Thursday, November 28, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving
Gobble, gobble
Here is my 2018 Bowman Holiday Turkey Foil parallel.
It is numbered to only 35 copies.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
R.I.P. Vera Clemente
The sports world lost one of the greatest humanitarian of the game nearly a half century ago when Roberto Clemente plane crashed while delivering supplies to Nicaragua.
This week, the great one's widow, Vera Clemente passed away.
Since Roberto's passing, Vera has been a constant by giving the award named after her late husband to the player who best exemplifies baseball, community, and sportsmanship each year.
The Pirates have had only two recipients win the award. Clemente's former team mate, Willie Stargell (1979) and Andrew McCutchen (2015).
I have shown a bunch of cards of Cutch with Clemente on this blog in the past.
Back in 2015, Cutch and the Pirates were supposed to play the Miami Marlins in Puerto Rico on Roberto Clemente day.
Unfortunately (and fortunately for the players) due to a deadly mosquito virus the series was cancelled.
On multiple occasions Topps has even mirrored Cutch's Topps Heritage numbering to that of Roberto Clemente which I have shown in my Heritage Comparison segments. (I should get back to doing them as they were a lot of fun to research).
Roberto had a quote and I think he would be very proud of his wife for carrying on his work after his life was tragically cut short.
Thank you Roberto.
Thank you Vera.
You have made a difference in this World.
This week, the great one's widow, Vera Clemente passed away.
Since Roberto's passing, Vera has been a constant by giving the award named after her late husband to the player who best exemplifies baseball, community, and sportsmanship each year.
The Pirates have had only two recipients win the award. Clemente's former team mate, Willie Stargell (1979) and Andrew McCutchen (2015).
I have shown a bunch of cards of Cutch with Clemente on this blog in the past.
Unfortunately (and fortunately for the players) due to a deadly mosquito virus the series was cancelled.
On multiple occasions Topps has even mirrored Cutch's Topps Heritage numbering to that of Roberto Clemente which I have shown in my Heritage Comparison segments. (I should get back to doing them as they were a lot of fun to research).
Roberto had a quote and I think he would be very proud of his wife for carrying on his work after his life was tragically cut short.
Thank you Vera.
You have made a difference in this World.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
The Living Set
Mayumi Seto. Her name appeared on this blog about two years ago when I got my 2,000th unique Andrew McCutchen card. You can revisit that post here. Since then I've added another 500+ cards to the collection.
Mayumi is most famous for being the artist of Topps The Living Set
As noted a few years ago she also worked on Topps Gallery in 2017.
I purchased the original art used to produce the retail exclusive set.
This is one of three original art production cards I own. Below you can see the card produced from the original artwork above.
There is a few more of these originals out there and I am trying to negotiate to get a 4th.
Mayumi is most famous for being the artist of Topps The Living Set
As noted a few years ago she also worked on Topps Gallery in 2017.
I purchased the original art used to produce the retail exclusive set.
This is one of three original art production cards I own. Below you can see the card produced from the original artwork above.
There is a few more of these originals out there and I am trying to negotiate to get a 4th.
Monday, November 18, 2019
A Different Kind of Junk Wax Era?
My first baseball cards I collected as a kid were 1987 Topps.
Cutch's rookie season was 2009. He made his debut early June of that year and according to the Trading Card Database he had 123 cards produced that year by Topps, Bowman, Tristar, Upper Deck, and Choice (minor league team sets). I have 64 cards from that debut season and am missing only cards /50 or less. At the time of Cutch's call up he was a top 15 prospect in baseball.
The consensus top prospect in baseball heading into this season is Vladamir Guerrero Jr. He has had 579 cards produced PRIOR to the year of his debut according to TCDB. So far in 2019, his rookie year MLB debut, he has had 1,495 cards produced. With a month left in the year, it is very possible to see that number grow more as it has tripled since June thanks to the release of more Topps Now, Heritage High Number, Topps Update, Bowman Draft and Prospects, and many more high end sets produced. With the hype surrounding Vlad Jr prior to the season, it is no surprise to see card numbers like that produced. Is anyone else alarmed by this?
Let's look at another rookie who has made their MLB debut this year. Since Cutch wasn't a top 10 prospect and didn't win Rookie of Year in his debut season, let's look at a similar resume player. Pete Alonso is the NL Rookie of Year winner so I am going to look at Austin Riley, outfielder/3rd baseman for the Atlanta Braves. Similar to Vlad Jr he will have another few cards released since appearing in Update, Heritage, BDP, and Now cards prior to year's end. He currently already has 483 cards produced for this year.
The most popular shortstop of 1987 when I began collecting was Cal Ripken Jr. He had 60 cards produced that year with brands Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Classic, Sportflics, and many local/food releases providing those quantities.
A rookie shortstop who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, Barry Larkin, had only 16 cards produced that year.
Kevin Newman, a Pirates rookie shortstop, was having a great year at the plate but would hardly be considered the best at his position in the game despite finishing in the top 10 for the NL batting title. He already has had 492 cards produced this year. That doesn't even include the buyback autos for this year's Archives Signature Series Active Player collection.
With all of the parallels being produced in each new release, it feels like we are entering a new Junk Wax Era. The presses aren't working overtime like they were in the 80s and 90s just pumping out more and more base cards, but for our small niche hobby we collect there are more cards to collect of a player than ever before.
Here are some of my favorite late 80s and early 90s junk wax era themed cards.
1/1 Superfractors are awesome. Getting one with the 1989 design is doubly awesome.
1989 is a favorite design of mine. I love the simplicity of the set. This Patch card is extremely tough to find.
1993 Topps Finest Refractors changed the game. A few years ago Topps made a metal version available.
1991 Topps Desert Shield was featured as a parallel in 2016 Topps Archives. The originals of these cards actually still hold value to this day.
This set started it all for me and this mini perfectly captures the thrill of baseball card collecting. "Oooooh you almost had it. Keep going"
What are some of your favorite designs from the junk wax era?
Cutch's rookie season was 2009. He made his debut early June of that year and according to the Trading Card Database he had 123 cards produced that year by Topps, Bowman, Tristar, Upper Deck, and Choice (minor league team sets). I have 64 cards from that debut season and am missing only cards /50 or less. At the time of Cutch's call up he was a top 15 prospect in baseball.
The consensus top prospect in baseball heading into this season is Vladamir Guerrero Jr. He has had 579 cards produced PRIOR to the year of his debut according to TCDB. So far in 2019, his rookie year MLB debut, he has had 1,495 cards produced. With a month left in the year, it is very possible to see that number grow more as it has tripled since June thanks to the release of more Topps Now, Heritage High Number, Topps Update, Bowman Draft and Prospects, and many more high end sets produced. With the hype surrounding Vlad Jr prior to the season, it is no surprise to see card numbers like that produced. Is anyone else alarmed by this?
Let's look at another rookie who has made their MLB debut this year. Since Cutch wasn't a top 10 prospect and didn't win Rookie of Year in his debut season, let's look at a similar resume player. Pete Alonso is the NL Rookie of Year winner so I am going to look at Austin Riley, outfielder/3rd baseman for the Atlanta Braves. Similar to Vlad Jr he will have another few cards released since appearing in Update, Heritage, BDP, and Now cards prior to year's end. He currently already has 483 cards produced for this year.
The most popular shortstop of 1987 when I began collecting was Cal Ripken Jr. He had 60 cards produced that year with brands Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Classic, Sportflics, and many local/food releases providing those quantities.
A rookie shortstop who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, Barry Larkin, had only 16 cards produced that year.
Kevin Newman, a Pirates rookie shortstop, was having a great year at the plate but would hardly be considered the best at his position in the game despite finishing in the top 10 for the NL batting title. He already has had 492 cards produced this year. That doesn't even include the buyback autos for this year's Archives Signature Series Active Player collection.
With all of the parallels being produced in each new release, it feels like we are entering a new Junk Wax Era. The presses aren't working overtime like they were in the 80s and 90s just pumping out more and more base cards, but for our small niche hobby we collect there are more cards to collect of a player than ever before.
Here are some of my favorite late 80s and early 90s junk wax era themed cards.
1991 Topps Desert Shield was featured as a parallel in 2016 Topps Archives. The originals of these cards actually still hold value to this day.
What are some of your favorite designs from the junk wax era?
Sunday, November 17, 2019
How I got a black and blue eye
Well...not really...
This card was referenced as "on it's way" way back in 2017. You can read that post here.
Kinda makes you wonder what else I may not have shown off over the past 2 years, huh?
I didn't get a black and blue eye. Instead I haven't been sleeping much at all and have been helping out a coworker by basically working doubles for the past week.
The paycheck right before Black Friday will be very nice!
In the very little free time I have had in the past week I have been going through my countless number of cards not scanned to show off for my 1,000th post here on Collecting Cutch.
Kinda makes you wonder what else I may not have shown off over the past 2 years, huh?
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Yeah I Got Skills, What You Gonna Do Bout It?
I'm back! Expect daily updates again as I have returned from an unexpected week of double shifts.
Things are back on track now.
My favorite era of Collecting Cutch cards is 2009 to 2015. There are so few cards that I need with print runs over 50 copies in that era that when a rarer copy shows up, I really look forward to getting it.
I recently got excited when I picked up this
2013 Select Gold Prizm
It is numbered to only 25 copies.
In case you were living under a rock a few years ago you probably saw the viral video of a guy named Joe Charman where he does strange things (often trick shots or throwing objects) and says "Yeah I got Skills, what you gonna do bout it?"
Well with adding this gold 2013 Select Skills Gold parallel I can say...
Yeah I've Got Skills, What You Gonna Do About It?
I now have the base and Gold Prizm
I still need the Prizm Refractor (not numbered) and Black Prizm (1/1)
Such a simpler time when even the unlicensed products had only 4 parallels to chase. To put it into perspective, this year's Prizm has 27 unique parallels to chase including snake skin, lime green donuts, cosmic haze, among many other strange names.
2013 Select was a great product and I miss the days of base, Refractor, gold, and 1/1 color parallel.
Things are back on track now.
My favorite era of Collecting Cutch cards is 2009 to 2015. There are so few cards that I need with print runs over 50 copies in that era that when a rarer copy shows up, I really look forward to getting it.
I recently got excited when I picked up this
In case you were living under a rock a few years ago you probably saw the viral video of a guy named Joe Charman where he does strange things (often trick shots or throwing objects) and says "Yeah I got Skills, what you gonna do bout it?"
Well with adding this gold 2013 Select Skills Gold parallel I can say...
I now have the base and Gold Prizm
I still need the Prizm Refractor (not numbered) and Black Prizm (1/1)
Such a simpler time when even the unlicensed products had only 4 parallels to chase. To put it into perspective, this year's Prizm has 27 unique parallels to chase including snake skin, lime green donuts, cosmic haze, among many other strange names.
2013 Select was a great product and I miss the days of base, Refractor, gold, and 1/1 color parallel.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Debut of a new auto?
I am in the ever long process of trying to catalogue all my Andrew McCutchen cards. Back in 2017 I had 125 unique certified autographs of Cutch. You can revisit that post here.
Cutch has begun signing a lot more for Topps and Panini in the past two years and in 2019 alone there was 90 uniquely designed cards bearing a certified autograph of the former MVP.
It didn't hit me how insane that is until I personally went through to count them all. I probably have close to half that many which is still an insane amount, but among all the autographs I have of Cutch NONE of them look like this 2019 Topps Chrome Debut Materials Autograph numbered to 50 copies.
You might look at that signature and not think anything looks unique about it.
A closer inspection of the signature will show some breaks of the pen not found in other Cutch cards I have signed.
I have seen Cutch put a break in the pen between the "T" and "C" on multiple occasions.
Even the one I got in person has a very slight break after the "T"
But I have never seen two breaks after the "T" like in the 2019 Rookie Debut Relic. Often times I actually see no breaks for his newer style signature (post MLB debut) as can be seen below.
With so many players just putting legible initials at best as their signatures it is nice to see Cutch actually make a legible and identifiable signature on all his cards.
The back of the 2019 Topps Chrome Rookie Debut Gear Relic identifies this as an authentic signature of Andrew McCutchen. I am sure it is a legit auto, but it is just odd to see a style signature he has never used before. And with nearly 200 unique signatures of Cutch in my possession I feel I am an aspiring expert.
With only 8 more posts until I reach 1,000 posts here on Collecting Cutch, I have been slowly putting together some quality no filler posts as I march towards the millennium mark.
Cutch has begun signing a lot more for Topps and Panini in the past two years and in 2019 alone there was 90 uniquely designed cards bearing a certified autograph of the former MVP.
It didn't hit me how insane that is until I personally went through to count them all. I probably have close to half that many which is still an insane amount, but among all the autographs I have of Cutch NONE of them look like this 2019 Topps Chrome Debut Materials Autograph numbered to 50 copies.
I have seen Cutch put a break in the pen between the "T" and "C" on multiple occasions.
With only 8 more posts until I reach 1,000 posts here on Collecting Cutch, I have been slowly putting together some quality no filler posts as I march towards the millennium mark.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
A Tale of Two Cities
Since I began supercollecting Andrew McCutchen I have become friends with other collectors of Andrew McCutchen cards. Each of them have their own special market of cards they prefer to collect of Cutch. I go for anything, but also have certain styles of cards I prefer more than others. Some collectors are interested in all teams, some only seek out his Pirates days. Some look mainly for patches, others mainly for autographs. Some prefer certain brands and it is because of that I was able to make a trade for a card that suits both our collections better.
One such collector has the most insane Pirates Topps Heritage collection I have seen including some groovy 1/1 booklets of both Cutch and Gerrit Cole. Topps Heritage is his favorite brand and it's because of that I traded a 2016 Topps 65th Anniversary Buyback of a 2014 Topps Heritage card
For my all-time favorite Buyback series
2015 Allen & Ginter 10th Anniversary Mini Frames are my preferred buybacks. The uniqueness of Allen & Ginter got me back into collecting cards again and through the years I have loved adding any and all Andrew McCutchen Ginter parallels I can get my hands on, especially the framed mini buybacks from 2015.
One such collector has the most insane Pirates Topps Heritage collection I have seen including some groovy 1/1 booklets of both Cutch and Gerrit Cole. Topps Heritage is his favorite brand and it's because of that I traded a 2016 Topps 65th Anniversary Buyback of a 2014 Topps Heritage card
The original card is a 2011 Allen & Ginter Black Border Mini that has been foil stamped with the 10th Anniversary Logo.
This marks my 5th Buyback Mini from Ginter and 8th overall.
Thanks for the trade Kevin. Looking forward to making another in the future maybe for those Heritage Bell/Glasnow chrome rookies I have for more Cutch cards I need.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Phucking Philly
Right before the September 2019 Philly Show where I met Cutch, I purchased a pair of 2019 Five Star Silver Ink autos. I sent the Steve Carlton to Brad which you can view here.
Below is the other card from the lot.
The Phillies eliminated themselves from Postseason play when they lost to the Nationals during the last week of the season. This made me happy and annoyed.
On one hand, I am happy because I enjoy the misery of Philly fans because they are a rowdy annoying bunch (except Brad...he's a class act). On the other hand, I wanted Cutch to be part of a winning culture again.
Oh well, there's always next year.
Below is the other card from the lot.
On one hand, I am happy because I enjoy the misery of Philly fans because they are a rowdy annoying bunch (except Brad...he's a class act). On the other hand, I wanted Cutch to be part of a winning culture again.
Oh well, there's always next year.
Monday, November 4, 2019
The Bryce Was Wrong, but Now It's Soto Good!
In case you haven't already heard, the Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros by winning 4 games in Houston. The team showed an unbelievable amount of resistance and a strong clubhouse.
The Baby Shark team won their first World Series title AFTER their former face of franchise left the team.
I was rooting for the Astros to win, but know of a lot of people rooting for the Nationals because Bryce Harper has become such a strange baseball villain that fans wanted the team to win just to have a chuckle at seeing the team celebrate while Bryce's $300+ million dollar contract butt not even make the playoffs.
It's not Bryce's fault the Phillies didn't make the playoffs this year, but Bryce's 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Postseason numbers weren't that impressive. In total he batted .211 with a 31%K rate in 76 at bats during those NLDS games.
As is customary on my blog immediately following my Save Second Base Event and Recap, I write a post about the World Series Champions and post any cards featuring that year's team with Cutch. You can visit my previous posts here.
I don't have many cards of current Nationals with Cutch. In fact I only have one. Its a sexta autograph booklet with signatures of Cutch, Josh Bell, Javy Baez, Starlin Castro and the Nationals teammates: Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman.
The booklet is numbered to only 10 copies.
I do have a lot of Cutch pairings with the former Nationals Superstar, Bryce Harper.
Numbered to 5
Numbered to 5
Numbered to 36
Numbered to 3
Numbered to 25
The Baby Shark team won their first World Series title AFTER their former face of franchise left the team.
I was rooting for the Astros to win, but know of a lot of people rooting for the Nationals because Bryce Harper has become such a strange baseball villain that fans wanted the team to win just to have a chuckle at seeing the team celebrate while Bryce's $300+ million dollar contract butt not even make the playoffs.
It's not Bryce's fault the Phillies didn't make the playoffs this year, but Bryce's 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Postseason numbers weren't that impressive. In total he batted .211 with a 31%K rate in 76 at bats during those NLDS games.
As is customary on my blog immediately following my Save Second Base Event and Recap, I write a post about the World Series Champions and post any cards featuring that year's team with Cutch. You can visit my previous posts here.
I don't have many cards of current Nationals with Cutch. In fact I only have one. Its a sexta autograph booklet with signatures of Cutch, Josh Bell, Javy Baez, Starlin Castro and the Nationals teammates: Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman.
I do have a lot of Cutch pairings with the former Nationals Superstar, Bryce Harper.
Friday, November 1, 2019
The 4th Annual Save Second Base Event Recap
I hope you all have enjoyed this year's month long tribute to pink baseball cards and that it grabbed your attention.
More importantly I want to thank everyone for their comments. I was donating $1 for every nonspam comment made excluding those by myself for the month of October.
I haven't totalled everything yet, but I am certain we made the goal of $150 which is enough to provide a free mammogram to a woman.
Some people were very active this year and I will get some bonus prizes for the top 3 commenters throughout the month.
If you won a contest please EMAIL ME
bstryker81 @ gmail . com so I can confirm the prize packages and ship your cards.
For those that may have missed a post here is a recap of all the cards shown this year.
(I won't show all the lovely ladies again though. You'll have to go back to see all those posts.)
Solo cards of Cutch
2016 Topps Mini /5
2018 Topps Update /50
2018 Topps Update Chrome Pink Retail Exclusive
2019 Topps Chrome
2014 Topps Heritage Logo Swap (based on 1965 design)
2015 Topps Heritage (1966 design)
2015 Topps Heritage Action Variant (1966 design)
2018 Donruss Diamond Kings Pink/25
2011 Topps Lineage (1975 design)
2018 Topps Pink /50
2018 Topps Mini Pink/25
2018 Chronicles Pink /25
2017 Chronicles Pink Spectra Triple Threat (triple relic) /49
Magenta Printing Plates
2015 Topps 127 League Leaders
2010 Topps t206 Piedmont Mini
2008 Just Minors Triple Signatures w/Elvis Andrus and Carlos Santana
2017 Topps Inception
2013 Archives (1977 Cloth Sticker)
Stadium Cards
2019 Topps PNC Park /50
Cardboard Cameos
2016 Topps /50
Name mentioned on back of card
2013 Topps Update Gerrit Cole Rookie Debut pink/50
McCutchen seen in blurry background
2018 Topps Gregory Polanco pink/50
Name mentioned on back of card
2013 Topps Mini Starling Marte Pink/25
Name mentioned on back of card
2019 Topps Austin Barnes pink/50
Cutch appears in background of card
Falco Files
2019 Topps Chrome Pink Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw replaced McCutchen on Giants roster when he was traded to Yankees.
2019 Prizm Pink Abiatal Avelino
Avelino was traded from the Yankees to the Giants in exchange for Andrew McCutchen in 2018.
2018 Heritage Minors Magenta Back Adam Haseley
Adam Haseley replaced Andrew when Cutch was placed on the 10 day IL.
2019 Topps Update Chrome Bryan Reynolds (Hanger Pack Exclusive Pink)
Bryan Reynolds was part of the trade package sent to the Pirates when McCutchen was traded to the Giants
Memorabilia
2017 Tristar Authentics Hidden Treasures
JSA Certified autographed
Robert Manfred Mother's Day baseball
Only 11 more months until next year when the event can grab your attention again.
That wraps up this year's event.
I can't believe we went through all month without showing off Hunter King.
Watch her scenes from Life in Pieces here.
You can thank me in the comments below.
We now return to regular scheduled programming, sorry...
I have some celebrities I am already planning to use next year along with about 10 cards ready to go already.
Here is a sneak peak at what I have planned for next year...
Shannon Elizabeth from American Pie will be on the agenda for sure
And I think Hayden Panattiere from Heroes fame should be revealed
I think Jennifer Lawrence should appear again, what do you think?
And of course there will be plenty more gorgeous celebrities from all different eras appearing...
it is going to be a fun month next year.
AND HERE IS THE #1 CARD ON MY WANT LIST I AM ON THE HUNT FOR
2013 Topps Chrome Pink Refractor /5
Who were some of your favorite celebrities I showed off this month?
Who do you want to see appear next year?
I haven't totalled everything yet, but I am certain we made the goal of $150 which is enough to provide a free mammogram to a woman.
Some people were very active this year and I will get some bonus prizes for the top 3 commenters throughout the month.
If you won a contest please EMAIL ME
bstryker81 @ gmail . com so I can confirm the prize packages and ship your cards.
For those that may have missed a post here is a recap of all the cards shown this year.
(I won't show all the lovely ladies again though. You'll have to go back to see all those posts.)
Solo cards of Cutch
2018 Topps Superstar Sensations Red/10
Magenta Printing Plates
Stadium Cards
Cardboard Cameos
McCutchen seen in blurry background
Cutch appears in background of card
Falco Files
Chris Shaw replaced McCutchen on Giants roster when he was traded to Yankees.
Avelino was traded from the Yankees to the Giants in exchange for Andrew McCutchen in 2018.
Bryan Reynolds was part of the trade package sent to the Pirates when McCutchen was traded to the Giants
Memorabilia
JSA Certified autographed
Robert Manfred Mother's Day baseball
Only 11 more months until next year when the event can grab your attention again.
That wraps up this year's event.
Watch her scenes from Life in Pieces here.
You can thank me in the comments below.
We now return to regular scheduled programming, sorry...
Here is a sneak peak at what I have planned for next year...
Shannon Elizabeth from American Pie will be on the agenda for sure
I think Jennifer Lawrence should appear again, what do you think?
And of course there will be plenty more gorgeous celebrities from all different eras appearing...
AND HERE IS THE #1 CARD ON MY WANT LIST I AM ON THE HUNT FOR
Who were some of your favorite celebrities I showed off this month?
Who do you want to see appear next year?