When it comes to rare collectable cards, who would have imagined the magical collaboration of a Major League Baseball star and a Pokémon icon that could send collectors racing to the stores or furiously refreshing eBay in hopes of securing a piece of history? This was the case with Evan Longoria, a name already well known to baseball collectors, who managed to set the hobby world ablaze with a new and astonishing twist.
It’s not unusual to see the iconic Charizard setting things on fire, but in this unexpected partnership with Longoria’s memorabilia, it has sparked something entirely new. The card that has caused this commotion is set to be part of the 2025 Topps Tier One Baseball collection. It’s not just any card—it’s featuring something unseen in card collecting lore: a game-used bat knob embedded into the card, with none other than Charizard emblazoned at the end of the timber.
For those who don’t frequent the collector community, this may all seem like a niche interest. But the fusion of two worlds—Pokémon and MLB—has set off an epidemic of excitement among collectors. Pokémon card mania continues to captivate fans worldwide, while baseball memorabilias maintain their stalwart appeal. This meeting of the titans is unprecedented and has gotten collectors vibing on a whole new frequency.
Alan Narz, a well-known figure in the card game and the man behind Big League Cards in Casselberry, Florida, wasted no time marveling at this wondrous creation. Instead, he immediately laid down a jaw-dropping $100,000 bounty to claim it. “Our mission has always been to combine sports with Pokémon in the best possible way,” Narz enthusiastically declared. “And now here comes this card that feels like the holy grail of our purpose? We need it.”
It’s perhaps not surprising to see such fervor from Narz, who understands the gravity of this crossover event. Topps has taken bold steps with Pokémon branding before, but this card officially licensed by MLB marks new ground. Bat knob inserts—already a hot ticket item amongst card enthusiasts—are known for delivering the bottom chunk of a player’s bat, now kicking off this latest venture with a Charizard endcap, injecting a new term of “heat” when immersing in collector circles.
Yet, Narz is by no means alone in spotting the unparalleled potential of this collectable marvel. With social media and online marketplaces standing witness, eagle-eyed enthusiasts quickly spotted an Evan Longoria bat featuring a matching Charizard sticker, selling on eBay for less than $1,000. Enter Doug Caskey, co-founder of Mojobreak, a premier breaking powerhouse for buyers and sellers alike. Not one to miss an opportunity, he swiftly snagged the bat for a modest $700. Sharing his triumph online gained fervent attention—not just for the bargain but the crafty stealthiness of the acquisition.
“I’m part of a community with a huge Pokémon following,” explained Caskey. “Not to mention, Longoria has been a fan favorite in the Bay Area for years. It just felt like destiny.” Caskey’s ties to Longoria run deep: when Mojobreak first took off back in 2010, one of the hottest pursuits at the time was Longoria’s elusive 2006 Bowman Chrome Superfractor— a legendary card still chased to this day. “That card became synonymous with our brand,” Caskey recounts. “And now, with this Charizard knob, it’s like the race is on again.”
Wherever the card’s journey takes it, one thing remains clear: this isn’t merely a piece of glossy paper. It’s a moment in time, an emblem of cultural interplay. Whether this card winds up proudly displayed in a Florida shop or nestles in a coveted Bay Area collection, the legend of its existence continues to grow with every breathless collector in tow.
Evan Longoria, the embodiment of the baseball charisma now intertwined with the iconic Charizard, has managed, perhaps unknowingly, to create a phenomenon standing at the crossroads of sports and pop culture. This singular union has not merely amplified the resilience of collector passion but magnificently highlighted what makes the hobby so deeply enjoyable—the endless thrill of the chase escalated to new heights by the unexpected appearances of beloved characters from unrelated spheres coalescing into unprecedented collectibles.
