Val Majewski, 2005 Topps Cracker Jack #177

Congratulations are in order for Val Majewski, manager Andy Etchebarren, catcher Osvaldo Martinez, and the rest of the 2011 Atlantic League Champion York Revolution! The Revs outlasted the Lancaster Barnstormers in the divisional round and rallied from a Game One loss to take three in a row from the Long Island Ducks in wrapping up the championship. It's the second straight league title for York. Majewski played 71 games for the Revolution this year, hitting .317 with a .399 on-base percentage, 11 home runs, and 48 RBI. Val drove in runs in each of the team's three championship round wins, including a two-run home run in their Game Two victory. At age 30, it's not likely that he will make it back to the major leagues, but it's good to see him still pursuing the dream.

Sammy Sosa, 2005 Topps Cracker Jack #105

Since I didn't post early enough in the day to have an honest shot at making an April Fool of anyone, instead I give you Sammy Sosa. After all, he was baseball's cruel joke on the Baltimore Orioles and their fans. This card is something of a bad joke in itself. With Sammy being traded to the Birds in February, Topps put their finest Photoshoppers to work on an accurate facsimile of the Dominican slugger in his new uniform.

Then, Topps apparently found out that their finest Photoshoppers were on vacation that week, and passed the task along to some overmatched intern. That's the only explanation for this laughable picture. The bird logo on the helmet is too small. The "Fun Bird" sleeve patch was not worn after 2003 (sloppy research, guys). But the most glaring inconsistency is the rounded numerical font that has never been used by the O's, but just happened to be the Cubs' style.

I vacillate back and forth on the question of how to depict players who changed teams in the offseason. I always thought it was a cop-out to have a player pictured in his old team's uniform but identified as a member of the new team. But I'd certainly prefer that to a hack-job piece of faux art like this one.