Grand Prairie Man Who Won A Baseball Card Contest From 1957 Goes To The World Series

A Grand Prairie man, who received a Louisville Slugger glove nearly 60 years after a bubble gum and baseball card contest, got another sweet deal from the candy company.

Darwin Day attended the World Series in Cleveland, courtesy of Topps Confectionery Brands. The 70-year-old baseball fan and Topps executive Tony Jacobs became friends via email and text after Day recently claimed a prize from a 1950s Bazooka Joe baseball card contest, the Dallas Morning News reports.

The Morning News first told the baseball fan’s heartwarming story in September and it gained national attention.

Back in February, Day had to return to Virginia to clean his brother’s home after his only sibling’s death from cancer. The housecleaning was so time-consuming and strenuous, Day took it upon himself to deep clean his own home to save his loved ones the trouble later on, according to The New York Times.

During the cleanup, he found his old baseball cards from the late 1950s. Back then, he rooted for the Yankees. Now, he’s a Rangers fan. He even gives tours at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

In one pack was a contest card sponsored byBazooka Joe offering three different prizes, including a Spalding fielder’s glove. Entrants had to predict the scores of two games to be played on July 19, 1957 and include five Bazooka gum wrappers “or reasonable facsimiles,” according to the contest.

Entries were due by July 11. But the contest said nothing about what year they were due. That loophole, Day's belated efforts, plus some leniency on Jacobs' part won the longtime baseball fan the contest — 59 years later.

The friends pledged to get together. Jacobs called Day and the pair met in Cleveland Wednesday for Game 2 of the World Series, which the Cubs won 5-1.

According to the Morning News, Jacobs is going to take Day up on his offer to tour the home of the Rangers.

The Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times contributed to this report.