Hobby Musings: Sarah Tiana A&G Card – One of the cool things about the Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball set each year is the non-baseball subjects in the checklist. It’s an alumni list that has included the likes of Hulk Hogan and Frank Caliendo. For the 2021 set, writer/comedienne Sarah Tiana was one of the people chosen for her own card. I had the chance to catch up with her via email to find out what she thought about being immortalized on cardboard.
KS: What was your reaction to finding out you were receiving a trading card?
ST: I’m still shocked that it happened, I don’t think it ever fully sets in that you will get to be on a baseball card. Growing up as a girl in the south, you don’t exactly think being on a medium played solely by male athletes is in the cards (no pun intended). This was never on my bucket list. It never seemed plausible in much the same way that being invisible isn’t on my bucket list. When they asked me to be a part of it, I thought it would never actually happen. Like eventually they would figure out that I’m not famous enough. I don’t even have a Wikipedia page. So many people have tried to start one for me (mostly in an effort to be able to link me to other Wikipedia pages), but that company has it out for me and they deny every request. It’s laughable at this point. So when Topps asked me to be on a card, I was shocked and excited, but realistically I didn’t think it would ever actually happen.
KS: What did you send Topps for the material they used for your memorabilia card?
ST: I used to sell t-shirts that said “Calhoun Y’all”. That’s my hometown in Georgia where I learned to love the Atlanta Braves and the entire game of baseball. So it seemed fitting that I send them the Calhoun Y’all shirt that I used to wear on stage while performing.
KS: Did you have any input on your bio or the picture Topps used for your card?
ST: Just the picture. I think they sometimes take photos of you, but this all came together during Covid, so that wasn’t in the cards. I wish I had more input on the bio. I would have made it funnier and loaded it with more recent credits. Getting a baseball card made me realize how out of date my website is. This is why I need a Wikipedia page! Haha.
KS: Now that they’re available, are you collecting any of your own cards?
ST: I’ve always collected cards. I buy a lot of old Braves cards at flea markets. And now that I have a son, I look forward to giving him most of my collection. I don’t think it’s at all valuable to anyone but me. I have an old Dale Murphy card that I absolutely treasure, but it definitely wouldn’t get a high score. It’s just one I always had on my dresser growing up, so it’s valuable to me in that respect. My boyfriend Chris Brockman is a big collector, and he has bought me some rookie Freddie Freeman cards with a memorabilia patch, and those are pretty cool.
KS: With Allen & Ginter cards, I find a lot of people get surprised by the autograph requests that come with them. With that in mind, how often have you been asked to sign the card so far?
ST: Quite often. More than I anticipated. I don’t sign them all, because I don’t want the people who pulled an auto to feel any less special. But I’ll sign some if they are in person, and every once in a while I will take a mail request.
KS: If a fan wanted to request your autograph on the card, what would be the best way to go about doing so?
ST: Is this your way of asking me to sign yours??!! Haha. Usually, people DM me on Twitter or Instagram. I usually have them mail the card to the Comedy Store on Sunset, and then I mail it back.
KS: What is the strangest thing anyone has ever asked you to sign?
ST: I have done 13 tours of comedy for the military, and when you are overseas those autograph requests get pretty unusual because those guys don’t have anything practical on them. So, I’ve signed tanks and bombs, lots of undershirts and hats and of course body parts. But nothing scandalous. I’m not that kind of girl.
Hobby Musings: Sarah Tiana A&G Card – More Resources
- Sarah Tiana on Twitter
- 2021 Topps Allen & Ginter
Hobby Musings: Sarah Tiana A&G Card – Shop eBay
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