2000 Topps Traded Albert Pujols

In my baseball card fantasy world, Topps would wait until the last Minor League game is played before they would pick rookies to put in their Traded and late Bowman sets. If this would've happened in 2000, maybe Topps would've put Albert Pujols in their 2000 Traded set and 2000 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects set. And if Pujols had a 2000 Topps Traded card, he would've had a 2000 Topps Chrome Traded card, and perhaps a rookie autograph insert card. But, none of it ever happened, and we still have Albert's 2001 rookie cards to drool over. Here is what his 2000 Topps Traded card would look if I had my way.

1997 Topps 1st Base Prospects

Topps made a card of Daryle Ward in 1996, but not in 1997. Topps made a card of Sean Casey in 1996 AND 1997. Topps didn't make a card of Big Papi in 1996, or 1997, but they did in 1998 (alongside Ward). I decided to put them all together on one card in 1997. Who knows, if this card was around, maybe it would be the key David Ortiz rookie.

1993 Topps Outfield Prospects

This was a difficult card to make. I was hoping GIMP would have a wider variety of fonts, but it didn't, so it was difficult to use fonts on the back that were true to the original set. I don't know what I'm going to do for the 1994 Topps fronts...Topps left Manny Ramirez and Shannon Stewart off their 1993 set. Manny had a card in 1992 when he was drafted, and in 1994. Stewart was a high Draft Pick that year, but Topps chose to give Todd Steverson a card instead. Now they, along with Rondell White and Kevin Roberson (the best guy in AAA that I could find that didn't debut in 1992) have a card.

1992 Topps Dave Parker

This card has been featured in my Completing the 1992 Topps set blog already, and is the 5th card in my first series of custom cards. Dave "Cobra" Parker had a 1991 Topps Traded card, but was left off of the 1992 set. I could've sworn he was a Hall of Famer, but I guess the injuries kept him from putting up the stats he needed. Here is Mr. Parker's final Topps card.

1995 Topps Traded Michael Jordan

In 1994, MJ shocked the sports world by announcing that he was going to play Minor League baseball. Upper Deck made many cards of Michael that next year including a whole insert set in the 1995 Upper Deck Minor League set. Topps missed the bus on the whole Jordan baseball craze, but here is what his 1995 Topps Traded card may have looked like.

1990 Topps Mike Schmidt All-Star

Mike Schmidt retired before the 1989 All-Star game, but fans still voted him in as a starter. Here's his 1990 Topps All-Star card (apologies to Howard Johnson).

1990 Topps Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt only recieved cards in 1990 from Donruss and Upper Deck. If I was running a card company back then, I would've at least thrown a tribute card into my set. I think I may do a 1990 Bowman Schmidt card in the future, but for now, here is what his 1990 Topps card may have looked like.