Topps League Storys

It's Chad's first spring as a batboy, and the Pine City Porcupines are hot-until they come up against the league-leading Heron Lake Humdingers. Now Chad's got a whole lineup of problems: his favorite player, shortstop Mike Stammer, thinks he's jinxed; Dylan, the other batboy, doesn't even like baseball; there's a goofy new porcupine mascot on the field; plus, Chad has to fill in as batboy for the Herons. It's a good thing there's something in the cards-his baseball cards, that is-that can help Chad sort it all out.

The Pine City Porcupines' batboy, Chad, breaks an important unofficial rule of baseball: Don't talk to the starting pitcher when he's got a perfect game going, where not a single opponent has reached base. Now, because Chad opened his mouth, the entire Pines dugout is upset, the team may lose to the second-to-last-place West Valley Varmints, and Chad has to consult his baseball card collection to figure out how to help his beloved team pull off the perfect game.

These fun, illustrated early chapter books feature the adventures-and misadventures-of the Pine City Porcupines, a hapless baseball farm team, and their two batboys: Chad, an avid baseball fan with a huge baseball card collection, and Dylan, who doesn't know a thing about the sport. The fictional series has a unique twist: Chad solves problems by using information from Topps cards of real figures from modern baseball history. Teddy 'Bear' Larrabee, a slugger on the Pine City Porcupines, gets his 823rd base hit on his birthday, August 23-and it's a home run! The Bear is a big believer in the power of numbers, so he asks Pines batboy Chad to retrieve the ball from the stands. There's only one problem: the crabby fan in the ballpark who caught it. Chad really wants to keep the Bear happy and slugging, so he's just got to figure out what the fan would be willing to trade for that 823 ball.

Umpire Solomon Johnson is squeezing the strike zone and throws out both the Pine City Porcupines starting pitcher and manager "Grumps" Humphrey for arguing the call. Chad tries to make peace by giving Solomon a rarely issued "umpire card"-but the ump blows his top. He thinks Chad is making fun of his weight. It's going to be a long nine innings!

Diego Prado has spent most of his time on the Pines' bench. But when Danny O'Brien goes on the disabled list, Diego gets a chance to play-and he's on a winning streak! Danny wants one of Chad's "magic" baseball cards to get back in the game. Diego wants to keep playing. What's a batboy to do?|Kurtis Scaletta is the author of several well-received middle school novels, including the baseball-centric story Mudville, one of Booklist's 2009 Top 10 Sports Books for Youth. He lives in Minneapolis.

Journey back to where it all started in this deluxe collection showcasing the classic Topps trading cards from 1993-timed for the theatrical release of “Jurassic World: Dominion.” When “Jurassic Park” was released almost 30 years ago, it was an immediate blockbuster and went on to become one of entertainment's largest multimedia franchises, with five more films, theme park attractions, and a robust consumer product program-including a set of trading cards released by Topps in 1993 to tie into the film. This comprehensive collection of the original trading card series-timed to publish alongside the release of “Jurassic World: Dominion” -includes the fronts and backs of all of these classic cards, plus the special chase cards and rare promotional material. The book also includes text and commentary by Gary Gerani, editor of the original series, and an afterword by Chip Kidd, who created and designed the cover of Michael Crichton's “Jurassic Park”, which became the iconic logo for the franchise.

The story behind the iconic comic characters and the bubble gum they came with-includes over 100 reproductions spanning six decades. Bazooka Joe and his Gang have been synonymous with bubble gum ever since their debut in 1953, providing an irresistible combination of cheap laughs wrapped around pink, sugary sweetness. This book celebrates the iconic mini-comics that are recognized the world over and reveals their origins in midcentury New York City. “The Story of Bazooka Bubble Gum” is also detailed with extensive essays, including a profile of Wesley Morse, the original illustrator of Bazooka Joe. Included are reproductions of more than 100 classic comics spanning six decades-including the complete first series, reprinted in its entirety for the first time-as well as jokes, fortunes, and tiny ads for mail-order merchandise. Like Bazooka Bubble Gum itself, the book is pure nostalgia and a treat for kids and adults alike.