Topps Ultimate Chase Ticket lets father and son enjoy Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason run

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ roller coaster of a season ended in the National League Championship Series, but the memories of the season — and especially the postseason — will remain for a father-son collecting duo.

Thanks to the Topps Ultimate Chase Ticket, Alan Tavelman and his 14-year-old son, Zach, got tickets to every postseason game for their selected team, the Dodgers, after they found one of 10 tickets inside a box of 2013 Topps. The ticket was good for a signed bat — and then a spot in a drawing to win a postseason pass for a team of their choice, which they won.

“At first my son and I were not sure what it was,” said Alan, 53, of Porter Ranch, Calif. “Then we actually read the ticket and we were very excited and could not believe that we actually had one.”

They attended all home postseason games for the Dodgers this season, though the road trips could have been on the table for them, too, as they had tickets waiting for the NLDS against the Braves and the NLCS against the Cardinals. They opted not to travel.

“The seats were very good seats, and I want to thank Topps for the effort they put in,” he said.  “This has been a fantastic experience which I have been able to share with my son.”

Selecting the Dodgers was an easy choice as they love about 30 minutes from the ballpark.

“I picked the Dodgers because I have been a Dodger fan since my first game in 1965,” he said.

The Ultimate Chase Ticket didn’t take a lot of ripping to find — and it was clear what they were going to do with it.

“Before we got the Ultimate Ticket, I think I purchased two jumbo boxes and two regular boxes from our local card dealer,” he said. “We did not consider selling the ticket.”

So, did they have any previous find as interesting as this inside packs in the past?

“We have had several really nice pulls,” he said.  “A 2010 Topps Chrome Red Refractor Stephen Strasburg autograph numbered to 25, also the 2010 Topps Chrome 1/1 auto printing plate of Strasburg and a 2012 Topps Chrome Bryce Harper Rookie Red Refractor auto and Gold — but nothing like this before.”

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.