SECAUCUS, N.J.—Seventeen steps, that’s all it takes.
Any visit to MLB Network Studios is an expedition in anticipation, the chance to marvel at the compound’s pristine studios, to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of computing power editing, sorting and sending out baseball morsels across the country, and the very good chance that you just might see a baseball Hall of Famer walking through the building.
But 17 steps past the front lobby’s security desk, a hallway opens on the left. It’s a magical hallway, full of wonder and nostalgia and nostalgia and wonder. Has anyone ever walked through this hallway for the first time without stopping to gawk? It’s a fair question.
From the floor to the ceiling, the entire wall is covered with baseball cards. Beautiful, glorious baseball cards. The wall of cardboard gold has vintage Topps cards dating back to the 1950s—no ’52 Topps Mantles, though—and
