Father & Sons Pull Iconic 1959 Topps Bob Gibson Rookie Card

Iconic Topps Buyback is a Pull to Remember at Ace Sports Cards

The 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball release is already delivering unforgettable moments. At Ace Sports Cards in Holland, Michigan, that moment came when a father and his two sons realized the redemption card in their hands represented one of the 75 most iconic Topps cards, the 1959 Topps Bob Gibson.

What is the Iconic Topps Buybacks Program?

As part of Topps Baseball’s 75th Anniversary celebration, a panel of Hobby experts debated and created the top 75 Topps Baseball cards of all time. Select cards from this list make up the Iconic Topps Buybacks program. Collectors can pull these redemption cards and redeem them for a graded original. The program runs across Series 1, Series 2, and Update Series, extending the chase throughout the 2026 Topps Baseball calendar.

A Rip Fit For Rip Night

“The whole event was super fun,” said Dave. “Cool to see a bunch of other parents there with their kids. So we got a box, but we didn’t get a ton out of it. Of course, my kids talk me into another box. First, we pulled a Heavy Lumber Roman Anthony, pretty awesome card.”

Dave’s youngest, Hudson, 13, pulled the big one. “My brother and dad are there opening packs, I was just like, hey, I want to open one too. You’re never expecting it, but ya I got the Gibson – it was very cool.”

First, Hudson told his dad and brother he’d gotten a redemption card. His older brother Mason said, “We couldn’t see at first, so it was like, well, what’s the redemption? Hudson says, ‘1959 Bob Gibson.’ I didn’t really understand right away what a big moment it was. But I had read about these cards going into the set, that these were the big chases. So when he read that off, my mind was blown.”

Hudson didn’t know who Bob Gibson was at first. “My dad told me about him, and it was just awesome.” Dave relayed, “Hudson was so proud, he put it in a case and wanted to show his friends at school. He’s a very humble kid, but this excitement was too much for him not to share. The redemption card means something beyond the value of the Bob Gibson card; it made Hudson feel really special. I think this is why The Hobby goes far beyond just the cards.”

Passing Down a Tradition

Of course, it’s these stories, the passing down of legends of sport and The Hobby, of legacies and cards, that remain such a huge part of the appeal for so many people who collect. Dave himself got into The Hobby as a kid. “My dad was the one who really got me in. My friends and I loved sports cards; we’d get our packs – some of them still had gum in them at that point. My dad was generous enough to buy some boxes, so we could really get into it. But I hadn’t been into cards for the longest time, and then my kids started getting interested.”

Mason, 15, explains how it happened. “I started looking at dad’s collection, asking him about it, and I just thought, this stuff is really cool. So we got a couple boxes here and there, it was so fun, dad got back into it – there’s just nothing like ripping packs.”

Dave’s collection kicked off the family getting into The Hobby. “It gets everyone excited, looking through boxes, old binders, stuff like that – we’re a huge sports family, we watch a ton.”

To Hold or to Trade – The Family Debate

Dave, Mason, and Hudson are all avid collectors, mainly across baseball, football, and basketball. The boys, particularly Mason, love to collect basketball cards and are currently chasing Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel from a loaded rookie class. Hudson, who pulled the Gibson from a Series 1 Baseball pack, loves to hunt for Nick Kurtz cards.

Mason explained, “We chase a lot of Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. I collect football, baseball, and basketball, but I probably like basketball the most. I loved the new Topps Chrome release, and it’s so fun to chase the big rookies.”

While they know the Gibson card is truly special, a program like this, in which any collector from any generation can pull a Grail from Hobby history, sparks plenty of debate. While dad Dave has given plenty of thought to keeping the card, he and his sons know it could eventually be traded, used to help expand the family’s collections.

“I knew the Mantle was a huge chase, but it was Mason who told me there were these other cards in the release,” said Dave. “We’ve talked about going to The National for the first time, maybe bringing the card there. That would be fun.”

Ace Sports Cards’ Rip Night to Remember

Ace Sports Cards is a Hobby Shop in Holland, Michigan. Ace Sports Cards’ Bryan Huisman explained, “It’s such a great community in western Michigan on the lake. The shop itself operated for 12 years before I bought it four years ago. We offer sports and non-sports collectors a great place to buy boxes, packs, and singles, as well as supplies. A warm and family-friendly atmosphere – TVs playing sports, several tables, and a sofa to relax and rip some packs.”

It was a Rip Night to remember for Bryan and Ace Sports Cards. “Seeing a customer hit a big card is what it’s all about, especially when it’s a kid. It was amazing to see Dave and his sons hit the Gibson. I know the family, very good people, great customers. Dave had just told me he wanted another box because he has so much fun collecting with his sons, and then, bam, they hit the Gibson!”

While not every box comes with the classic 1959 Gibson rookie card, the community of a shop like Ace Sports Cards, events that bring them all together, and the thrill of the chase, help bring The Hobby to life. With a dad and his kids pulling such a huge card, it’s a reminder of the fun of engaging and inspiring the next generation of collectors.

For them, and any new collector, Bryan has some advice: “Start with what you know and love. Collect your favorite players.” For veterans, shop owners and employees, Huisman said, “Ask what got someone new into The Hobby, what they like so far, what they are looking for, whether it’s collecting a PC, the excitement of opening packs, investing in cards – or maybe all of the above.” 

Iconic Topps Buybacks FAQs

• What is the Iconic Topps Buyback Redemption Program?
  • It’s a redemption-card chase in 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball that awards collectors select “buyback” cards tied to Topps Baseball’s 75th Anniversary, featuring some of the most iconic names and vintage-era grails in the Hobby.
• How does a buyback redemption work?
  • Instead of pulling the card directly, collectors pull a redemption card that can be redeemed for the stated card.
• Is the buyback program only in 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball?
  • No. This program is designed to be spread across 2026 Topps Series 1, Series 2, and Update Series during the year.
• What buyback redemption was pulled in this story?
  • At Ace Sports Cards during Topps Rip Night, a father and his sons pulled a redemption for a 1959 Bob Gibson rookie card.

Key Facts

• Product: 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball
• Big Chase Feature: Iconic Topps Buybacks
• Program Scope: Inserted across Series 1, Series 2, and Update Series
• Shop Featured: Ace Sports Cards in Holland, Michigan)
• Pull Highlight: A family pulled a 1959 Topps Baseball Bob Gibson rookie card Iconic Topps Buybacks redemption card during Topps Rip Night

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