Why I've Been MIA

It has been over 2 weeks since my last post and there are a couple reasons for that.  For starters we are still house hunting, but this market is absolutely brutal and crushing for us to find something in our budget and in an area that we want to live.  

Ms. CollectingCutch works as far east on NJ as you can go and I work as far west as you can go and then some as I work in Pennsylvania.  

We are trying to find a place that is 40 minutes to work for both of us, but it has been an absolute struggle.

That has taken up a lot of our spare time when we aren't both working.

I did get to have an absolute blast of a time attending RetroCon with my friend Lou of GeekBoyPress.  RetroCon is held in Oaks, PA (not far from Philadelphia) and it is a vintage toy and video game convention.  

I didn't buy anything, but a small Beetlejuice figure for Mrs. CollectingCutch that cost me only $5.  It was just fun to get back out to a convention type setting again.  

It has been 2 years since I attended the PhillyShow where I met Brad from Brad's Blog and got a chance to have Cutch sign my custom dreadlock card. 

2 years without a convention.

So while the RetroCon scene wasn't my thing as my hobby isn't deep with 80s nostalgia Action Figures and Video Games, it was the after party that I really wanted to attend.  

Just across the street from the convention was a concert performed by Cybertronic Spree.  

Cybertronic Spree is a (mostly) cover band that plays songs from the 80s and nearly the entire soundtrack to the 1986 Transformers animated movie...all while dressed as Transformers characters.  

Yup.  Hot Rod is backup vocals and bass.  Arcee is the lead vocals and keyboards. Unicron is the lead guitarist, Shockwave is on drums, and a Quintisson is playing rhythm guitar.  

Are they the most talented band in the world? Nope.

Do they put on one of the most entertaining shows for 90 cents a song? You bet your Autobot Ass they do!!!

Here is a link to a YouTube recap of some of their set that someone posted. 

It was so fun to get back out into civilization again!

Another reason I haven't posted is because the baseball season in general for Pirates fans and McCutchen fans has been a let down.  The Pirates are likely to get the 3rd or 4th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft due to the poor season they have had.

I never claimed to be a Phillies fan, but I really wanted the Phillies to have a Postseason berth this year for Cutch.  With a pending free agency (assuming they decline his team option) I wanted Cutch to have a big postseason so he could get another multiyear contract. 

The last reason for my lack of posting has been a lack of technology. I threw out my scanner in the process of downsizing to move in with the in laws and my camera on my phone is terrible. 

I will go forward with my October Save Second Base event, but unfortunately I won't be making a donation this year as all my funds will be focused on a new house.  

Also I likely won't be doing daily posts for the forseeable future as life has just got in the way of my hobby love.

Things kick off tomorrow!!!!

Today, We Wear 21

Much like Jackie Robinson Day, where the entire league wears the number 42, the Pittsburgh Pirates will all be wearing 21 today.  In addition to the Pirates, players with strong connections to Pittsburgh or Puerto Rico may choose to wear the number 21 to pay tribute to the late great Roberto Clemente.

I have a small sub collection of Roberto Clemente cards in my McCutchen collection, but one of my favorite items in my entire collection is this original artwork by Wilfred Santiago.

It was used to help create the graphic novel 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente.

What an iconic image of Roberto hitting his 3,000th hit in his final regular season at bat before his life was tragically taken in the off season.

Happy Roberto Clemente Day everyone.

Game Used Base

Andrew McCutchen hit his 250th career HR on May 19th, 2021.  Topps, the next day honored McCutchen's HR as one of it's Topps Now moments.

They created a base card available for purchase at $9.99 each along with autograph versions.

The autograph versions have not shipped yet and they also contain a part of a base used from that game.

The relic versions containing a part of the base limited to 99 copies were made available for purchase at the Majestic store in Citizens Bank Park.

I purchased what I believe to be one of the better looking relics available as it contains part of the Citizens Bank Park logo.

The back contains a write up about Cutch's HR.

Above is a closer Look at the relic and identification sticker.

Top 10 List: The Pinks!

If you've been following this blog at any part over the past 4 years you are likely aware of my campaign to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and my charitable donations I make each year based on comments left in October.  

I show off some beautiful women all month long

I also show off a lot of pink (and shades of pink) cards throughout the month featuring Andrew McCutchen.  

Some of the cards could just be a Cardboard Cameo with either an image of Cutch on someone else's card or a name mention on the front or back of the card

I have also shown pink cards featuring players that have replaced Cutch on an active roster by wearing his number, traded for, or replaced due to injury.  I call those Falco Files cards in honor of the fictional character Shane Falco from The Replacements.

Beginning this year I will also feature pink cards of teammates of Cutch, called Cutch's Crew.

Through the past few months I have discussed some items I wanted to add to the collection regarding a "Top 10" List of items that aren't directly cardboard related.  

Because my blog gets associated with October and pink cards, I thought I should actually show off some pink cards I don't own to kickstart the event.

I have a lot of pink cards I can show off this October, but due to the current living situation where some cards are in storage, some are with the in laws, and some are at my dad's I may not be able to post daily as I typically have.  

Here are my Top 10 pink (and shades) cards I want to add to my collection.

2013 Topps Chrome

Pink /5

I actually know one person who owns this card, but he is only willing to part with it if I buy his entire collection of Andrew Mccutchen cards.

2016 Topps Update #US30

Pink /50

2015 Topps #400

Pink /50

2014 Topps Finest #24

Magenta /15

One of these was sold on COMC in 2020 and I know a person who owns a copy of it, but is asking several hundred dollars for it (NO THANK YOU!!!!!!)

2021 Topps Now Turn Back The Clock

Cherry /7

I drafted this post before I actually opened my Topps Now brick of 20 I bought and was surprised that I actually received one of the cherry.  This card will be featured again in October.

2013 Topps 2012 Home Run Leaders #246

featuring Ryan Braun, Jay Bruce, Giancarlo Stanton

Pink /50 OR mini pink /25

This card has an Andrew McCutchen name reference on the back

There are of course many Bryan Reynolds pink cards and plenty of checklists featuring Cutch's name on the back that I still need.  Also if there is a pink card of one of Cutch's teammates or former teammates I would be interested in adding those too.

And of course I need any magenta printing plate that I currently don't have.

If you have any suggestions for celebrities this year leave them in the comments below.

Researching the 5-8-7

Topps Luminaries has a very fun high end autograph product.  For those that are unfamilar with the product, it features on card autographs of some of the best hit, home run, and strikeout players of their respective eras.  There are of course low numbered parallels to chase (red, blue, black) and all feature a numerical stat about the player.  

Cutch had a card with the bold number 587 on the front.

This card represents the number of extra base hits that Cutch hit between 2010-2020.  

It's pretty impressive that Cutch accumulated 587 extra base hits in the 2010s.  He has hit 676 extra base hits in his career through September 10th, 2021.  42 of them have come in the 2021 season and 47 were in his 2009 rookie season.

I was honestly having a hard time figuring out who is ahead of him for extra base hits in the 2010s.

Some of the first names that came to mind were some of the big boppers like Stanton, Trout, and Harper that debuted in the early 2010s. And of course the future Hall of Fame veterans like Pujols, Beltre, Votto, and Cabrera came to mind.  It's likely that the younger guys to debut 2016 or later like Judge, Vlad Jr, Alonso wouldn't make the list so I didn't bother looking at them.

Let's look at their numbers from 2010 to 2020 since the 587 total doesn't include the 2021 season.

No doubt future Hall of Famers

Albert Pujols 580 (shocked that Pujols 2010 to 2020 numbers are less than Cutch)

Mike Trout 610

Miguel Cabrera 613

Adrian Beltre 527

Likely Hall of Famers

David Ortiz 382

Joey Votto 593

I also decided to look at the stars who had an incredible decade between 2010 to 2020 but were confirmed to be involved in some PED scandals. 

Confirmed PED Users

Robinson Cano 635

Nelson Cruz 650

Ryan Braun 583

Let's look at some HR season leaders of the 2010s along with other stars of the 2010s.

Nolan Arenado 523

Bryce Harper 489

Paul Goldschmidt 574

Jose Bautista 521

Matt Holliday 411

Giancarlo Stanton 569

Justin Upton 566

Freddie Freeman 605

Carlos Beltran 401

Anthony Rizzo 515

Evan Longoria 585

Adrian Gonzalez 469

Jay Bruce 583

Edwin Encarnacion 606

It took me forever to figure out Edwin.  

Edwin for the win

I would say that Cutch is in pretty good company and this further supports that he was one of the best hitters of the 2010s.

Knowing the answers already what players would you have thought would be the top 10 extra base hit leaders of the 2010s?  Are you shocked by any of these guys? 

A Masterpiece Addition

It's been a long time since I showed off some Giants cards of Andrew McCutchen and that's mostly due to my focus of Cutch cards is Pirates, Minor League/Pre Debut, Phillies, Giants, Yankees cards in that order.  

If I was to see an autograph card of Cutch I didn't own, the Giants are pretty low on my desire list. 

That's not to say that I pass on adding new Giants items to the collection though.

I picked up this WalMart exclusive Topps Gallery autograph of Cutch before we started our moving process.  It was in that monster box of cards I have been going through.  

Topps Gallery is an art based set that features a variety of artists to draw some of the most popular players in the game.  

Topps tabbed Evan Shoman to draw the Masterpiece inserts. 

There was a limited number of sticker autographs available of Cutch for this release.

On the back you can see that it is limited to only 5 copies in the top left corner. 

The Giants are having a great season this year and should be seeing themselves clinch a playoff spot in the next week and half. 

Belated Star Trek Day

Star Trek

To boldly go where no man hs gone before...

Even if that means going back a day from the future.

Yup, I forgot to tie in a Star Trek Day post yesterday because quite frankly I had no idea such a thing existed. 

Star Trek Day is celebrated every September 8th in memory of it's original airing on September 8th, 1966.

I was never a big Star Trek fan.  

Star Wars was more my thing.

Truth be told though the Alien and Predator film franchises are my true Sci-Fi loves.

To celebrate (a day late) Star Trek Day I thought I would look at some Andrew McCutchen cards in my collection that tie into the Star Trek Mythos.

Let's get started with an actress I have neglected from including as part of my SaveSecondBase event.  I am talking about Jeri Ryan who plays the Borg drone character, 7 of 9 on the show Star Trek: Voyager.

7 of 9

You may recall that a few years ago I attempted to make a Frankenset of Andrew McCutchen cards numbered to 9 copies as part of Daniel's 9 year blogging anniversary contest.  I couldn't quite fulfil that request because I was missing a 7/9.

That all changed when one follower on Twitter hit me up that he had pulled a Cutch 2020 Triple Threads gold parallel numbered...

7 of 9.

Speaking of 9, there was a series called Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that ran for 3 seasons from 1993 to 1995.

This September 8, 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated features Cutch on the cover and the main article is called Andrew McCutchen Goes Deep.

Star Trek debuted in 1966 and Cutch has been featured on several 1966 Topps designed cards.

The 2015 Topps Heritage design used the 1966 Topps design and pictured above is a 3 card advertising panel found in the box toppers.

Star Trek: The Next Generation followed up the success of the original Star Trek and it debuted September 1987.  Now I could easily show off some of the 1987 designed cards I have, but I'm going to boldly go beyond and show off one of my favorite Superfractors in my collection.

Above are the 2015 Topps Finest Generations red parallel /5 and Superfractor 1/1.  These cards pop!!!!

So there are some of my Cutch cards and magazine article that I could tie into some Star Trek items.

What is your favorite Sci-Fi franchise?

Do you like Star Trek?

The Uncle in Ginter

I've been slowly trying to pick up the Andrew McCutchen Uncle Larry cards from 2021 Allen & Ginter, but I have also been doing it while staying in budget.  

When the cards were first starting to show up the prices were very high for the buy it nows on eBay. I maintained my diligence and patience and have been able to snag four cards so far.

Here are a few of the cards I have grabbed thus far.

Abive is the black border mini

This is the short print framed autograph limited to 25 copies.  When Topps announced Uncle Larry would be a part of the checklist and would have autograph cards I was hoping that he would have an unique signature for Uncle Larry instead of his standard ACutch auto.

Above is the hot box foil

And finally a relic card of Cutch featuring Uncle Larry

Have you ripped any Allen & Ginter this year? 

The Cherry on Top

So yesterday I went to visit my dad just to catch up on things and see the damage that was done around his house from the tornadoes that hit NJ Wednesday night. 

To my surprise there was a package from Topps there waiting for me.  I am still having my eBay purchases and Topps deliveries shipped to his house while Ms CollectingCutch and I continue to move and temporarily live with the in laws. 

After catching up on things I decided to open up the mail that was lingering around.

This is quite literally the cherry on top.

When Topps revealed at the National that Andrew McCutchen would be the Topps Now Turn Back The Clock subject for August 1st, I knew I would be buying a nice brick of these cards.  I picked up a 20 pack in hopes of landing one of the cherry (7 card print run) or ash (3 card print run).

I am very pleased that I have been hitting on my Andrew McCutchen print to order style cards.  I also hit a bonus foil card for the Dock Ellis Matt Taylor Project 70 card, but chose to sell that on eBay. 

Thanks for the surprise hits Topps!

The Art of Chuck Styles

Uncle Larry is Andrew McCutchen's alter ego.  He created the character when a Philadelphia reporter sited Andrew McCutchen, but called him Larry McCutcheon, the former running back from the NFL.  

Andrew did play football in high school, but he was a receiver.  During the pandemic, Andrew began posting videos and introduced the world to Uncle Larry, an old school no BS comedic personality.

Fans loved the character and Chuck Styles decided to make the first official Uncle Larry Project 70 Topps card.  

Like many of the Topps Project artists, Chuck Styles offered a limited number of autographed cards through his website for purchase.

The version I chose was the blue signature version numbered to 6 copies.  Chuck signed it right above the Uncle Larry name in a powder blue paint pen.  He also provided a new sticker atop the one touch magnetic holder replacing the traditional Project 70 sticker.

Came with an autographed box

The box was numbered in addition to the card

Mine is 2/6

Celebrating 40

1981

Not only is it my birth year, but it also represents the first year for Donruss and Fleer to produce licensed baseball cards.

In 2014 Panini revitalized the Donruss brand and the following year (2015) they were creating a retro design similar to the 1981 design found as a subset of the base set.  They would recreate a "heritage style" design for each subsequent year (2016-1982, 2017-1983, etc).

The 2015 Donruss retro design came with a limited number of parallels to chase after. 

Pictured above are the base (left) and bronze press proof /299 (right).

I still need the Hot off the Press (unnumbered) case hits and blue press proof /199. 

The backs of the card have the same kind of retro look as the original design.

I'm not sure what today will bring to celebrate my 40th, but I know I will search all the traditional sites I frequent to see if I can add one of the 2 missing parallels I need for this Cutch rainbow. 

Happy Birthday Ms. CollectingCutch

My girlfriend and I have birthdays the same week.  Theyre seperated by a few years, but we typically celebrate our joint birthdays on the 3rd.

Her birthday is today.  We both have to work overtime and won't be able to do anything tonight.

My birthday is Saturday so it's more likely we do something over the weekend to celebrate.

Since she was born in 85, here are some 1985 inspired Topps (and 1 Donruss) designs.

2020 1985 Jersey Relic (prime patch) red parallel numbered to 25 copies

2020 Topps 1985 Jersey Relic (pinstripe)  black parallel numbered to 199 copies.

2020 Topps 1985 gold parallel numbered to 50 copies

2020 Topps 1985 design

This came courtesy of AJ from The Lost Collector

2013 Topps Archives (1985 design) Base, Gold Foil /199, Day Glow Orange parallel

2019 Donruss 1985 Relic

It is strange that Panini produced a card of Cutch in 2019 from his Pittsburgh days, but I'll take it.

That's all I have in terms of 1985 inspired designs sans one pink card I will be showing off next month...

Happy Birthday Ms. CollectingCutch