The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.

(Editor note: If you missed my entry on the 2009 Topps blasters, including how to differentiate between the black borders at Wal*Mart and the Grey backs at Target, check it out here. I now return you to your regular programming.)

With apologies to Timbuk3 and their "Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades."



According to Wikipedia (a source that really isn't a source, but hey, it's good enough for today), this song isn't meant to be a happy song about the future...

(The artist) Pat revealed on VH1's "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders" list that
the meaning of the song was widely misinterpreted as a positive perspective in
regard to the near future. Pat somewhat clarified the meaning by stating that it
was, contrary to popular belief, a "grim" outlook. While not saying so directly,
he hinted at the idea that the bright future was in fact due to impending
nuclear holocaust. The "job waiting" after graduation signified the demand for
nuclear scientists to facilitate such events.

What does this future have to do with baseball cards? Behold:


Perhaps Topps was thinking of the same future as Pat in regards to Corey Patterson.

And because I get a kick out of the write-ups on many "Future Star" cards, here's what Topps had to say about Mr. Patterson in 2001:

Patterson's athletic talen is a beautiful thing. He has outstanding speed,
a strong arm and the bat speed to be an offensive force. But what the Cubs
love most is that he has a ballplayer's instincts and the kind of innate skills
to ebcome a star.

Good luck to National's fans, you're going to cringe everytime you see Patterson's name in the lineup.