Redefining an Icon

Two years ago Topps tried to create an art project by getting 20 influencers to give their take on twenty of the most iconic cards Topps has produced over the years. The project was known as Project 2020 and it was very successful despite some people having absolutely zero interest in the project.  

Part of the problem with that project was one of the most iconic cards (1952 Topps Mickey Mantle) Topps didn't have a license to use Mickey Mantle's likeness.  Another part of the failing of the project is not all iconic baseball cards are Topps brands. When we think of iconic baseball cards there are a few others that likely come to mind like the Bo Jackson Score, Ken Griffey Jr 89 UD, and the 88 Fleer FF Billy Ripken.

Thanks to the greatest custom card creator in the western hemisphere, I have a unique opportunity to showcase the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr with a special Collecting Cutch take on the card.  Tanner Jones, the former Jose Canseco supercollector, and known as mouschi on many sports card forums created the below masterpiece.

I had a duplicate Andrew McCutchen patch card that I had won as part of a lot of patch cards that I needed 3 of the 4 cards.  Not having a need for the duplicate card and knowing I wouldn't get much value if I sold just that card by itself I reached out to Tanner to slaughter the Topps Tribute card and create the above masterpiece.  The Star Rookie logo was replaced with the patch of the Topps Tribute card.

The Upper Deck logo was replaced with a Collecting Cutch logo. 

The bat was positioned to be on Andrew's shoulder similar to Griffey's and the treeline in the background was added to mimic the Griffey as well.  I asked Tanner to show an image of Cutch wearing a chain necklace on the back of the card (which you can see below). 

Since Griffey is a lefty and Cutch is a righty, the bats were mirrored.

The back of the card discusses part of the inspiration for the card. 

I think he nailed it.

Here is an image of the duplicate patch cards.  I chose for the "better" patch to be cut up because the yellow matched up with the Star Rookie better.

What do you think? 

What are some of the most iconic non Topps cards?

A post that is a day late and the last card Mays offend some people

Happy (belated) 90th Birthday Willie Mays!

Willie May will forever be one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.

Above is an unlicensed card from Hits Memorabilia featuring three of the top 25 centerfielders to ever play the game (at keast according to a 2018 poll where Mays was ranked 1st, Griffey 3rd, and McCutchen 22nd)

It is my only Willie Mays relic and was worn at an old timers game for the Mets.

I also have this 2015 Topps Heritage New Age Performers card that features a sweet image of Cutch on the front

and a nice writeup about Willie Mays on the back

Its hard to believe that it was only 6 years ago that Cutch was leading the league with a .952 OPS.  It feels like forever.

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My favorite Willie Mays card in my collection is a NL Leaders card that features 3 All Time Greats

I wrote about it on Chasing3000 way back in 2018.

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With it being Willie Mays birthday yesterday, Topps used that opportunity to showcase the newest Alex Pardee Project 70 card and it features none other than Willie Mays.

The odd thing is that he is featured as a werewolf.

Does anyone understand this?  I have never seen an image of Mays with any facial hair, let alone werewolf status.  

I understand that Pardee really dives into his love of comic books for his art, but if he wanted to make a werewolf for the project why not use someone like Bryce Harper or even Brian Wilson?  Both those guys are known to have some pretty intense facial hair.

I did buy the Pardee Mays card because I am collecting the Pardee and Jamieson artist sets to get the posters.  

Have you bought any Project 70 cards?

What is your favorite Willie Mays card in your collection?

Hall of Fame Announcement

It will be revealed tomorrow who else will be joining Lee Smith and Harold Baines in the Hall of Fame.

I thought it might be cool to show off some Cutch cards I have featuring members already in the Hall of Fame.

Tris Speaker

Ralph Kiner

Willie Stargell

(The above also features HOF Reggie Jackson)

Roberto Clemente

Clemente and Stargell

(Ok so the above card doesn't feature Cutch, but darn is it a nice card)

Stargell and Kiner

Ken Griffey Jr (along with Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson making appearances too)

Not a bad mini PC to combine, right?

So here are the people I would vote in

1&2: Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens get my vote because I believe in the Chris Archer rule: never convicted, never admitted, and HOF careers prior to belived start dates.

3. Larry Walker
4.Edgar Martinez
5.Mariano Rivera
6.Roy Halladay
7.Roy Oswalt (needs to get 5% for future votes)
8.Mike Mussina
9.Todd Helton
10.Curt Schilling

Steel McCutchen impresses a Hall of Famer

Andrew McCutchen posted a video on his Instagram a few days ago of his son, Steel, hitting off a tee.

It was enough to impress, McCutchen's childhood idol, Ken Griffey Jr, to reply.

There has been many articles written about how Cutch grew up watching Griffey play and how Griffey thinks that McCutchen is the best player in the game today that resembles how he played the game.

I thought it would be appropriate to show off the few relic cards I have of both Griffey and Cutch.

Up first is this triple jersey of Griffey, Cutch, and Willie Mays.

This is the only Willie Mays relic I own and unfortunately it is the pants from a 1978 Mets uniform.

Like all of Hits Memorabilia cards, there is an online database that you can cross reference the material used for all their cards. 

This was the jersey used for the production of the card above and the following card below.

This is a super awesome card featuring 4 former MVP winners.  Lots of cool laundry tags and different looking swatches on this including the inner lining of a Harper hat and a Trout batting glove.

I know a lot of people love Bo Jackson and he was an outstanding athlete, but honestly I don't view him as that good of a baseball player.  Call it blasphemous, but through his age 27 season with the Kansas City Royals he posted only a career .787 OPS to that point.  Furthermore he struck out at a whopping 34.7% of his at bats. These were all BEFORE his football injury.  Stanton and Judge both have lower totals in their careers and they are the poster children for striking out in the current game. 

As for the 2 Hall of Famers on the card: Reggie Jackson and Griffey; yeah, that's pretty cool.  

Trade Deadline Day: MVPs ON THE MOVE?

This afternoon marks the end of the nonwaiver trade deadline and we could see some big names get traded today.

Last night news broke that the Nationals are indeed willing to trade Bryce Harper.  Could one of the faces of the game be traded in the coming hours?

Harper is a 5 tool talent that is a true game changer when on the field.

We have seen some of the best 5 Tool talents in the game get traded before so it shouldn't come as a surprise if one of them gets moved.

The green swatch from the Harper in the above 2 Hits Memorabilia cards is actually from a St. Patrick's Day Spring Training game cap.

I have a few Harper relics ranging from single jersey swatches to hat swatches to patches.  One of my favorites though is this extremely tough to find triple jersey featuring All-Stars Andrew McCutchen, Joc Pederson, and of course Bryce.

I also like when I know when I can pinpoint where a jersey relic is from.  The red and black swatches were from the workout jerseys.


One name we likely won't see get traded is Adam Jones who already has used his 10-5 rights to veto a trade to Philadelphia.  I respect Adam's decision to want to stay in Baltimore because of his family and the amount of charity work he does in the city.  That shows that he is a greater person than ballplayer.

Adam Jones is a very consistent player that usually puts up an average in the .270 to .280 range with 25 HR and 80-90runs/RBI.

This octopatch booklet is just ridiculous.  It had 8 of the top outfielders at the time of the card's production (minus Mike Trout).

Injuries derailed Tulo from a HOF career.

This dual button is still one of my top 10 cards in my collection.

There he is!!!! Mike Trout!!!!  He likely won't be traded.

What former All-Stars will be traded today?

Former All-Star Zach Duke was traded yesterday to the Mariners as they hope to solidify the diversity in their bullpen.

Oh you didn't know that Zach Duke who has been a lefty reliever was at one time an All-Star? Well he was in 2009 when Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel added him as a late addition to the roster.  He was also a 2xRookie of the Month in 2005 (July and August).

There are reports that the Indians and Phillies are very interested in Cutch, while it also seems possible that the Yankees would look to acquire the former NL MVP

I can see Cutch going to the Indians as that would be a great fit and he will be available to play daily.

Philly and NY look to be a platoon position if they were to acquire him as their outfields are already pretty crowded.