These Topps Randy Arozarena/Austin Meadows Autographs Weren’t Signed by Randy Arozarena and Austin Meadows
2022 Topps Definitive Collection Baseball is one of the sport’s most expensive products with hobby boxes going for $2,000 or more. Needless to say, there’s plenty of premium content. So much so that an autographed dual relic featuring Randy Arozarena and Austin Meadows doesn’t stand out a lot on the checklist.
However, that’s the card that’s generating the product’s biggest buzz. But not necessarily for the right reasons.
Shortly after the set’s release, collectors pulling the Arozarena/Meadows noticed the signature were off. They don’t look like either of their regular autographs. In fact, the two signatures on the cards in question appear to possibly have been done by the same person.
Fanatics and Topps have released a statement addressing the cards. In it, they acknowledge that the cards don’t look like they’re signed by the Tampa teammates. Topps believes that fewer than 50 cards were impacted. The statement does not give a specific reason for the mistake, although they did suggest it had to do with how they had to change gathering autographs due to the pandemic.
Those that get one of the Dual Autograph Relic Collection cards of Arozarena and Meadows can reach out to Topps customer service. They’re replacing the card with another of equal or greater value as well as sending impacted customers a free box of 2022 Topps Definitive Collection Baseball.
Here’s the full statement that Topps posted to social media:
2022 Topps Definitive Baseball Austin Meadows and Randy Arozarena statement. pic.twitter.com/GjVJjnCs4c
— Topps (@Topps) July 8, 2022
I thought the signing of all Topps autos were witnessed in person to guarantee authenticity?
At least at one point in time they were.
Not a good start to the Fanatics dynasty.
These ‘signed cards’ were returned to the company so that they could be placed in random packs. Are they trying to say that nobody noticed the signatures?! I mean, come on! They are obviously signed by the same person, and somebody overseeing the pack process should have noticed.
Topps is now dead to me…fanatics killed it off.whos going to trust in this now…..
It’s cool that Topps and Fanatics are replacing the card and box… But what they need to do is:
1) Investigate how it happened
2) Reveal the results of the investigation
3) Let collectors know what they are doing to prevent it from happening again
Also, while I’m not a COVID denier, I don’t for a SECOND believe that COVID had ANYTHING to do with this.
The pandemic changed how things were done, ie fewer gatherings of people, employees spread out in different places, etc. It’s not about people being sick but rather processes.
What about the uniform relics? Are they real or are they from some other player? Just asking! How bad does it get?
Ryan, I agree that the pandemic changed the way things are done and understand that it isn’t about people getting sick.
My thoughts that more two years later… Fans are in seats (and have been for two seasons), players are interacting with fans in stadiums (most times, neither are masked), protocols from two years ago are barely in place (if they are in place at all)… And Topps expects us to believe that they can’t aquire an autograph because of COVID?
Nah.
Autographs are often gathered well in advance. It doesn’t excuse the problem but the timeline makes it plausible to help explain some of it.
The funny thing to me is how everyone in the comments are so distraught about this, even going as far as claiming “ topps is dead to me”. I respect the fact that topps and fanatics have taken responsibility and are attempting to correct this mistake because at the end of the day when you have a company as big as topps and fanatics mistakes are bound to happen.
I wouldn’t say that Topps is dead to me, because I like this product. However, I would say that you can’t have these kinds of issues with a 2k per box product that’s considered super premium. That’s the bigger point I think.
@Mike – Mistakes are like trees falling in a forest…it doesn’t happen unless somebody notices. I highly doubt this mistake was first brought to attention by the companies.
I am like the guy said yeah it is all fun and game they are making it right but hek don’t you all think that the least they can do I don’t know about every body else and how people tick but when a mistake is done at my job I make car parts you think everyone is on point ever single day after day get where I am going with this when that problem happens it is a full investigation just like what they should be doing and find just what went wrong I believe the money making that is going on here I would want to know exactly what happened it is pretty clear they got guys just setting around putting on signatures now that is crazy just like I have people at work will just pass the part through knowing it is bad do you know how much work we lost trying to figure it out cause they want stand up and take it on the cheak now people are going to doubt this product and the word is out there and believe me people talk I know for me when I get a signature a auto that is what I want it to be not john doe putting it on there amagine if they didn’t find it and it when on for years are they going to take care of me than theyll know they just going to say I didn’t and they would be nothing I can do I think it is bad if they don’t find the person for doing such I don’t know about every body else but I take a lot of pride in my cards I am glad it didn’t happen to me I know that because I would not been so nice anybody bought some of these boxes it no joke on the price and yeah they have them were you will break even or maybe you might be the lucky one and hit big some one has to but that just blows my mind that they would be a fully investigation I would not stop to I found out you will probably be surprised how done it to people are a snake in the grass good luck to everyone that get it amazing some one even notice you people might need to hire this guy good luck