Topps 2012: Pujols! Reyes! Squirrels?

Pitchers and catchers are only a few shorts weeks away from reporting to spring training, but the first whiff of the new baseball season is already here. The 2012 Topps Baseball Series 1 card set is invading a hobby shop near you and there are a lot of surprises this year, from golden tickets to rally squirrels.

For starters, if you liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you’ll love this year’s card packs. As part of their online Golden Giveaway, Topps has planted special cards throughout the Series 1 set. If you get one of these coded cards, you can go online and unlock special cards embedded with real gold or win autographed cards. If you’re one of 10 lucky card collectors to nab a golden ticket, you win a 14K gold-infused baseball signed by baseball legends Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr.  

Cardinals fan also get a unique treat this year. If you’re from St. Louis, you’ll surely remember a squirrel scampering across the field in the middle of action during the NLDS. The squirrel quickly gained recognition as a good-luck charm during the Cards’ run to a title and Topps is making sure he’s remembered forever in the annals of baseball history.

Instead of seeing Skip Schumaker’s face on his card, you see his ankle. Well, his ankle and the rally squirrel. The back of the card will be the same as a traditional card, with stats and bio. (Note: No comment from the Schumaker family yet on how they feel about their beloved Skip being replaced by a four-legged furball.)

So what do you think of Pujols and Reyes in their new unis? What do you think of the squirrel? Let me know in the comments below!