Topps Tribute Contest Finalists and Grand Prize Winner Announcement!

Thanks to all those who participated in the contest and for the awesome entries! Below we list the Top 5 Written Entries, Top 5 Mock Cards Entries, Best Written Entry, Best Mock Entry, and the Grand Prize Winner. Everyone who finished in the Top 10 wins Free Cards with the Grand Prize winner will recieve the free box of 2010 Topps Tribute!

DYLAN EDWARDS

1. Roberto Clemente trying to help Nicaragua- dies after hit #3000
   this is one of the kindest players in history. He played baseball with pride and always helped the kids in Pittsburg, so when he dies after 3000 hits trying to help his country,  we should remember his efforts, as a tribute to baseball
2. Hank Aaron hitting #715
   this broke the great bambino's legendary record and changed baseball forever
3. Jackie Robinson signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers
   This historic baseball moment broke the color barrier and paved the way for other heroes like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Without this baseball would be a totally different sport.

KAITLYN JOSEPH

1. Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th home run, which was better than doped up A-rod. Griffey has done everything clean so far as anyone can see, so this stands out as a huge accomplishment. he is one of the most liked andloved guys around the league and that says a lot about his character. His 600th home run is definitely a defining moment of baseball and one of my favorites.
2. Dallas Braden pitching a no hitter/perfect game with his grandmother in the stands after his mom had passed away. He was basically a no name pitcher from Oakland until that day, and what a better way to honor his mom on mothers day than to pitch a perfect game?
3. Mike Schmidt hit four home runs in one game against the Cubs, April 17, 1976. There have only been 15 men to reach this accomplishment. Not only did Schmidt have four home runs but the Phillies beat the Cubs 18-16. Four home runs in such a high scoring game and to pull off the win definitely deserves a tribute!

BRANDON ZOCH

1. Lou Gehrig's farewell speech...this speech captivated a nation and showed people that baseball was more than a game.  He displayed that baseball was a lifestyle and he forced tears from many Americans as he gave his passionate farewell speech...I would have a 3 piece foldout booklet, with a cut auto on the far left piece, a jumbo patch from the Yankees logo in the middle piece, and a unique memorabilia piece on the right part, such as an enclosed case built in the card with game used dirt from sometime that season.
2. Bill Mazeroski stuns the Yankees...I think this is a tribute to baseball because it shows anything is possible in this game. The Yankees dominated the World Series that year, but the Pirates were still able to come up with 3 scrappy wins.  Then in game 7 in the bottom of the ninth it was a tie game and scrawny second baseman Bill Mazeroski took down one of the greatest teams in MLB history with one swing of the bat...On the card I would have a game used bat knob from that season and make it numbered to 5.
3. Henry Aaron's 715th homerun...This is a tribute to baseball because it shows how blacks persevered through the toughest of times, and how a black man did the impossible and overtook the greatest player in the history of the game for the most career homeruns...I would make the card a booklet 1/1 with Ruth on the left with a cut auto and '714' in bat pieces
   and Aaron on the right with a cut auto and '715' in bat pieces.

JAMES JEANSONNE

1. Branch Rickey/Jackie Robinson Autograph card with a piece of Ebbets Field. 
2. Fred Merkle/Johnny Evers Autograph card with a piece of the Polo Grounds
3. Babe Ruth/Harry Frazee card with a piece of Yankee Stadium or playbill from
   "No, No, Nanette".

COLBY STRATTEN

1. *September 21, 2001* -On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States and left a feeling of shock and sadness throughout the country. After these attacks, Bud Selig temporarily delayed the MLB season. It was on September 17, 2001 that baseball resumed play. On September 21, 2001, however, the first game in New York (since the attacks) was played. It was an emotional night at Shea Stadium. Even though the Mets beat the Braves in a very close game, that is not what was important. What was important was the uplifting of spirits throughout the country, and that is exactly what this game did.
2. *April 15, 1947* - April 15, 1947 is the date that Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color line. This date shows the greatness of the MLB because it shows that it doesn't matter what skin color you are or where you are from, all that matters is whether you can play the game of baseball.
3. *October 15, 1988* - On October 15, 1988, Game 1 of the 1988 World Series was played. It was during this game that Kirk Gibson hit his famous pinch-hit, walk-off home run. What made this home run so special is that both of Gibson's legs were injured and he had a stomach virus. It was a moment that shows the pure magic of the game.

"I think historic sporting events are captured best by the person who makes the call. When Jack Buck died, I was a little frustrated that the talking heads kept talking about his call of Kirk Gibson's home-run. People seem to forget his "We'll See Ya Tomorrow Night!" call of Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. Being the die-hard Twins fan that I am, I created a card to commemorate that call. I call it "The Catch....The Call", and it highlights Puckett's amazing catch that may have saved the game at the time, and of course the game winning homerun. And what card wouldn't be complete without the autographs of Kirby Puckett and Jack Buck?" - MIKE GEE

"On behalf of my father, Ray Lending, who is an illustrator, I'm sending you scans of a special accordion fold baseball card that he designed and illustrated. I think this is a very unique approach to designing baseball cards and I've never seen anything like it. We've scanned the front panel, rear panel, and the panels in between. I hope this accurately represents how the accordion cards unfold into one long beautiful panel."  - TOD LENDING

"Probably not a moment any one thinks of but me. Harry Kalas was choking back tears when they came back to the broadcast as he exclaimed 'I have never been more proud to be a part of this organization'. It's one of those moments that makes baseball the greatest game." - DREW DAVIS

"Growing up, my father told me stories of his childhood in New York City. One of the thrills for him was having two stadiums just across the river from each other. This card is not only a tribute to these exceptional players, it is also a tribute to my father. My Dad introduced me to card collecting. It was something we did together. I would look forward to his arrival home from work as he always seemed to have a pack of cards for us to open. This is one card we would have loved to pull. I call this card the "All Wood" edition. A tribute to Mantle and Mays in 1955, leading their leagues in Home Runs while playing in stadiums that were within view of each other. This "Three fold" card includes authentic game used bats and authentic pieces of the seats that spectators, including my father, sat in to watch these sluggers. Thank you for this fun contest and for allowing me to pay tribute to my father." - IAN TOPOROFF

IAN TOPOROFF- Winner of a box of 2010 Topps Tribute Baseball!

BRANDON ZOCH - Winner of Free Cards For Finishing In Top 10 + Bonus Cards for best written entry!

(2nd best Mock Card, as Grand Prize Winner Ian Toporoff is getting the ultimate prize)
TRAVIS C. PETERSON - Winner of Free Cards For Finishing In Top 10 + Bonus Cards for 2nd Best Mock Card Entry!

For those who finished in the Top 10, send your mailing address to contests@cardboardconnection.com to recieve your prize.  Please send them from the same e-mail address through which you submitted your entry so that we can assure it's you. Also feel free to let us know your favorite players or who you collect. If you didn't win, don't worry as there will be plenty more cardboard connection reader contests in the future!

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

2010 Topps Tribute Troy Tulowitzki Auto Autograph Dual Bat #43 50 $35.00

2010 Topps Tribute STEPHEN STRASBURG Relics AUTOGRAPH # 99 RC BGS 9 auto 10 $150.00

2010 TOPPS TRIBUTE RYAN ZIMMERMAN AUTO JERSEY #D 99 NATIONALS $18.99

2010 Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox Topps Tribute Auto'd Bat Card 69 99 BGS 8.5 $100.00

2010 Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox Topps Tribute Auto'd Bat Card 35 75 BGS 9 $100.00

TOMMY HANSON - 2010 Topps Tribute GOLD AUTO & DUAL JERSEY #13 25 $32.99

2010 Topps Tribute * TROY TULOWITZKI GOLD REFRACTOR GAME-USED BAT AUTO 25 $8.50

2010 Topps Tribute HANLEY RAMIREZ Gold Auto Dual Bat - 18 25 $30.00