what comes next for then and now

i think my favorite insert set each year (since 2001) has been the "then and now" cards that match up stat leaders from the featured design's season, and the current players' previous season.  the card i've added to my collection most recently is this one from 2020 topps heritage:

the reason i like the set so much is that i believe that the connection baseball has between the past and present is one of its greatest assets, and that connection is what these cards are all about. of course, it doesn't hurt that the dodgers had a number of league leaders in the 1950's and 1960's, and then again in the 2010's. as a result, a lot of these cards have featured dodgers over the years, including the one above with 2019 nl era leader hyun-jin ryu.

ryu's presence on the card is more than welcome, as the dodgers did not lead a lot of statistical categories during the 1970's. in fact, i don't expect to see a "vintage" dodger player on one of these cards until 2024 when davey lopes should show up on the stolen bases card. of course, back in 2019, topps used lou brock on that card instead of the actual league leader (bobby tolan), so who knows.  

another player that got screwed was adrian beltre back in 2005 when topps did not create a then and now card for home runs (i am guessing because they did not have licensing rights to feature mickey mantle), but instead had cards for the leaders in doubles, triples, and walks. that was weird because topps did not have license to feature barry bonds on cards that year either, yet he led the league in walks in 2004, whereas beltre led the league in home runs and could have appeared on a card. topps went with runner up bobby abreu instead of bonds on the walk card, and thus we missed out on a card that could have featured beltre and "then" home run lead runner up duke snider.

so, we will see what the coming years bring, starting with this year's heritage that is due to be out soon. i do know that we should see a lot of johnny bench, nolan ryan, and steve carlton, but maybe we'll be surprised.

bonus - i did pick up some cards from 2020 topps heritage high numbers, including this will smith now & then card

and this max muncy now & then card

these cards in high numbers are different from the then and now cards in base heritage. they focus on events rather than stat leaders. this one highlights smith's walk-off pinch-hit home run from a game against the rockies on june 23, 2019. this was the third straight game in which the dodgers beat the rockies with a walk-off homer - matt beaty and alex verdugo did the honors in the previous games. the back of the card addresses the "then" by noting that former dodger and then yankee also hit a walk-off homer on june 23, but in 1971 which ties the design year together with the theme of the card.  i actually picked up two copies of this card - one for the team collection and one for the dodger stadium collection.

the muncy card, on the other hand, deals with his "splashdown" home run against the giants that resulted in him jawing with madison bumgarner as he rounded the bases. this was the "go get it out of the ocean" even that spawned some quick to market t-shirts, one of which showed up on a muncy photo variation card. the back notes that on the same date in 1971, steve renko threw a one-hitter to beat the giants. no word on whether or not renko engaged in smack talk with dick dietz who managed the giants' only hit that day.

in other heritage high numbers news, topps did not recreate the 1971 rich allen card with mookie betts

which is disappointing but not surprising.  however, they did develop a fantastic design for their award winners insert set. check out this cody bellinger card:

i think it looks great. so many lowercase letters!

no matter what happens with the then and now cards, i can't wait to see 2021 topps heritage, especially what should be card #1...