Nostalgia has long been a big draw for Topps Archives Baseball. From retro designs to mixing past and present players, the product has found its place by channeling several eras in one go. So no matter when you have your fondest collecting memories, chances are there's the tinge for your "good ole' days."
However, instead of relying on big names from the past, Archives often opts for local favs. These are the players who might not have put up the biggest numbers but earned their way into peoples' hearts through their gritty play, being community minded or were simply fun and entertaining.
Here are five such players on the 2025 Topps Archives Baseball Fan Favorites Autographs checklist who not only endeared themselves locally, but either don't have a lot of signed cards, haven't signed much lately or are featured on more obscure teams from their careers.
Taken as a whole, Kenny Lofton autograph cards can't really be considered rare. He's not a wildly common signer, but he has been pretty dependable over the years.
What is rare is Kenny Lofton Los Angeles Dodgers autographs. His signature has only appeared in four products as a member of the team prior to 2025 Archives: 2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary, 2024 Topps Chrome Black, 2024 Topps Five Star, and 2024 Topps Tribute.
Lofton spent just one season with the West Coast team in 2006. Despite pushing 40, he still managed to hit .301 and steal 32 bases, his most since 1998.
Expect Lofton's name to come up regularly over the next couple of years as the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee considers him for induction into the Hall of Fame.
One person who won't be up for Cooperstown discussions is Munenori Kawasaki. The Japanese infielder will probably be the first to tell you. In five major league seasons, Kawasaki hit just .237. He has the same career home run total as Bartolo Colon.
Toronto fans were forgiving of Kawasaki's numbers, though, because of his hustle and hard work on game day.
He also managed to get significant TV time, but not because of his play. Kawasaki's interviews were often hilarious thanks to his infectious personality. A decade since his last game for the Jays, YouTube can back this up.
Prior to 2025 Topps Archives Baseball, the only cards with his signature were in 2013 Topps Supreme Baseball.
Cal's younger brother, Billy Ripken spent a dozen years in the majors. However, among collectors, he's known more for a certain baseball card than his .247 career batting average.
In 1989, he was at the center of a controversy thanks to a couple of words scribbled on the bottom of his bat on his 1989 Fleer card. Some parents got angry but most everyone else thought it was hilarious. The 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken remains one of the most famous baseball cards of not just the 1980s, but all-time.
Between his career ending just as autographs were starting to become common place and his lack of star power, Ripken's signature has only appeared in a handful of MLB-licensed sets.
Before Trout, the Angels had Salmon.
Tim Salmon is one of the best players to ever suit up for the Angels. He spent is entire career with the team, playing in 14 seasons between 1992 and 2006.
He was among the hobby's hottest players during his first full season in the majors in 1993, hitting 31 home runs and driving in 95. He was named American League Rookie of the Year at season's end.
Salmon retired with 299 career homers, a team record that stood until 2020 when Mike Trout broke it.
Perhaps Salmon's strangest stat is the fact that he was never an All-Star. He might not have been Cooperstown material but he was certainly a strong outfielder, consistently putting up Hall of Very Good type numbers.
While not the rarest autograph on this list, Salmon's signature hasn't appeared in many products in recent years. It wasn't until 2025 Topps Series 1 Baseball that collectors could finally catch a fishy dual autograph with him and Trout.
2025 Topps Archives Baseball is only the third Topps product with Frank White's signature.
A key member of the Kansas City Royals' 1985 World Series squad, White was a five-time All-Star. He also won eight total Gold Gloves including six straight from 1977 through 1982.
While known primarily for his fielding, White earned Silver Slugger honors in 1986 after hitting 22 home runs to go with a career-high 84 RBI.
White will forever have a place in Kansas City history as the team has retired his number 20, put a bronze statue of him outside their stadium and placed him in the Royals Hall of Fame.
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