It's St Patrick's Day!
Today I'm going to just stick with showing off some green cards.
Showing posts with label Definitive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Definitive. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Wear That Green!!!
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Is This Even a Baseball Card?
This post was partially inspired by Sport Card Collectors' box break of 1995 Topps Stadium club.
I love baseball cards. I grew up collecting baseball cards and using all my allowance, birthday, and Christmas money from 1987-1993 on just baseball cards. 1993-1995 saw me add football, basketball, and comics to the group.
I remember getting 10-15 cards in a single pack of cards just enjoying looking for singles of my favorite players.
I lost focus on card collecting around 1996 until about 2009. I still followed sports, but wasn't into collecting much anymore.
In 2010 I came back to the hobby and have been going strong ever since, but it wasn't until I was showing images of my Andrew McCutchen collection to a coworker that I got to thinking "Is this really a baseball card?"
Baseball cards (or any collectible cards) based on perception should be able to fit into a 9 pocket page and stuck in a binder.
Many of the hits these days can't do that.
Many of today's products wouldn't dare do something like that.
2020 Topps Definitive is on absolute fire 🔥 🔥 🔥 right now. Individual boxes are selling for $1,600-$2,000 a box.
Each box contains only 8 cards. I plan to eventually get a McCutchen pinstripe Phillies relic from the release, but prices are super high for a plain white swatch numbered to 50 copies.
The above green parallel is numbered to only 15 copies, features a great patch, features a Pirates jersey, and the color is bold.
When I show cards like that to non hobby people though, the consensus is "that's what a baseball card looks like now"?
Look at the thickness of this card compared to a standard flagship card.
Now look at the design of the card
It looks radically different than traditional cardboard.
Hits like this don't even have set numbers.
The landscape of trading cards has transformed drastically in the past 30 years.
Where do you think the hobby will be 30 years from today?
I love baseball cards. I grew up collecting baseball cards and using all my allowance, birthday, and Christmas money from 1987-1993 on just baseball cards. 1993-1995 saw me add football, basketball, and comics to the group.
I remember getting 10-15 cards in a single pack of cards just enjoying looking for singles of my favorite players.
I lost focus on card collecting around 1996 until about 2009. I still followed sports, but wasn't into collecting much anymore.
In 2010 I came back to the hobby and have been going strong ever since, but it wasn't until I was showing images of my Andrew McCutchen collection to a coworker that I got to thinking "Is this really a baseball card?"
Baseball cards (or any collectible cards) based on perception should be able to fit into a 9 pocket page and stuck in a binder.
Many of the hits these days can't do that.
Many of today's products wouldn't dare do something like that.
Each box contains only 8 cards. I plan to eventually get a McCutchen pinstripe Phillies relic from the release, but prices are super high for a plain white swatch numbered to 50 copies.
The above green parallel is numbered to only 15 copies, features a great patch, features a Pirates jersey, and the color is bold.
When I show cards like that to non hobby people though, the consensus is "that's what a baseball card looks like now"?
Look at the thickness of this card compared to a standard flagship card.
Now look at the design of the card
Hits like this don't even have set numbers.
The landscape of trading cards has transformed drastically in the past 30 years.
Where do you think the hobby will be 30 years from today?
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Here we are now...entertain us
Today marks 26 years since the passing of Kurt Cobain.
Kurt Cobain was the lead singer and guitarist for the Seattle grunge band, Nirvana. He became a voice for many Generation X kids and one of the most influential musicians in the past few decades.
I will spotlight my 5 favorite Nirvana songs while also showing off a few Cutch cards and how they relate to Seattle, the city that Kurt was found dead at.
Cutch played in 9 games at Safeco Field in Seattle while as a member of the Pirates, Giants, and Yankees. He didn't leave much of an impression at SafeCo Field as there always seemed to be Something In The Way.
His career slash line is .176/.282/.382 good for only a .664 OPS. The only good stat was that he hit 2 HRs in only 9 Games.
While briefly a member in San Francisco, the Giants hosted the Seattle Mariners.
While researching playing career versus the Seattle Mariners I came across the above image and thought, well that looks familiar.
It's weird when I am browsing Getty Images I can often look at an image and think about a card that may have been used for. It feels good to You Know You're Right.
And sure enough it is a familar card and I was right.
The image of Cutch as a member of the Giants batting against the Seattle Mariners was used for the 2018 Topps National Baseball Card Day card for the Giants giveaway.
Cutch didn't have a good day at the plate in that game going 0 for 4 with only a walk in 5 plate appearances in the 10-1 Giants victory.
His performance on the field was certainly In Bloom though as over the next week following that rough series versus Seattle, Cutch would come up clutch hitting at a .500 clip and collecting 2 walk off hits versus the Dodgers and Diamondbacks respectively.
Cutch has had another card image used while playing against the Seattle Mariners. It is from his 2017 Definitive Collection.
Cutch always did well playing at PNC Park no matter who the opponent was.
In this particular game (July 27 2016) Cutch went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI falling only a triple shy of the cycle. Opposing pitchers should have been warned and Stay Away from Cutch when facing him in Pittsburgh.
While Cutch was playing at PNC Park he started 669 games, collecting 751 hits, and hitting at a Hall of Fame level of .304/.394/.498 good for an .892 OPS. With stats like that he might have been saying Come As You Are to any opposing pitcher, knowing he will likely own them in "The Burgh"
I hope you enjoyed this little tribute I put together featuring cards of Andrew McCutchen and my favorite songs by Nirvana.
Oddly enough Smells Like Teen Spirit falls just shy of being one of my top 5 favorites. The generation anthem just doesn't strike me the way others do.
What are some of your favorite songs by Nirvana?
Kurt Cobain was the lead singer and guitarist for the Seattle grunge band, Nirvana. He became a voice for many Generation X kids and one of the most influential musicians in the past few decades.
I will spotlight my 5 favorite Nirvana songs while also showing off a few Cutch cards and how they relate to Seattle, the city that Kurt was found dead at.
Cutch played in 9 games at Safeco Field in Seattle while as a member of the Pirates, Giants, and Yankees. He didn't leave much of an impression at SafeCo Field as there always seemed to be Something In The Way.
While briefly a member in San Francisco, the Giants hosted the Seattle Mariners.
It's weird when I am browsing Getty Images I can often look at an image and think about a card that may have been used for. It feels good to You Know You're Right.
And sure enough it is a familar card and I was right.
The image of Cutch as a member of the Giants batting against the Seattle Mariners was used for the 2018 Topps National Baseball Card Day card for the Giants giveaway.
Cutch didn't have a good day at the plate in that game going 0 for 4 with only a walk in 5 plate appearances in the 10-1 Giants victory.
His performance on the field was certainly In Bloom though as over the next week following that rough series versus Seattle, Cutch would come up clutch hitting at a .500 clip and collecting 2 walk off hits versus the Dodgers and Diamondbacks respectively.
Cutch has had another card image used while playing against the Seattle Mariners. It is from his 2017 Definitive Collection.
While Cutch was playing at PNC Park he started 669 games, collecting 751 hits, and hitting at a Hall of Fame level of .304/.394/.498 good for an .892 OPS. With stats like that he might have been saying Come As You Are to any opposing pitcher, knowing he will likely own them in "The Burgh"
I hope you enjoyed this little tribute I put together featuring cards of Andrew McCutchen and my favorite songs by Nirvana.
Oddly enough Smells Like Teen Spirit falls just shy of being one of my top 5 favorites. The generation anthem just doesn't strike me the way others do.
What are some of your favorite songs by Nirvana?
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
A Call To Arms: Who Will Pilot The Blue Lion?
9/11. There really isn't much that I can say about what this day meant to our country. We probably all remember where we were when the planes hit the towers that morning. I was in a college class with my good friend Bob. We both only had that class that day and were planning on going to TCNJ that night to meet up with my (ex) girlfriend's sister, Jenny. We were dismissed from class early and after many failed attempts using Bob's cell phone we finally got in touch with Jenny. We decided not to go to her campus as fear struck her paralyzed. Jenny had been to NYC just a few weeks prior and couldn't believe the towers were hit in a terrorist attack.
Bob and I decided we would just go to the mall and grab some pizza while we figured out what else we would do that day. We grabbed pizza then went to the comic book store. We tried to ignore what was going on in real life and were trying to just be two 19 year olds enjoying a normal day, the best way we could. After the comic shop, we went to an antique shop. I saw a 6 inch die cast metal vintage Voltron figure from the 80s.
I had remembered Voltron as a kid, but didn't have the Lion Force Voltron. I had the "car" Voltron also known as Dairugger. I bought the Lion Voltron for $20 and promptly displayed it in my car in the back window.
We ended up just walking around the mall and Main Street for the rest of the afternoon then parted ways.
My memories of the day are filled with pizza, comics, friendship, and Voltron.
In the following days, weeks, and years that followed I would see the terror of that day and how many people it impacted. I am grateful that no one I personally knew at the time was there that day. I am saddened by those that were.
Tonight I am going to the Phillies and Braves game with a trio of coworkers. Two of them are too young to remember the tragedy of 9/11 (they're in their early 20s). One of them is slightly older than me.
I always try to focus on watching baseball today. Maybe it is a subtle way for me to avoid the situation, but the one constant in my life that has made me happy has been baseball. It reminds me of my youth and allows me to dismiss any real life problems.
⚾ ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
I haven't been adding a lot of new cards of Cutch in a Pirates uniform to my collection lately. This is largely due to the fact that there isn't a lot out there that I don't already have. This has been a blessing in that it allows me to enjoy my cards I already have more.
I was thinking of a post I could come up to discuss my 9/11 memories today and found a card that reminds me of the day.
We all know that Topps tends to reuse their images. I decided to take a look at this 2017 Topps 5 Tool insert and see if I can assemble the card using images from other Topps cards.
So with the Dynotherms Connected, Let's Form This Card, Voltron Style. For each card I will post there are multiple parallels to chase.
Starting with the image in the top left corner, we will work clock wise to find what other cards these images were used on.
The image of Cutch catching the fly ball is from 2017 Topps Gold Label Class 1. Cutch is a decorated defender, having one the 2012 Gold Glove and finished as a top 3 finalist in 2013. With 2,954 career putouts he ranks third among all active Centerfielders in putouts. He had 5 seasons as a top 3 centerfielder in putouts. Even with missing the final month of 2018 because of a trade, he ranked 2nd in putouts as a rightfielder last season.
In the top upper right is an image of Cutch running. This can be seen on his 2017 Triple Threads card. Even though Cutch has slowed down a bit over the years and is more selective about his stolen base attempts, Cutch still has 187 career stolen bases, which is 18th among all active players.
Moving to the bottom right corner we see an image of Cutch presumably looking at a homerun shot. Not many people can claim to have an image of that on a card as this image was used for 1/1 letters in their 2017 high end Definitive release. I am the one person that can claim to have one. Cutch has 233 career homeruns. Prior to this season only Giancarlo Stanton and Nelson Cruz could claim hitting 20 or more homers from 2011 to this year. Unfortunately with the injuries that have plagued both Cutch and Stanton, only Nelson Cruz could claim that now.
The image in the center is a little tricky. It is clearly from the same game based on the eye black and road jersey, but the Bowman Platinum version looks like Cutch is a little more into his swing than the image used for the 5 tool card. Cutch lead the league in hits in 2012 with 194. His 1,664 career hits ranks him 23rd among active players. For three straight years he was among the top 10.
That moves us to the bottom left corner. I can't find a card using the same image as this card. Cutch has always been thought of to have a less than average arm in the outfield, but with 63 career assists as a centerfielder, that puts him 3rd among active players. In 2011 and 2013 Cutch lead the league in double plays turned by a centerfielder with 5 and 3 respectively. With missing a month thanks to a trade last year from the NL to AL he still ranked third among all right fielders with 8 outfield assists.
I guess it is fitting that the tool that Cutch is most associated with not having is the image that hasn't shown up on many cards.
Bob and I decided we would just go to the mall and grab some pizza while we figured out what else we would do that day. We grabbed pizza then went to the comic book store. We tried to ignore what was going on in real life and were trying to just be two 19 year olds enjoying a normal day, the best way we could. After the comic shop, we went to an antique shop. I saw a 6 inch die cast metal vintage Voltron figure from the 80s.
I had remembered Voltron as a kid, but didn't have the Lion Force Voltron. I had the "car" Voltron also known as Dairugger. I bought the Lion Voltron for $20 and promptly displayed it in my car in the back window.
We ended up just walking around the mall and Main Street for the rest of the afternoon then parted ways.
My memories of the day are filled with pizza, comics, friendship, and Voltron.
In the following days, weeks, and years that followed I would see the terror of that day and how many people it impacted. I am grateful that no one I personally knew at the time was there that day. I am saddened by those that were.
Tonight I am going to the Phillies and Braves game with a trio of coworkers. Two of them are too young to remember the tragedy of 9/11 (they're in their early 20s). One of them is slightly older than me.
I always try to focus on watching baseball today. Maybe it is a subtle way for me to avoid the situation, but the one constant in my life that has made me happy has been baseball. It reminds me of my youth and allows me to dismiss any real life problems.
⚾ ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
I haven't been adding a lot of new cards of Cutch in a Pirates uniform to my collection lately. This is largely due to the fact that there isn't a lot out there that I don't already have. This has been a blessing in that it allows me to enjoy my cards I already have more.
I was thinking of a post I could come up to discuss my 9/11 memories today and found a card that reminds me of the day.
We all know that Topps tends to reuse their images. I decided to take a look at this 2017 Topps 5 Tool insert and see if I can assemble the card using images from other Topps cards.
So with the Dynotherms Connected, Let's Form This Card, Voltron Style. For each card I will post there are multiple parallels to chase.
Starting with the image in the top left corner, we will work clock wise to find what other cards these images were used on.
Moving to the bottom right corner we see an image of Cutch presumably looking at a homerun shot. Not many people can claim to have an image of that on a card as this image was used for 1/1 letters in their 2017 high end Definitive release. I am the one person that can claim to have one. Cutch has 233 career homeruns. Prior to this season only Giancarlo Stanton and Nelson Cruz could claim hitting 20 or more homers from 2011 to this year. Unfortunately with the injuries that have plagued both Cutch and Stanton, only Nelson Cruz could claim that now.
That moves us to the bottom left corner. I can't find a card using the same image as this card. Cutch has always been thought of to have a less than average arm in the outfield, but with 63 career assists as a centerfielder, that puts him 3rd among active players. In 2011 and 2013 Cutch lead the league in double plays turned by a centerfielder with 5 and 3 respectively. With missing a month thanks to a trade last year from the NL to AL he still ranked third among all right fielders with 8 outfield assists.
I guess it is fitting that the tool that Cutch is most associated with not having is the image that hasn't shown up on many cards.
Saturday, July 13, 2019
CSA Show Bound
Tomorrow I will be heading to the Chantilly, VA CSA show with my brother. We will only be in attendance for a few hours. If you're heading there, say hi.
I will be wearing a Team USA McCutchen jersey with a backwards Pirates cap.
Here is a fairly recent pickup I snagged.
I got a few other parallels coming in as well. The uniform is from the 4th of July weekend Series the San Francisco Giants wore in Coors Field against the Rockies last year.
I will be wearing a Team USA McCutchen jersey with a backwards Pirates cap.
Here is a fairly recent pickup I snagged.
I got a few other parallels coming in as well. The uniform is from the 4th of July weekend Series the San Francisco Giants wore in Coors Field against the Rockies last year.
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
How sweep it is...
I love MLB authentication on cards.
This Definitive card features a uniform worn by Cutch July 2nd to July 4th against the Colorado Rockies.
The Giants were swept by the Rockies.
Anyone else love to celebrate the 4th of July early with these pops?
America!
This Definitive card features a uniform worn by Cutch July 2nd to July 4th against the Colorado Rockies.
The Giants were swept by the Rockies.
Anyone else love to celebrate the 4th of July early with these pops?
America!
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Let's Play, What Is This From?
I have had this card in my collection for a bit over a year before researching where the relic could have came from.
I have looked up countless throwback and alternate jerseys to find it's origin.
At first I thought it might be a holdover from a Team USA World Baseball Classic jersey since I knew they used a bunch of patches from that jersey for 2017 Museum.
Nope! Blue Letters on back
Maybe the 4th of July 2017 uniform Topps used
Nope!!! Again blue letters on back
How about any of the Negro League uniforms? Oh wait, none of them have nameplates on the back.
Then I realized this jersey is actually from 2016. It is the nameplate from the 4th of July jerseys worn in St. Louis.
Above you can see the red letters on the back of the Josh Harrison jersey which match the layout of this jersey perfectly.
Topps has used an image from the game for their cards in the past.
All week long I will show off some cards as we celebrate America!
At first I thought it might be a holdover from a Team USA World Baseball Classic jersey since I knew they used a bunch of patches from that jersey for 2017 Museum.
Maybe the 4th of July 2017 uniform Topps used
How about any of the Negro League uniforms? Oh wait, none of them have nameplates on the back.
Then I realized this jersey is actually from 2016. It is the nameplate from the 4th of July jerseys worn in St. Louis.
Topps has used an image from the game for their cards in the past.
All week long I will show off some cards as we celebrate America!
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Need to buy a vowel?
I am starting to get more McCutchen letters and can make a heck of a Scrabble board using the letters M C T H N
Oddly enough I need more vowels though.
Here is a pair of 2018 Topps Definitive 1/1 letters I acquired last year.
I have a few more letters coming in that I have bought from a private seller.
Oddly enough I need more vowels though.
Here is a pair of 2018 Topps Definitive 1/1 letters I acquired last year.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Phucking Unbelievable
Cutch signed a 3 year contract for $50 million yesterday with the Philadelphia Phillies.
I don't have any cards featuring Cutch with current members of the Phillies, but I do have a card of Cutch wearing a white jersey with red and blue to give a helpful hint what he will look like as a Phuture Phillie.
Here is what the uniform looks like that was worn for the patch of the card. It is the Pirates home jersey worn for Independance Day 2017.
As you can see the uniform is in fact a white jersey with red lettering and stars.
The front of the card features an image of Cutch tipping his hat at none other than Citizens Bank Park (Phillies home stadium) during a July 4th victory in 2016.
In recent years (2013 to 2018) Cutch has batted .362 at Citizens Bank Park.
I can't believe that Cutch signed a mere few hours after posting yesterday's contest. It's as if he is reading this.
Anyway, two people correctly guessed Cutch would sign with the Phillies.
It was a 3 year deal.
And Gavin wins.
I don't have any cards featuring Cutch with current members of the Phillies, but I do have a card of Cutch wearing a white jersey with red and blue to give a helpful hint what he will look like as a Phuture Phillie.
Here is what the uniform looks like that was worn for the patch of the card. It is the Pirates home jersey worn for Independance Day 2017.
The front of the card features an image of Cutch tipping his hat at none other than Citizens Bank Park (Phillies home stadium) during a July 4th victory in 2016.
In recent years (2013 to 2018) Cutch has batted .362 at Citizens Bank Park.
I can't believe that Cutch signed a mere few hours after posting yesterday's contest. It's as if he is reading this.
Anyway, two people correctly guessed Cutch would sign with the Phillies.
It was a 3 year deal.
And Gavin wins.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Card #2,222: A New Milestone
Andrew McCutchen has over 4,000 cards produced including 1/1s and a bunch of Just Minors sticker autographs. While I have been knocking out a few of the Just Minors, I am still very far away from collecting all those 1/1s. There's just waaaaaaay too many printing plates to chase. On top of it, Topps has wisely begun producimg cards of different sizes for the player collectors to try and chase down. It's no longer about having the standard size cards. Beckett has checklisted all the 5x7s, 10x16s, and mini size cards that Topps offers through their online shop.
To put into perspective how insane the sheer amount of parallels has gotten in recent years, 24 year old Tyler Glasnow has nearly 1,700 cards produced. He has pitched 109 innings with a 6.52 ERA.
I will never collect 100% of all the Cutch cards, but when I can look at multiple pages on eBay or COMC that aren't 1/1s and say I have them I feel I have done a good job of Collecting Cutch.
Since arriving to the majors in June 2009, Cutch has worn #22 so I am proud to show off my 2,222nd unique card of Cutch.
I am a big fan of the 2017 Definitive release. Every card has an MLB authentication sticker so you can research the game the jersey was used.
In addition, the design is just beautifully crafted. The textured layers of purple background on this particular card numbered 2/5 really make the card pop.
To put into perspective how insane the sheer amount of parallels has gotten in recent years, 24 year old Tyler Glasnow has nearly 1,700 cards produced. He has pitched 109 innings with a 6.52 ERA.
I will never collect 100% of all the Cutch cards, but when I can look at multiple pages on eBay or COMC that aren't 1/1s and say I have them I feel I have done a good job of Collecting Cutch.
Since arriving to the majors in June 2009, Cutch has worn #22 so I am proud to show off my 2,222nd unique card of Cutch.
I am a big fan of the 2017 Definitive release. Every card has an MLB authentication sticker so you can research the game the jersey was used.
In addition, the design is just beautifully crafted. The textured layers of purple background on this particular card numbered 2/5 really make the card pop.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Going Green: Defining Definitive
Definitive is such a beautiful high end set. Cutch has two different photo variations to chase. One is a black jersey numbered AMC
Looking at the authentication sticker we learn that this black jersey is from a home game in which the Pirates hosted the Houston Astros in a 3-1 loss.
Cutch went 0 for 4 with two punchouts on the day.
The other variation of Cutch for 2017 Definitive is a white jersey numbered AM.
This white jersey swatch is from an August 22nd 2015 home game against the San Francisco Giants which ended in a walk off homerun by Starling Marte.
The winning pitcher of the game is current Giants closer Mark Melancon. The losing pitcher is current Pirates setup man George Kontos.
Cutch went 0 for 2 with a walk and caught stealing.
It's kind of odd that both jerseys are from August 22nd, but looking at Cutch's performances on those dates in 2015 and 2016 it is clear why those were given to Topps to cut up.
I am slowly trying to collect both versions in all the different color parallels available. The thing I like about these two examples is that the large jersey swatches match the uniform that Cutch is wearing on the card.
The green parallels are both numbered to only 15 copies.
The other variation of Cutch for 2017 Definitive is a white jersey numbered AM.
The winning pitcher of the game is current Giants closer Mark Melancon. The losing pitcher is current Pirates setup man George Kontos.
It's kind of odd that both jerseys are from August 22nd, but looking at Cutch's performances on those dates in 2015 and 2016 it is clear why those were given to Topps to cut up.
I am slowly trying to collect both versions in all the different color parallels available. The thing I like about these two examples is that the large jersey swatches match the uniform that Cutch is wearing on the card.
The green parallels are both numbered to only 15 copies.
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