2003 Yadier Molina GU Jersey Smokies Team Auto Bat Grandstand Card Bobblehead

Description: Listing Highlights: (or how I learned to stop worrying & love reading the whole description) - 1/1 Game Used Jersey that inspired the Doctoring by Topps (w/proof) of the picture used for Yadier Molina’s 2004 Topps & Topps Chrome Rookies - Only known 2003 Tennessee Smokies team signed bat - +RARE full signature Yadier Molina (last full year in minors) - Bobble Head depicting Molina wearing this same jersey - Issued years later after becoming Cubs affiliate… yet it survived. - Two of each of the RARE two cards depicting Yadi wearing this jersey, the first pair matching in quantity the entire population BGS has graded (2), the second pair DOUBLING the entire population PSA has graded (1). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This listing must be read to be properly understood. Please read it completely, as it all relates exclusively to this listing. This assemblage of rarities is like none other and features a significant revelation about a marquee Yadier Molina rookie card line, the 2004 Topps & 2004 Topps Chrome and related parallels featuring Yadier Molina wearing a home white Cardinals jersey numbered 24. First, the revelation: that image on all those cards was altered to change the jersey number. The jersey in this listing is why they altered the images. Proof will follow a brief review of crucial fundamentals involved: - The 2004 Topps, Topps Chrome and related lines & parallels of Molina’s rookie cards were produced in late 2003, thus the © 2003 copyright appears on all of them and they show his most recent stats as his complete season numbers for the AA Tennessee Smokies, where he played exclusively all of 2003. - Molina was widely anticipated to be called up for his debut in 2004, so Topps included him in their 2004 Topps set that was (for the last time) printed late in the year before and copyrighted 2003. Many understandably but incorrectly thus refer to his 2004 Topps cards as a 2003 Topps variety. - Perhaps still smarting from their epic screwup of the Pujols 2002 Topps card (also copyright dated the year before, in which it was printed: 2001), when they threw on the back someone (in the exceptional Placido Polanco) who, other than Latino heritage, shared no resemblance with this upstart ROY Pujols guy who graced the front, Topps tried and mostly succeeded in not appearing to disregard the details of another future Hall of Famer’s rookie card in producing Molina’s 2004 Topps cards. … Their dilemma was depicting Molina in a Cardinals MLB uniform in time for production in late 2003, when he hadn’t yet debuted and wouldn’t until the following June in 2004. … Their further dilemma was that left them with only the pictures from late in Spring Training of 2003, when the Cardinals traditionally play one or more games wearing their regular season style home whites instead of the red spring training jerseys exclusively worn in March in Florida. … However, they also wanted to avoid another circumstance like had also occurred with the Pujols 2001 Bowman Chrome, Topps Reserve and other rookie cards: showing the player in a (usually much higher) different jersey number than what the player ever wore for MLB play. For Pujols it was #36 and #68, despite only wearing #5 since his Opening Day debut in 2001. … For Molina, it was first #74. This was the number he wore for Spring Training 2003, when he was not anticipated to make the team (these players generally get assigned higher numbers), but rather proceed to the AA Tennessee Smokies after playing for the A level Peoria Chiefs in 2002 and Johnson City Cardinals in 2001. … Playing for the Smokies in 2003, Molina wore #24, the same jersey listed here. It was in this jersey that he earned his track towards a 2004 callup, such that Topps had to solve how to depict him in 2003. … And so it happened that Topps decided it most likely that Molina would stick with his same jersey number, 24, in the majors as he had worn in 2003 when he wore this jersey. … And so they doctored a picture of him from 2003 Spring Training, when he wore #74, deftly changing the 7 into a 2, creating the #24 Home White Cardinals Jersey that Molina NEVER WORE that you see in every Topps & Topps Chrome rookie card from that line. Donruss and Leaf were among those that used other different pictures of Molina wearing the undoctored #74. The proof of the doctoring is simple: the actual real Getty Image picture of Molina BEFORE it was doctored. Wearing number #74. (See pic) Observe how every exact detail of the players in the dugout behind, the crowd in the stands, Molina’s hand and bat position, ALL EXACTLY matches the image on the Topps cards. Except the #74 on the front. *For image comparison, the #1/1 2004 Topps Superfractor Molina card is pictured, but is not included in this listing as it is listed separately.* Included in this listing: - One 2003 Tennessee Smokies team signed/autographed bat, featuring Yadier Molina (VINTAGE: Rare Early Full Signature), Rick Ankiel, Skip Schumaker, and Dan Haren, among 19 total autographs from the Inaugural First Season of Cardinals Minor League Baseball in Knoxville, TN. There is no other team signed item of any kind, let alone a bat of the 2003 Smokies known to exist, nor any other autograph of Molina known to be from this period, except one. Before the 2003 season, the Smokies had been a Toronto BlueJays affiliate FOR 22 YEARS. It would remain a Cardinals affiliate for only one additional year before the DBacks took over also for two years. Churn = discarded fan mementos = rarity of those that remain. - Yadier Molina’s 2003 Game Used Smokies Jersey, accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity in the form of a signed notarized affidavit from the longtime Cardinals team photographer to whom it was gifted from the Clubhouse Manager for the Tennessee Smokies. The obverse of this document bears pictures of Molina wearing the jersey in question. For display purposes, a copy of that letter appears in the lower right of the display, so that the two pictures from the rear of the signed and sealed affidavit may also be displayed as they are on the left side of the display. The name of the photographer is obscured and will only be known to the purchaser, as I gave my word to preserve his privacy. The notary public’s seal and credentials are available for verification if desired as is the information on the local financial institution with which he is affiliated. - Two of Both 2003 Yadier Molina Minor League Rookie Cards (four total to allow displaying the front and back of each) in which he appears wearing this jersey, both cards using one of the exact same pictures provided by the team photographer on the obverse page of the affidavit. These cards are among the rarest Molina minor league or MLB rookie cards. The two Southern League Top Prospects cards included here total the same as all the entire population that Beckett has ever graded at any level or even just authenticated … 2. The two Tennessee Smokies Grandstand cards also included represent TWICE the entire population of the ONE SINGLE CARD that PSA has ever graded at any level or even just authenticated. - Two pocket schedules for the 2003 Tennessee Smokies season to allow for both to be displayed simultaneously, one open, one closed. - One Yadier Molina Tennessee Smokies bobble head depicting him wearing this jersey. This was a promotional item during the 2013 season when it had become, yes, a Cubs affiliate. And yet at least this one wasn’t thrown back on to the field. Might be the only one. The display is the finest production deep pocket jersey display money can buy, constructed with genuine hardwood Cherry of the finest tone, dual hinged and dual key-locked, it opens/closes smooth and evenly and comes with mounting kit. Display is included at the buy it now price. Please send any questions prior to bidding. More unique and historic items may be found in my other listings.

Price: 44444.44 USD

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri

End Time: 2023-12-16T01:28:29.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD