1999 Topps came out in the summer I turned 13 years old and I’m fairly certain I handed over 50% of the money I came across that year to my local card shop (the now-defunct Sportscard Connection in Lancaster, PA) to get packs of the gold-bordered cards. Power Brokers insert cards came 1:36 packs and pulling one felt like winning a mini-lottery. Imagine my thrill finding the entire 20-card set online for under $40. That’s the equivalent of $21 in 1999. Younger me would’ve gladly mowed a couple lawns to own this set.

I got to meet Mark McGwire the year he broke the HR record- took a pic and got a signed ball.

I thought I’d end up selling the ball one day for millions and then, of course, the whole steroid thing happened.

Fun to look back on the pic/ball, even though it isn't worth all that much now!