Chris Goodman

Scroll through the 1957-58 Topps basketball set and you might not even give him a second look. There’s Bill Russell’s rookie card. Bob Cousy’s, too. Bob Pettit. Paul Arizin. Tom Heinsohn. Frank Ramsey. Cliff Hagan. Neil Johnston? If you’re a serious student of basketball history you might know him. If not, it’s time you did. One of the best scorers in the game during his eight-year career, Johnston’s rookie card is a hidden gem.

Success in the postseason often generates even more buzz for players who have enjoyed tremendous regular seasons. Austin Riley rookie cards and prospect issues have been a target of collectors for a while now, but his heroics on the big stage have fans as well as collectors looking for something tangible related to the Atlanta Braves’ newest star. Riley is quickly becoming a fan favorite, with  “MVP” chants commonplace at Braves home games.

He’s a 5’11 power-packed ball of energy. A Canadian dynamo who enjoyed a breakout season. Does it mean Tyler O’Neill baseball cards will be good long term play? The weights certainly seem stacked in his favor. Especially when you consider his play on the baseball diamond isn’t just about raw power. The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder has already captured the imagination of Redbird Nation with his 414 foot walk-off home run on September 22, 2021.