Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously when signing autographs. The 23-year-old has been including pop culture references and personal opinions on his 2025 rookie baseball cards, and I love every bit of it.
One 2025 Jacob Wilson baseball card from the Topps Pristine Collection caught particular attention when it surfaced with an inscription that’ll make Disney fans smile. Instead of a standard signature, Wilson channeled Lightning McQueen.
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Why This Jacob Wilson Rookie Card Stands Out
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As you can see from the above Instagram post, Wilson signed one of his rookie cards with McQueen’s catchphrase, “Kachow!”
It’s awesome for a number of reasons, but I think what stands out the most is the human aspect of this. Thanks to social media and the way today’s technology works, baseball fans are connected on an intimate level with their favorite players more than ever before.
So, while they’re still put up on a pedestal by many, we get to see much more of their personalities and what makes them tick. Between trade and free-agent rumors, it’s easy to forget that these guys aren’t robots. In fact, they’re just like us, but they also just so happen to be extremely good at playing baseball.
Wilson will also be happy to know that more Cars concepts are coming down the road (pun intended), including an animated series in 2027. However, I’m still hoping for a fourth installment of the movie series, if we’re being honest.
Jacob Wilson’s Greatest Autograph Hits
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The Lightning McQueen quote isn’t Wilson’s only work when it comes to creative inscriptions. Topps Dugout recently showcased a collection of signed cards on Instagram, showing his willingness to engage with fans on topics beyond the diamond.
One autograph allowed Wilson to take a definitive stance on the age-old debate: “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” Another inscription shouted out Fortnite, along with his opinion that video games are educational. Wilson also channeled Yoda on another card.
I love seeing a player having this much fun with autograph opportunities. It builds even more of a connection with fans, and it makes the chase that much more exciting for collectors.
A Breakout Rookie Season Leads to Long-Term Security
Wilson’s entertaining autographs come on the heels of an impressive rookie campaign. He finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting behind teammate Nick Kurtz, 18th in AL MVP Award voting, and went to his first All-Star Game.
Across 523 plate appearances (125 games), Wilson slashed .311/.355/.444 with 13 home runs, 26 doubles, 63 RBI, and 62 runs scored. Although he only drew 27 walks, the right-handed hitter showed off his tremendous contact skills by striking out just 39 times.
After an impressive year like this, the A’s wanted to keep Wilson around for the foreseeable future. Both sides recently agreed to a seven-year, $70 million extension. It will keep him with the organization through the 2032 season, and there’s also a team option for 2033. With this deal signed, Wilson joins similar extensions for Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, and Tyler Soderstrom as the A’s build around a young core ahead of their anticipated arrival in Las Vegas.
What to Expect from 2025 Topps Pristine Baseball
The 2025 Topps Pristine Collection, which features Wilson’s Lightning McQueen autograph, dropped on February 12. The premium chrome product uses its signature pack-within-a-pack format, with each box containing 48 cards spread across six tri-packs.
Collectors should expect two on-card autos and one auto relic per box. The 300-card base set features stars, rookies, and legends on crisp chrome stock with refractor parallels, including new Aqua, Pristine Aqua, and Pristine Primaries editions. Autograph content includes encased Pristine Autos, new Plated & Polished Autos, Italics, Pristine Pair dual autos, and Personal Endorsements.
Wilson appears across multiple parallels and insert sets within Pristine, making him one of the chase rookies in the product alongside fellow 2025 standouts like Dylan Crews and James Wood. His rookie season performance and creative autograph approach have already established him as a must-collect player for both A’s fans and collectors who appreciate personality-driven content.
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