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Blue Jays fan gets own Topps card after foul ball mishap
Liz McGuire, a devoted Toronto Blue Jays fan, recently experienced a harrowing moment during a game. As the Blue Jays faced off against their opponents, a scorching foul ball off the bat of shortstop Bo Bichette struck her squarely in the face.
The impact was intense, with the ball estimated to be traveling at a blistering 110 mph.
In photos shared on social media, McGuire displayed a baseball-sized lump above her right eye and a dark black eye. Despite the pain, she maintained her sense of humor, joking online that she didn’t even get to keep the ball: "I got my face mashed in … I didn’t even get the ball."
Rather than seeking the actual ball that hit her, McGuire said, "That ball has no joy in it … that's a mean ball.”
But it seems that there is an upside to getting rocked in the face with a foul ball while supporting your favorite team, and McGuire is about to experience it.
In an unexpected turn, McGuire's post garnered some 13 million views, and after being tagged many times by X users, Topps responded with an offer nobody would refuse.
The speed of execution by those at Topps is, well, TOPS!
Not to be outdone, the Toronto Blue Jays, as McGuire confirmed in a post on X, reached out with a signed ball from Bichette, a pair of tickets in the 200 level, and an invite to batting practice.
McGuire says she's hoping to channel public attention into fundraising for a "kids' concussion charity." She will auction off a few of the Topps cards, with a portion of the proceeds going to Holland Bloorview Kids Hospital Concussion Center.
Even after her run-in with a foul ball, McGuire is encouraging people to come out and support the Blue Jays.
"You can get rocked pretty fast, but at the same time it's like wild things happen, you know," she said. "Maybe bring a glove and be ready."
