My favorite pickup of 2024 is none other than a 2002 Topps Joe Mauer rookie card. There’s a special story to it though! This story starts in January 2024 when Mauer was elected to the HOF. The night he was elected in January, I went on eBay and purchased a box of series 2 Topps from 2002. I did this knowing my dad and I were going to make our way out to Cooperstown to watch my all-time favorite player get enshrined in the Hall.
I had to have self-control for 6 months to not open this box (it was really hard). But the time came and on induction Sunday I opened the box live on my Instagram @Minnygraphs99. We were down to the final two packs with no Mauer rookie yet, and BOOM there it was!
It had to have been the only one pulled in Cooperstown on induction Sunday. When I got home, I saw Mauer doing a private signing and I sent the card to be signed and I had Joe inscribe it, “Nick, Nice Pull!”
Overall my favorite memory of 2024 and a card I’ll treasure forever!