Topps issue fake card of Giuliani celebrating World Series win with Red Sox

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NEW YORK (AP) -Rudy Giuliani, a Boston Red Sox fan?

When Topps baseball cards hit the stores this week it'll appear that way. About one in every 70 packs will include a picture of the former New York City mayor, fist raised in victory, celebrating with the Red Sox on the field after their World Series win.

Yankees fans need not worry, though. Giuliani, a self-professed, die-hard supporter of the Red Sox's chief rival wasn't really there.

But in October, the then-presidential candidate did alienate some New York fans by declaring he was rooting for Boston in the World Series -- "I'm an American league fan," he said -- and Topps ran with the idea.

"We took that and thought it would make for a funny card, since the Red Sox won," said Clay Luraschi, baseball brand manager for The Topps Co. "We thought, let's put him in the championship dog pile."

He said Giuliani's withdrawal from the presidential race didn't dampen his enthusiasm for the card.

Giuliani -- who also appeared, by himself, on a 2004 Topps card -- was not consulted about the new card, Luraschi said. Messages left Tuesday at Giuliani's campaign and work numbers were not immediately returned.

Topps did something similar a year ago, inserting President Bush into the stands and Mickey Mantle into the dugout in the background of Derek Jeter's card.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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