Major League Baseball trading cards have seen their fair share of surprise celebrity appearances, but few have been as delightfully unexpected as The Miz’s debut in the 2025 Topps Series 2 set. The wrestling icon and lifelong enthusiast of all things Cleveland, Mike “The Miz” Mizanin, has now etched his name onto not just WWE memorabilia but also onto the glossy finish of collector’s baseball cards.
The announcement comes following his ceremonial first pitch at a Guardians game at Cleveland’s Progressive Field earlier this year. Minds were blown, mouths dropped, and fans across the WWE universe and baseball diamond united in awe and amusement. But why should anyone be surprised? After all, The Miz is as known for his flair and ability to seize the moment as a hawk is for its keen eyesight.
This particular release isn’t just spinning on the novelty factor—it is a part of Topps’ ongoing tradition. The company has built a strong reputation over the years by capturing these magical first-pitch moments by celebrities and notable athletes, and cemented them in card collections with its recognizable Short Print (SP) series. Given their limited production and unique nature, SP cards tend to fetch higher prices, becoming prized jewels within the card-collecting community. In past years, luminaries like Travis Scott and rising talent Victor Wembanyama threw their ceremonial pitches into this exclusive circle. Even musical heavyweights like Bad Bunny have found themselves immortalized on cardstock, each taking a turn under the floodlights.
The Miz’s addition to this set isn’t just a signature thank-you note to his on-screen showmanship; it serves as a love letter to his roots. Born and bred in Parma, Ohio, Mizanin has always worn his heritage on his heart—and sleeve. His pitch didn’t just sail across the plate in the spirit of fun; it was a symbolic nod to the city that watched him grow from a kid dreaming under the shadow of the Cleveland skyline to a superstar adored by millions. His card depicts that very essence of hometown pride and personal achievement, a narrative that resonates with fans.
A master at balancing the ludicrous with the laudable, The Miz’s career stretches like an elastic band across entertainment mediums. He first stepped into the limelight as an outspoken contestant on MTV’s The Real World, but it was his adventures in the squared circle of professional wrestling where he struck gold. His ability to entertain wrapped in a shroud of over-the-top extravagance has headlined WrestleManias and won over audiences globally. It’s a far cry from your average baseball card narrative, but therein lies the charm; a wrestler with a passion for Cleveland meets America’s favorite pastime—baseball—in a way nobody saw coming.
When the card made its social media premiere, The Miz, typically the epitome of swagger and confidence, found himself in a well of delightful disbelief. “Wait, this is real?! I need this!” he exclaimed, his amusement shared by fans who immediately took to the internet to find a piece of this rare collectible. It instantaneously became a must-have item—like an intricate duel between The Rock and Stone Cold—only this time, it’s confined to a neat rectangle of premium stock paper.
The 2025 Topps Series 2 release has already seen waves of excitement crash onto both memorabilia shelves and online outlets. The product achieved buzz even before it hit the racks—a testament to its all-star lineup and the storytelling woven into each pack. The inclusion of The Miz wasn’t just a marketing ploy, but a narrative thread that tied up fandoms from divergent worlds into a festive bow. Pulling a Short Print of The Miz could soon become not just a game-changing coup in card circles, but a moment collectible aficionados recount in joyful chatter at conventions and forums for years to come.
As collectors eagerly rip open packs, the hope of finding their holy grail—a mint condition Miz SP card—echoes through the retail corridors and virtual aisles alike. Whether you’re a fan of the Cleveland Guardians or a dedicated follower of The Miz’s escapades, this card finds a harmonious intersection between two distinct, yet unexpectedly complementary, archipelagos of fandom.
