Happy Jackie Robinson Day (again)

For the second time this year, MLB is celebrating Jackie Robinson Day.

Jackie Robinson Day is traditionally celebrated on April 15th each year to recognize the day he broke the color barrier, but due to the world wide pandemic the games on that day were cancelled.  The MLBPA wanted to still recognize what Jackie did even during a short 60 game season.  The date was set for today and it couldn't have come at a better time to recognize the struggles that Jackie faced as the United States are once again having lines drawn for racism.  

Let's take a moment today and remember we are all people, regardless of skin tone.

Jackie Robinson started a change in the world over 70 years ago and we continue to face that change today. 

Here are all the Andrew McCutchen cards I have that feature a reference to the man that changed the game, #42 Jackie Robinson.

This is now a top 10 card in my collection.  I bought it via Twitter.  It features the Jackie Robinson Patch worn by Cutch on April 15, 2018 when Cutch was a member of the Giants.  It also has a nice on card signature and the hologram referencing the game the patch is from.  This card is SICK!!!

Here are a pair of parallels that Prizm unfortunately doesn't do anymore.  These are the 2013 and 2014 Jackie Robinson parallels numbered to 42 copies.  Each card is serially numbered on the back and feature a "42" pattern border.

2018 Gypsy Queen Jackie Robinson variant base and logo swap.  There are also color parallels of this card to chase as well (green and black). Cutch is circling the bags after what became a game winning homerun in late innings at Wrigley Field 2017.

Here is the 2018 Jackie Robinson manufactured pin relic available in packs of 2018 Update.

This is the 2017 version.

Here are a pair of 2012 Triple Threads Unity Gold Relics numbered to only 9 copies.  Both cards feature Cutch in a Jackie Robinson Day uniform and reference two of Cutch's early career accomplishments (the 2009 Topps All Rookie Team and the 2010 Heart and Hustle Award).

National Treasures produces a Jackie Robinson tribute in their sets from time to time.  This diecut version is from 2015.

The following year had a more colorful design, but the die cut was removed and the jerseys were no longer guaranteed to be worn on Jackie Robinson day.

Cutch received the photo variant Jackie Robinson parallel in 2019 Gypsy Queen.  The patch on the right sleeve is the same patch I own and I showed to begin the series of posts.

He also got the autograph treatment in 2019 Gypsy Queen.

The Next Retired Number?

Over the past few days MLB.com has been discussing the next retired number for each MLB team.

We all know that in less than a week, MLB would typically be celebrating Jackie Robinson Day where everyone wears #42 to represent the legendary and brave Jackie Robinson for breaking the color barrier.

I will be showing off an incredible card for that day, but here is a sneak peak at just a boring manurelic I grabbed in the past few months.

It has been mentioned that Roberto Clemente may one day have his number "21" retired across all of baseball for what he meant to Latin American players.  Clemente was the first Latin player to collect 3,000 hits and the first Latin player to enter the Hall of Fame.  The discussion and links to the petition to Retire 21 can be found here.

On Pirates.com it was discussed that the two best player choices to have their number retired are Dave Parker (39) and Andrew McCutchen (22).

Chad Kuhl currently wears #39 and Pirates former closer Jason Grilli wore the number as recently as 2014.

When Andrew McCutchen was traded in 2018, no one was assigned #22 to begin the 2018 season.  The Pirates were surprisingly making a push for the postseason that same year and made a shocking trade for Chris Archer at the deadline.  Archer wore #22 while in Tampa Bay and even has his Twitter handle with 22 in it.  He respectfully declined to get 22 when he came to the Steel City noting that number belongs to Cutch and should be retired one day.

It was also suggested that maybe Chuck Tanner gets his jersey (7) retired next because he was the manager of the 1979 World Series Champions.



Personally I think Cutch does get his number retired in Pittsburgh because of what he meant to the city and community.  He adopted the city as much as the city adopted him.

Which player for your favorite team do you think gets their number retired next?

Should MLB retire 21 across the league to pay tribute to Roberto Clemente?

Jackie Robinson Day

Today we should remember Jackie Robinson for his courageous efforts made to unite this country regardless of skin color.

Gypsy Queen has been producing Jackie Robinson variants in the past couple years.

The "4" from the 42 Jersey is tough to see and if I was just opening a pack of cards, I wouldn't recognize this as a 42 parallel.  The only way you can tell is the small code on the back or the online checklist that lists McCutchen as a 42 parallel in a Giants uniform.

Here is the backs featuring the same description, but with different team names due to the subject matter on the front. The tiny code in bottom right corner helps distinguish it as a 42 parallel.

Here is the 2018 Gypsy Queen base and logo swap parallel of the Jackie Robinson Day parallel.

Thanks for the parallels of parallels to chase Topps!

I really like this photo parallel.  The 42 is very prominent and noticeable.

Jackie Robinson Day: Standing United

Today is an important day not just for baseball, but for remembering the history of our entire nation.  We all know that every April 15th, MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson day.  It helps to unite all players, coaching staff, umpires, etc and remember what Jackie did to help unite this country when he wore the famous #42 seventy one years ago.

Last year I showed a bunch of cards that were released by National Treasures in the special Jackie Robinson insert set.

This year, I thought I would show off a pair of Unity Relics from Topps Triple Threads that have Cutch wearing the 42 uniform.

The Topps Unity Relics are a pain in the ass to complete the three different versions.  They're even harder if you're trying to complete the different color parallels.

The two different Golds that I have celebrate different awards that Cutch won.
He was a member of the 2009 Topps All Rookie Team

He would also win the 2010 Heart and Hustle Award.

The missing gold /9 doesn't feature Cutch in a Jackie Robinson #42 jersey.  I currently only have the /36 version which you can see below.

Remembering Jackie Robinson

One of the greatest men to ever play professional sports broke the color barrier 70 years ago.

Andrew has stated in numerous interviews that Jackie Robinson was an influential icon and he has been imitating his homerun celebration since watching the movie, 42.

Here is all my Cutch cardboard referencing Jackie Robinson

Panini has been recognizing Jackie for years with both their National Treasures and Prizm releases.

The thing I like most about the 2016 release is that it specifically what day the material is from.  That's a nice touch by Panini.

The 2015 version....doesn't offer the same guarantee.

Prizm was the best looking unlicensed card release for a few years.  The color parallels have been a lot of fun to chase.

Because it's Jackie's 70th Anniversary, Topps has finally decided to aknowledge the player that paved the way for some of the finest athletes to be household names in our culture.

Topps just released a Throwback Thursday series of cards exclusive to their online store. The set has several players discussing how they pay tribute to Jackie. I have placed an order to acquire it.

And for the purpose of recognizing that all players wear #42 every April 15th here is a Topps Triple Thread Unity Relic where Cutch is wearing the retired jersey.