all of the stars

it's all-star game time!

this used to be such a highlight for me when i was younger and didn't have the opportunity to see as many games featuring all of the teams as i do these days. i did watch the full game in 2022 since it was at dodger stadium, but i would say that it is no longer "must see tv" for me. 

i still like to see all-star things on cards, however, and was excited about the 2025 topps all-star game release a week or so ago. most of my excitement was in regards to this card

as steve garvey has not been included in some of the more recent all-star themed insert sets, save for having autos in 2024 topps series two's 35th anniversary all-star insert release. there have been "perennial all-stars" inserts and others over the years that have not included one of the few two-time all-star game mvps, so it was nice to see him get a card here.

the card features a more recent photo than 1974, but the back is all about his first all-star game which occurred that year

i don't have any of the parallels or any of the dodger base cards from this set, but i understand that they are, of course, all foiled up. this is a 2024 topps clayton kershaw all-star game card

which i believe was released in complete set form?

with 2025 topps series 2 out, we get the 35th anniversary all-star treatment, and i've added a few to my collection. i'll start with kershaw's silver pack chrome card

and then show the regular insert

regular is a relative term, as that is the red version. here's the blue

which was the national league color back in 1990.

other blue varieties i have added include sandy koufax

and hideo nomo

whose presence was a terrific surprise. i see topps is also making noise about chan ho park signing autographs for future releases. can the return of ismael valdes to cardboard be far behind?

i will be looking forward to chrome update this year, assuming that they continue the tradition of including refractor parallel all-star game inserts, like this one for chris taylor from 2021

and this one of kershaw from 2023

however, i much prefer my all-star designations in the next year's flagship. that doesn't happen anymore outside of heritage which is ok, i suppose.

speaking of heritage and all-star designations, this is as good a time as any to show my real one autographs from 2024 topps heritage high numbers featuring the aforementioned 1974 national league all-star first baseman steve garvey

more blue and red shenanigans.

garvey's 1975 topps card is not my favorite, but at least they referenced his full name (steven patrick garvey) correctly on the back. with the heritage autos, topps went a different direction, twice

good ol' steve patrick. 

anyway, here's hoping for a good game tonight with a nl win and another dodger mvp.