Does this 1994 Topps card actually exist?
 

The card featured in this 1994 Topps magazine ad is NOT the 1994 Topps regular issue card of Mike Piazza.

So, my question is......
Does the card featured in the ad actually exist? (I can't find it.)

Could just be a mockup. Looks like it was a photo-shoot intentionally for the magazine and not an action shot from a game. Piazza wasn't included in the 1994 Pre-Production set.

Would have made for a sweet card.

The expression on his face doesn't come close to being realistic for the situation (I won't even mention the lack of a haze of dirt from the supposed slide) and it is high definition without any movement of his features at all. Clearly, a posed shot. Plus, if you look at the pic of the card itself, the head (and the lighting) doesn't seem to fit with the body. They either photoshopped the heck out of a 'real' posed photo or had an 'action shot' picture of someone sliding into home, and popped Piazza's head onto the catcher.

It's also humorous that the runner appears to be safe, under the tag of Piazza. But that's staged because then both players fill up the frame. Surprised Piazza let them take it when it looks like he's being scored on... ;-)

Well, the ad does claim that the cards have "pictures that tell the whole story." Maybe that's why he's got that look on his face...

The real question is who's the Cardinal player that's safe at the plate? ;)

Higher res picture needed, but my guess is an actor.

I think the number is #24, which was unused in 1993.

It looks like they simply took the larger, obviously posed photo and photoshopped it onto the "action" shot. Rather clumsily, from the look....I've seen internet memes with better cut and paste work.

I don't think that was all that uncommon to see a card pictured in an ad that was never made. I remember seeking the 1993 UD gold bordered Frank Thomas 5th anniversary insert card I saw in a trade publication ad until I finally realized it did not exist. It was black bordered like the rest of the set, not gold. The ad lied to us!

It's not just ads.

This giant-size Pete Alonso card was used at Citi Field as part of the starting lineup display at the top of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda behind home plate. Thing is, at the time this photo was taken (4/4/19, the Mets' home opener), Alonso didn't have a Topps card. He didn't get one until Series 2, and the image used on that card was not the one used here.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...51ab601a_b.jpg

This is Pete Alonso's actual genuine real 2019 Topps card (#475).

https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/2019...f8fc&size=zoom

Great observation, Gary.