Dedicated collector’s custom card hobby becomes option for everyone

It started as a hobby to bring cards that didn’t exist to life — and now it can help bring your legends’ cards into existence.

Tanner Jones is a dedicated Jose Canseco collector who lamented the fact that for years his retired but controversial slugger hadn’t been found on all of the new, creative cards being made — and often not with all of his MLB teams. So he started making cards of his own — and then one day a year ago the idea of his Custom Cuts kits was born.

“I have had so many people ask me ‘How do you do it?’ and I’ve seen the desirability of making your own creations go up significantly,” Jones said. “After thinking about it for a while, I thought to myself people are already acclimated to the thought of cut autos why not cut pictures as well? I played around with the template idea quite a while ago, and then back-burnered it until a few months ago.”

For now, there are just two types of kits available — and they allow buyers a start on making their own cards using their own images or documents, while some have used them to re-purpose components of damaged cards into new creations.

What surprises may be found in 2016 Topps baseball card packs?

An early version of the 2016 Topps Series 1 baseball checklist arrived on Tuesday and that first glimpse offered a few surprises before its arrival on Feb. 3.

But there are also undoubtedly more still to come.

The First Pitch cards showing celebrities making ceremonial appearances? They’re not on the checklist but are confirmed as still coming. There’s no note of variations or short-printed cards for the release — we all know those are coming. They always do.

What else? Keep reading for a rundown of what’s known and notable from the checklist

You can get a Big Papi VISA — but it doesn’t come with a Big Papi limit

Twelve Major League Baseball players have granted their likenesses to be used as part of a prepaid debit card program that lets diehard fans have yet another card of their favorite and lets them show it off every time they make a purchase.

So, in other words, your Big Papi VISA doesn’t come with big-league cash — unless you put it there.

David Ortiz is among the players partnered with the True Stars Fan Club, an MLBPA-approved venture that promises baseball-related rewards and benefits to those who sign up for the program.