps Heritage, but Baragar hasn’t gotten a card of his own.
On Twitter: @caleb_baragar
Blake Cederlind
MLB debut: 2020
Teams: Pirates
Notable: Missed the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Phil Bickford (Note: Added 2/2)
MLB debut: 2020
Teams: Brewers, Dodgers
Notable: Pitched in six playoff games for Los Angeles in 2021, allowing no runs in six innings pitched.
Eric Haase (Note: Added 2/2)
MLB debut: 2018
Teams: Indians, Tigers
Notable: Wears No. 13 in honor of Lance Parrish ... AL rookie of the month in July 2021 after hitting nine home runs.
Kevan Smith (Note: Added 2/2)
MLB debut: 2016
Teams: White Sox, Angels, Rays, Braves
Notable: Played football and baseball at the University of Pittsburgh ... appeared in 29 games at catcher for world champion Atlanta in 2021.
Stephen Nogosek (Note: Added 2/3)
MLB debut: 2019
Teams: Mets
Notable: A Red Sox farmhand traded to New York in Addison Reed deal ... has appeared in 8 MLB games across two seasons.
Chris Mazza (Note: Added 2/3)
MLB debut: 2019
Teams: Mets, Red Sox, Rays
Notable: Third cousin of Joe, Dom and Vince DiMaggio ... surrendered 495-foot home run to Ronald Acuna Jr., the longest home run in shortened 2020 season.
Old school and long inactive, but how's this for lack of respect to an eventual HoFer! Edgar Martinez first cracked the Mariners for cups of coffee in 1987 and 1988, made it for good in 1989 with season's last 65 games, and. after having already accumulated 246 mlb hits, was finally was granted an RC by Topps in 1990. Donruss and Fleer smelled better acknowledging Edgar's existence with an accurately timed RC in 1988.