Cutch Scratch Fever

Back in 2018, Topps introduced collectors to the Home Run challenge game.  The game was fairly simple.  It took some of the top home run hitters from the 2017 season and allowed fans and collectors to scratch off a code for a chance to guess when the player on the front would hit a home run.

These cards were essentially a lottery ticket to get a limited print run card.  The cards fell roughly 1 per box (24 to 36 packs) depending on the brand purchased.  Complete details of the program can be found here.

Based on actual results of winning challenge cards entered, here are the print runs by month

March/April: /7

May: /0 (no HR hit in month)

June: /19

July: /17

August: /30

September: /68

As you can see the print run in March/April was extremely limited with only 7 cards redeemed by correctly guessing a Cutch homer in that period.  

To see what the final cards look like you can revisit this post from October when I described the design to look like the Tardis from Doctor Who and I spotlighted Jenna Coleman as that day's subject with the pink themed card.

The interesting thing I noticed while going through some doubles in my collection was there were different designs of the scratch off surfaces.

I pictured them below.

I don't recall if any of my attempted challenge cards had the larger surface used in the left image, but the other 6 unscratched cards I still own have the wavy backs.

They've Arrived!!!

Three more 1/1 on card autographs from 2018 Archives Signature Current Player Edition arrived.

While I am slightly disappointed that between 7 redemptions I received ZERO Heritage cards, I am grateful I got a few parallels with the latest batch.

Here Is the latest offerings that Topps sent my way.

2016 Bowman's Best
2017 Topps Chrome Prism Refractor
2011 Bowman Gold parallel

I doubt I will go after anymore redemptions, but if I see any Heritage or Flagship already redeemed I will likely try to acquire them.

Shelby coming round the mountain

I attempted 14 failed HR challenge cards this year until I finally got one right.  During the month of June I used several codes and always missed by a day.  If I predicted a HR on Tuesday, he would hit it Wednesday.

Finally on the last day of the month, Cutch hit an opposite field solo shot off struggling Shelby Miller.

I liked the matchup as Cutch has seen Shelby many times in his career as they were division rivals when Cutch was with the Pirates and Shelby was with the Cardinals.

There were only 19 winners for the month of June.

So far I have an April redemption (black) and June redemption (blue).  Cutch failed to hit a HR in May which is a damn shame because that redemption was pink and would have been perfect for the Save The Boobies event I do each year.

A $9 bid lands me a $90 redemption

I said I was going to ease up on the amount of cards I was buying and overall I have done very good with resisting the temptation.  I had heard that Cutch was a redemption for the 2018 Archives Active Players Autograph release.  While I didn't want to waste a lot of money on a redemption (we have all heard the year long process with some of these redemptions) I was willing to take a $9 gamble on a case break.

Boy am I glad I did.

These redemptions have been selling in the $80+ range.

I have no idea what card will be autographed when Cutch signs the buyback, but I am looking forward to it.

In order to enter the redemption, I had to break the seal to scratch off the back.  Once entered, I threw the redemption in a top loader and took the 2018 Archives Mag Case to place one of my favorite in person signed cards.

The reality of this card actually being made is a possibility as Cutch, Harrison, and Marte all signed for the 2018 Archives release.  If this actually gets produced (likely as a 1/1) I would need to add it to the collection.  For now though I am happy with my in person triple auto of the All-Star tandem of Cutch (2011-2015), Harrison (2014 & 2017), and Marte (2016).

I'm Bad At Gambling

With sports betting now being legal in NJ, I think I should come clean with something.

I am bad at gambling.

I have incorrectly used 9 Home Run challenges cards of Andrew McCutchen on days he failed to hit a homerun including all 3 games he played in his return to Pittsburgh.

The cards cost me $3 to $5 each so that was roughly $40 wasted.


Fortunately, there was still hope.  I negotiated and over paid to get one of only 7 of the cards that people correctly guessed when Cutch hit one of his three homers in April.

These cards are incredibly sharp looking in hand.

The seller provided the card in the Topps Now packaging.

So after having a feeling that Cutch would hit a HR in his last 3 games played and missing on each one, what do you think happened yesterday?

Cutch went yard of course. 

Ho Hum, a graded 1/1

I picked up the final card to my 2016 National Bowman Chrome pack redemption rainbow.

For $88 I was able to secure this 1/1 which looks like a prism refractor and x-fractor had a baby that is actually a black refractor.

Details about the redemption pack program can be found here.

It is my 168th numbered 1/1

Thanks for the taco Cameron

I have been scanning cards for the past few hours getting ready to get back on track now that the Save The Boobies event is over.  In my haste I forgot to run to Taco Bell and get myself a free taco so I borrowed some images off the internet while waiting to get my free taco.

MLB and Taco Bell continued their Steal a Base, Steal a Taco promotion this year.

Thanks to Cameron Maybin everyone was able to get a free taco today from 2-6pm.

Cameron Maybin was highly touted as a 5 Tool can't miss prospect in the 2005 draft.  He was selected 10th overall by the Detroit Tigers, one selection before the Pirates drafted Andrew McCutchen.

Bowman released a redemption set for the autographs in exchange for the gold refractor.  It is one of the most complicated to understand stories and a lot of urban legends surround how the cards needed to be redeemed to begin with.

The base paper set is incredibly affordable as only Cutch has really blossomed into a star.

But for those of us who like tacos...

Cameron Maybin is the star of today.  Thanks for the taco Sir!!!

What Could Have Been? A Failed 1/1

There's moments in life where we are at a fork in the road and we make a decision where we went right instead of going left.  Sometimes we look back and wonder "What could have been?"

Because I imagine none of you are friends with Doc Brown, we are all stuck living with the choices we have made.

Prior to the holiday season, I placed a very unique 1/1 card inside my scanner and then put it on my desk. The card was a redemption of sorts as you'll see later in the post. I wasn't sure if I was going to attempt to redeem it because quite honestly I didn't know if I would be a winner.

It's a rip card POTENTIAL redemption

Here's the card

Inside is a 1/1 mini guaranteed. It could have also lead to a much bigger prize.

What did Cutch do between June 24-27?
He played all four games of the Pirates homestand hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His batting line was 5/15 (including a double and 3 run Home Run). He collected 4 RBI, scored 3 runs, and walked once. He struck out 4 times, was caught stealing, and left 6 men on base.

It's too late to redeem the card if it was a winner, but I am stuck wondering What if?

Would you rip the card knowing you can't redeem it to answer the question or keep it unripped?