He collected for years, focusing on his Tigers, building team sets every time the new Topps cards were released. He fell off from active collecting around 1991, but he hung onto his cards, and when he moved to Phoenix in 2003, his collection — stored in an unassuming series of cardboard boxes — came with him.

Topps’ debut patch cards, which are autographed and contain a patch from the jersey from the player’s first MLB game, have captured the attention of some young major leaguers — even the ones with little previous interest in baseball cards — and longtime collectors. The patches are even part of this year’s MLB The Show video game.

Cam Booser's bumpy road to the major leagues included arm and back injuries, along with a stint as a carpenter in his native Seattle. Such an unlikely