Topps Salutes the Troops With Trading Cards
I’m constantly in search of good stories about our troops. I’m even more interested in stories about name brand companies honoring the troops in some way. As a former collector of trading cards of all types – from basketball to Magic: The Gathering – so this sort of speaks to me. This story is from VINCENT M. MALLOZZI of the New York Times. Enjoy:
This year’s Topps N.F.L. card set includes two Tomlinsons: LaDainian, a running back with the San Diego Chargers; and Wyat, a staff sergeant based at the United States Army Recruiting Battalion in Kansas City, Mo.
“It’s an unbelievable thrill,” said Wyat, a Kansas City native who grew up rooting for the Chiefs. “Some of the guys here have been teasing me about it. They’re now calling me Rookie Card.”
Sergeant Tomlinson, 29, is one of 11 Armed Forces Fans of the Game nominated by their home teams. Their cards are among the 440 that make up the Topps set. Randomly placed in packs of 10, the armed forces cards have become collector’s items.
“We wanted to pay tribute to our soldiers in some fashion,” said Clay Luraschi, the director of product development for Topps. “We went to the N.F.L. and they were totally on board with it, and immediately began asking teams to nominate soldiers from their respective cities.”
The other Topps trading card troops are Capt. John C. Cochrane Jr. of the Navy (nominated by the Jets); Col. Marc Hendler, New York Army National Guard (Giants); Lance Cpl. James A. Lenihan, Marine Corps Reserve (Cincinnati); Specialist Mark M. Middlebrook, Army (Jacksonville); Maj. Sean Ryan, Army (Denver); Sgt. Philip LaBonte, Michigan Army National Guard (Detroit); Cpl. Ryan M. Lenser, Marines (Green Bay); Senior Airman Gabriel Bird, Louisiana Air National Guard (New Orleans); Sgt. Christopher Ames, Marines (Arizona); and Sgt. Traci Williams, Army Reserve (Seattle).
Williams is the only woman in the group and the first Topps has featured on a professional football card.
“It’s an honor for me just to put on my uniform every day and serve my country,” Williams, 48, said in a recent phone interview from Camp Victory in Baghdad. “But for the Seahawks to think enough of me as a soldier and a fan to recommend me for my own card, that’s just phenomenal.”
The back of her card reads: “Sgt. Williams says she was outnumbered about 10-to-1 by Steelers fans when she watched the Seahawks play Super Bowl XL in the wee hours of the morning in Afghanistan. Among the reasons she loves her team are its fanatic fans and its support of the military.”
Topps also issued cards for nine former star players who served in the military: Chuck Bednarik, Rocky Bleier, Art Donovan, Tom Fears, Lou Groza, Johnny McNally, Gino Marchetti, Roger Staubach and Norm Van Brocklin.
Read the rest of this story over at NYTimes.com.
Miss Ladybug
November 30th, 2008 at 6:48 pmThat is so cool! If you could just buy a set of the service members, I’d do that. But, I don’t have the time or inclination to try to collect them by just randomly buying NFL trading cards, for which I have no use…
brat
November 30th, 2008 at 8:15 pmGreat story! I have always believed that some of corporate America supports our troops. Just usually we don’t hear about it from the msm. Good for the NYTimes this time.;)
Thanks for finding this one, CJ!