It doesn’t really matter if you’re into the musical genre or even if you know who Macklemore is, although after he appeared in the 2015 Topps First Pitch subset, you might even if rap isn’t your groove.
What really matters is that director Jason Koenig, Macklemore and partner Ryan Lewis managed to insert Ken Griffey Junior—posing as his 1989 Upper Deck rookie card—into Macklemore’s latest zany video, Downtown.
Kudos to @jkoephoto on the new @Macklemore video. Someone look familiar? #89UpperDeck https://t.co/0wPkmxQP1n pic.twitter.com/LEnH6qalSr
— Gregg Greene (@RealGregg) August 27, 2015
Macklemore, 32, is a huge Seattle sports fan and worked with partner Ryan Lewis on the project.
Some “hip-hop pioneers” like Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel and Foxy Shazam’s Eric Nally also collaborated with Macklemore (real name, Ben Haggerty) on the video, which is the first release from his new record.
The cameo featuring Junior, who was 19 when the iconic card was created and is now 45, is very quick (about 1:40 in if you don’t want to watch it all).
The video was actually shot in Spokane, WA, which is Lewis’ hometown. Griffey Jr. actually makes a couple of other quick cameos in the video, wearing an Afro.
The original photo for Junior’s Upper Deck rookie was actually taken when he was wearing his Bellingham minor league uniform with the logos cropped to make him look like a big leaguer.
Today, a nice, graded minty one can be had for around $40-50.
Related Stories:
1989 Was A Revolutionary Year In Baseball Cards
Editor’s Blog: Focus on Griffey Jr a Huge Opportunity for Hobby
HOF Election Validates Early Faith for Griffey Jr. Collector
Ramblings: No Such Thing as a Sure Thing
2015 Topps Box Break: Fresh Design, Bigger Set
Your 80s Cards May Not Be So ‘Worthless’ After All
