Annual 2/14 Post

Time again for my annual salute to the 2/14 binder. The rule of this countdown is that the card must have been both issued and in-hand within the past year. That means the e-pack cards of Lane Hutson that I have don't count, since they aren't printed yet. They will qualify for next year, though. Also, only one appearance per subject. Although that really wasn't a problem this year.

With that out of the way, here's the top 10.

10.  

Sure, it's a bright gimmick card. But, it does feature Jaxon Smith-Njigba rocking the Seahawks throwbacks. That's good enough.

9.

It was a bland year for  Jim Kelly cards. Considering what won last year's countdown, anything would be a step down.

8. 

Just a fun photo of someone whose MLB time seems to be winding down. At least he gets a pretty nice card to go out on.

7.

Seeing as I tried to build the Heritage set this year, I figure it should make at least one appearance in the countdown. There were 3 members in the base set this year, and they'll be showing up later.

6.

Brooks Lee is one of two people on this list to make their debut in my collection this year, matching perfectly to his MLB debut. Since the liquid metal of Nikolaj Ehlers was one of the last cards I cut from this list, I need some garishness on here. So, I give you a lunar glow parallel. Even with him appearing in Series 1 this year, since he's a rookie, there will probably be many other chances to add other cards of his for the 2026 countdown.

5.

Hey! Topps Chrome! Welcome back! I pick this over the Speckle parallel since it is far less obnoxious, and I got loud cards out of the way on the previous card.

4. 

Here's the other debut in the post. Caroline Marks goes a couple spots above Brooks Lee since she also causes surfing to make its collection debut. That's worthy of a climb into 4th position.

3.

I knew I'd have a lot of Gabriel Moreno options to choose from. I decided to use him for the Stadium Club content in this (I try to only use one card per set as well). It may not be as iconic as Jose Bautista's, but that's a different angle for this type of photo as well. 

2.

The only hit on the countdown is this. I have better cards of his. More interesting photos. More interesting sets. Even an auto. But I pack-pulled this one from a retail blaster. Opening a pack and finding a wonderful entry to the PC is always going to move things up in the rankings.

1.

For the 2nd time overall, the top spot goes to a Tyler Bass entry. In 2021, his autographed appearance in Contenders took the top spot. For the second time in a row, a Buffalo Bills card takes the top spot, although there are 116 more copies of this one than last year's Jim Kelly winner. Heck, for the third straight year, it is a Buffalo card that takes the prize, with a Gabriel Moreno entry from his time with the Buffalo Bisons getting the spot.

Here, we have one of the more memorable moments of the past season for Buffalo. Bass had struggled a bit going into this game, but got the chance to win the game with a late field goal. I'm sure most of the stadium thought Buffalo would have a better chance to get a first down on 4th than to make a field goal. But Tyler's kick would have been good from several yards beyond the 61 yarder he nailed. It was a wonderful moment in many ways, and its cardboard preservation gives it the win.

And now, to start looking for potential entries in 2026. Looks like I've got at least one player to look forward to during the NFL draft.