Picture this: A couple enjoying a quintessential American day-out with family at the amusement park. They’ve had their fill of scream-inducing roller coasters, sugar-drenched snacks, and the delightful chaos that can only be found in a swarm of kids hyped up on cotton candy. It’s the kind of day that soon softens into a fluffy core in memories. Michael Amos and his wife were wrapping up such a day, driving back home when the blinking fluorescent sign of a Meijer store announced its presence like a siren call on a quiet road in Ohio.
After a day packed with what Michael and his wife might have labeled ‘usual fun’, making a detour to the store was an unplanned affair, the sort of impromptu decision many of us make. Maybe they needed to restock on a few mundane necessities forgotten amidst the whirl of their day. Or perhaps it was just a need for a quiet moment of wandering the aisles, away from the pleasant but exhausting racket of an amusement park.
Whatever drew them to that particular Meijer on that day wasn’t as magical as what lay in wait for them within the store’s nondescript trading card section. It was there that Michael, in a whim of curiosity—probably inspired by a glint of nostalgia or the allure of mystery—decided to snag a mystery power box. Let’s be honest, many of us have done this. It’s a small thrill, the Schrödinger’s cat of purchases—you never know whether you’re holding something mundane or extraordinary until you tear off the wrapper.
Tucked inside, amidst the shiny foils and colorful cardstock of the packs, was a card that immediately leapt out with the brash flamboyance often seen in Hollywood discoveries, glittering at the edge of imagination. Michael had stumbled upon a 2023 Bowman card. Before you think it’s just another run-of-the-mill trading card, consider this: it was a one-of-a-kind, 1-of-1 Elly De La Cruz rookie card—an absolute unicorn in the trading card universe, if there ever was one.
Elly De La Cruz, a name that ripples affectionately among the aficionados of America’s beloved pastime, plays as an electrifying young infielder for the Cincinnati Reds. To say he has fans would be an understatement—Elly attracts devoted admirers like gum to baseball cleats. The young star’s journey from a promising prospect to an awe-inspiring player only magnifies the allure surrounding his name. When Michael clutched this card, it was not just a fortunate discovery; it was equivalent to pulling the rabbit out of the hat, an act of cosmic luck mixed with sheer spontaneity.
For the uninitiated, the significance of a ‘1-of-1’ card is practically a mythic declaration. It’s the trading card world’s equivalent of a winning lottery ticket, albeit one adorned with the shine of an irreplaceable keepsake rather than cold hard cash. This specific card, sparkling against the mundane backdrop of an Ohio store, was singular not just because of its rarity, but because Elly plays for a local Ohio team. There’s a particular pride in pulling a card that resonates with local heritage—a serendipitous nod from the universe to Michael’s Ohio roots.
As of now, the precise monetary value of this card remains unknown. Trading cards, much like stocks or art, often do not come with a fixed worth until the market decides to place one. But really, what value can you place on such singularity? The card’s worth today, at this moment in time, is etched in the story it holds, the narrative of chance and wonder Michael and his wife will share when recounting this day. It’s a tale of happenstance—of how a regular stop, dictated by neither destiny nor design, culminated in this personal treasure.
Days like Michael’s remind every collector, casual or hard-core, that life, in all its ordinary acts, hides sporadic sparks of extraordinary. It augurs to us all that magic can still be found in everyday pursuits—the trading card aisle isn’t just a remnant of the past but a hopeful arena for discoveries waiting to be unearthed.
And so, Michael and his wife walked out of Meijer that day, far richer in experience and story than they could’ve imagined. As with the closing refrain of a good book, the display of common days turned spectacular will serve as a warm reminder of this unassuming giant named baseball—a sliver of magic encased in cardboard, bridging past and future, local pride and universal thrill.
