Naturally, when thinking of the world’s biggest bamboozle, the name Bernie Madoff comes to mind. That’s why this year’s Topps Allen & Ginter edition will feature the infamous con man on his very own trading card.

For those not familiar, the annual Topps Allen & Ginter release features cards in the throwback design of the first trading cards created by the Allen & Ginter tobacco company back in the 1800s. The cards feature some professional athletes, as well as other random cards of prominence.

The Topps 2009 Allen & Ginter release will feature, in addition to baseball players & DNA relics, a collection of cards based on the theme the “world’s biggest hoaxes, hoodwinks and bamboozles,” hence the reason for Madoff’s inclusion. Other cards in the set include Charles Ponzi and Enron.

The inclusion of Bernie Madoff is not one without controversy.

One collector said, “I think if I pull a Bernie Madoff card it will be getting burned or shredded.” His fellow collectors of course fully support anything that makes their cards worth more.

“I was pretty appalled when I found out about the Bernie Madoff card too, but they’ve had Jesse James and Jack the Ripper in previous sets so I guess Bernie is the designated scumbag criminal for this year’s set, ” said another.

There is definitely no shortage of scumbags around these days.

But if Topps is looking for additional ideas in the category of “world’s biggest hoaxes, hoodwinks and bamboozles,” they also might want to take a look back at their Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens cards over the years.

Bernie Madoff on a baseball card [Fortune]

Like this post? Subscribe to our RSS feed or get Sports Rubbish in your inbox every day!

• Cranky Neighbor Keeps Football, Bites Parent’s Lips
• Daily Rubbish: May 15, 2009
• Today should be a national holiday
• World’s Worst Goalie Laments From Hungarian Jail That He Can’t Watch NHL Games
• Soccer Player Breaks Referee’s Jaw