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. 

80s Week: Turning a Baseball Card into the Baddest Motha'

Time is running out to post your favorite player born in the 1980s.  All week I have been showing off my Andrew McCutchen 80s related cardboard and making references to the 80s all week.

Today I am going to do a 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon style post by taking an unlicensed Donruss baseball card and trying to connect it to Samuel L. Jackson because I have been on a Marvel Cinematic Universe binge.

Here is the card

This 2015 Donruss Press Proof is numbered to 299 copies and is inspired by Donruss' inaugural release from 1981.

The back of the card features exactly the same design as the first release in 1981.  This is a nice touch by Panini as it is almost like Topps Heritage.

Cutch's card is 198 which in the 1981 Donruss set belonged to Andre Thornton (images borrowed by COMC.com)

Thornton was a power hitting first baseman/designated hitter.  He finished his career with 253 Home Runs.  He was a two time All-Star during his age 32 and 34 seasons.  He also won the Roberto Clemente Award in 1979.

As you can see in 1976 he was traded from the Expos to the Indians for Jackie Brown.

Jackie Brown was also a 1997 Crime Film that Pam Grier starred in with one Samuel L Jackson.

Tiger Sharks, Tiger Printing Process

Tonight on Discovery Channel's Shark Week is a special about tiger sharks.  Of all the sharks, tiger sharks are one of the most dangerous to humans.

Tiger sharks get their name for the stripes they have.  They have beautiful grey, black, and white skin that make these majestic creatures stand out in the oceans.

I will be missing the episodes tonight as I have to close the store.
As a fan of the Discovery Channel, I wonder if Cutch has been watching Shark Week.

I have half of the printing proofs used to make this card (still need the yellow and cyan). These are really cool in person as they aren't numbered and don't have backs.  They are strictly just like the blank backs that Topps puts out, but only feature one color of the printing process.  Panini has been doing the same thing with their Donruss line recently, but have been numbering those.

This proof resembles the colors you will see on a Tiger Shark.

Do The Humpty Hump...

It's Andrew McCutchen's job to make sure nothing falls.

It's my job to make sure all the Cutches fall into my collection.

All the king's men couldn't put Humpty back together again, but I was able to put together all these parallels from 2018 Donruss Diamond Kings subset so far.

(Season stat, Artist Proof, Press Proof)
(Base, Career Stat)
I have the blue Father's Day ribbon/49 along with the Gameday Stat /8 and blank back all coming my way.

I still need the retail holos, teal border /199, Gold Press Proof /99,  and Mother's Day /25.

If anyone can locate the Pink Mother's Day Ribbon /25 and it leads to me buying or trading for the card I will offer a reward!!!  I saw the jersey numbered 22/25 sell recently for under $7, but have not seen any others since and only 1 before.  I will need the pink for my annual Save The Boobies event I do in October.

PWE from the Lost Collector

AJ from the Lost Collector sent me an email with a picture of a 2017 retro McCutchen base card, wondering if I already had it.  I told him that I had a few of the parallels, but not the base.

A few days later I received this along with a 2017 Donruss Starling Marte.

This card goes nicely with my other parallels

From left to right
Season Statline (HRs)/24, Aqueous Test Back /49,Gold Press Proof /99
Silver border/199, Career Statline(OBP) /381, Pink Back

Thank you so much for contributing to the Cutch PC, AJ.  I have several packages going out this week and yours is one of them.