Kris Bryant Selected to Grace No. 1 Card for 2017 Topps Baseball
So, uh, I think this Kris Bryant guy might end up being pretty popular. I know, me and my tendency to get carried away. Then again, maybe it’s not so crazy. Bryant is already involved in several national ad campaigns and has moved into the top tier of baseball’s most recognizable players. Weird what happens when you combine striking good looks with freakish talent.
The most recent testament to Bryant’s star power is the announcement that he’ll grace Card No. 1 of 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 when the cards go on sale February 1st. While Topps had traditionally chosen the first card’s identity in-house, they turned the responsibility over to fans last year. Bryant rose to the top after a one-week voting process in which visitors to Topps.com chose from 16 nominees.
You can check out the full details in the official press release below.
Baseball Fans Vote Kris Bryant to Card No. 1 for 2017 Topps Baseball
Chicago Cubs third baseman and NL MVP Kris Bryant has been selected by fans to be on the No.1 card for 2017 Topps® Baseball, on sale February 1.
(January 26; New York, NY) – Baseball fans have voted for the next player to be on Card No. 1 for 2017 Topps® Baseball.
Chicago Cubs World Series Champion and National League Most Valuable Player Kris Bryant will grace Card No. 1.
“It’s a huge honor with Card No. 1 depicting legends before me,” Bryant said. “It’s very humbling and nice to know it came from the fans.”
Bryant has earned a number of accolades in his young baseball career. In 2015, he won the NL Rookie of the Year and took the MVP crown just a year later. The two-time All-Star put up impressive numbers including 30 home runs, 102 RBI, a league-leading 121 runs scored, and a .292 batting average last season.
“Kris Bryant is an outstanding player with an infectious personality,” said David Leiner, General Manager and Vice President of Topps North American Sports & Entertainment. “He’s done so much in his career and has created fans throughout baseball regardless of team loyalties. He’s the perfect pick for Card No. 1 for 2017 Topps Baseball.”
Bryant’s card will appear in 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 when it goes on sale on February 1st. Also, included in this product are special cards depicting on-air personalities from the MLB Network, including Hall of Famer John Smoltz, hosts Greg Amsinger and Lauren Shehadi, and former players Harold Reynolds, Sean Casey and more. The first 10 cards of this 29-card set will appear in 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 and the rest within the June release of 2017 Topps Baseball Series 2 and the October release of 2017 Topps Baseball Update.
Bryant joins a long list of great players who have been represented on the first Topps card of the year from Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams to Mike Piazza and Derek Jeter.
The one-week online vote occurred in October of last year where fans chose from a list of 16 nominees on Topps.com. Topps started the Vote for Card No. 1 in 2016 when Angels outfielder Mike Trout earned the honor in the inaugural vote.
Topps celebrates the return of the baseball season with release of 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 on February 1st. Baseball fans can find the newest Topps baseball product in hobby shops, mass retailers and at Topps.com.
