All-Star Patches

With the All-Star game voting now available, I wanted to take this opportunity and ask everyone to vote for Andrew McCutchen.  I know his stats might not be elite, but .....

I want more patch cards!!!!

Each year Triple Threads puts out a subset of All-Star patches from the previous year's All-Stars.

I have all 5 All-Star patch cards /9 from Cutch's All-Star seasons (2011-2015).

Here they are as individual cards with a quick note about how Cutch did during the game.

2011
Cutch had one at bat. He grounded out to the pitcher.

2012
Cutch was looking to be an early season MVP as he batted over .360 with 18 Home Runs.  He was a late selection for the Home Run derby, but was eliminated in the first round.

2013
This was Cutch's MVP season and he came in to the game as a pinch runner for Carlos Beltran.  He stole 2nd base as a Pinch Runner, but struck out in both his plate appearances.

2014
Cutch started his first All-Star game and in his first at bat lined a ball up the middle that Derek Jeter (in his final season) made a diving stop to almost throw out Cutch.  He would later steal second.

2015
Cutch was a starter again this year and blasted his first ASG HomeRun in his final at bat of the evening.

I have plenty more All-Star game cards of Cutch, but I will use the ASG FanFest weekend to show off those cards.

If you look at the standard counting stats, Cutch is having a terrible season, but if you look deeper into the numbers his BABIP (batting average balls in play) is almost 70 points below league average.  He has blistered a lot of balls that unfortunately have lead to outs.

Showing off some customs

Occassionally I will come across some custom cards for sale that strike my fancy.  I'm not a huge supporter of these kinds of cards, but if it features an old Topps design I liked or a unique moment I usually pull the trigger.

Recently I came across this custom

I picked up his "team set" of Team USA.

I loved this year's WBC and rooting for Team USA.  I have to hand it to Jim Leyland for winning the tournament and sticking with his core guys.  I felt like the team lacked the "Superstar" and "Hobby star" names, but as a team they did an incredible job.

When you think of the big names in the card collecting world, who on Team USA draws the most attention?
Buster Posey, probably.
All their other guys play on small market teams.  Miami, Kansas City, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Baltimore.  Most are low revenue teams.
Again kudos and Jim Leyland and the team.

I have also picked up a few other customs over the years.

This was a hand drawn sketch card that I thought looked really good so I had to pick it up.

These two were random impulse buys.

And to finish things off is this really sweet looking T206 Style Piedmont card.

The Mauer was a freebie the seller provided.
If anyone wants the Mauer let me know.

Bo knows

Bo from the blog Baseball Cards Come to Life recently posted a comment on my blog regarding a 2010 Topps Opening Day base card I needed. A day later I received this card in the mail.

It's number 1,695 unique Cutch in my collection.  I am nearing the 1,700 milestone with only a few more additions.

Thanks so much Bo!

As a reminder please don't forget my contest.

Dated Material 5-7-15

Something about being able to determine what game a particular relic is used in always makes me believe the authenticity more.

Years ago Donruss used to picture the relic they cut up on the back, but today we are often stuck with the phrase "This relic is not from any particular game, season, or event"

Panini had a subset in their National Treasures release where they tell you exactly when the material is from.  It was called Dated Material.

This is my Cutch card numbered 10/25

How did Cutch do for the day?

Looks like he did pretty well.

Contest Reminder: My Top 10 Inserts Edition

A few days ago I showed off my top 10 Cutch cards. Each week I plan on doing more top 10 subclasses to remind all readers to enter my contest.

Today I am going to show off my 10 favorite Cutch inserts
#10 2012 Bowman Cutting Edge Stars
The only die cut to make the list, this card features a Spring Training Photo and discusses Cutch's admiration of Ken Griffey Jr. on the back.

#9 2014 Allen & Ginter Pastime's Pastimes
This is likely the only card published in 2014 that discusses both Manny Ramirez and Eddie Murphy in the same sentence.  That causes this card to rank in the top 10.  The chalkboard effect adds a nice background.

#8 2014 Topps High Tek Tektonics
This ultra hip semiacetate 90s throwback is what great inserts are supposed to look like.

#7 Select Thunder Alley
What do I miss about cards these days compared to the 90s? The over the top flashy inserts.  In it's only recent year 2013 Select gave us a bunch of great inserts.  It was a toss up between Thunder Alley and En Fuego, shown yesterday.  Ultimately I chose ThunderAlley because of the back.  Pictured below are the Prizm (refractor) and base.

#6 Opening Day Stadium Scenes
This card is technically not an Andrew McCutchen card, but since he is featured and I was at this game it counts.  The shot from Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia was from the On Deck Series.  I recognize the helmet that Cutch is signing as I was able to get him to sign a ball for me that same day.  I must have been just to the right of the person taking the photo and not even realized one day it would be on a baseball card.

#5 2017 Topps 5 Tools
When these were previewed the general consensus on the 2017 release was "meh".  One thing that seemed consistent was that the 5 Tool inserts look great.  I have to agree, this card really packs a punch.

#4 2010 Upper Deck Supreme
This retail exclusive insert set was available in 2 different colors (blue and green).  The blue was slightly harder to find.  I am including both because quite frankly I just miss Upper Deck so much.  The scans don't do them justice.

#3 2014 Elite Face 2 Face vs Clayton Kershaw
What a great concept for an insert set.  Pick 2 of the best stars in the game and show how they have faced off against each other.  I would love to see this get done with Topps so we have logos.  How well has Kris Bryant done against Carlos Martinez? Chris Sale vs Francisco Lindor? MadBum vs Corey Seager? Thor vs Harper?  This insert set needs to be brought back.

#2 2014 Prizm Fearless
I miss Cutch and his dreads
 During 2013-early 2015 releases, Cutch had some awesome looking cardboard because of his long dreadlocks.  It gave him an image that was easily recognizable.  This insert set (and all its glorious looking color parallels) shows a perfect image of Cutch crushing a ball.

Finally is a mini that is my absolute favorite image of Cutch on cardboard.

#1 2012 Topps Mini 1987
I started collecting baseball cards in 1987.  Anytime you get Wrigley Ivy in the background with a leaping Cutch, just makes for some special cardboard.

Some honorable mentions
2013 Select En Fuego

2016 Topps Perspectives

2013 Opening Play Hard

2009 Topps Propaganda Victory

As a reminder....be sure to enter my contest and show off your top 10 favorite cards of your favorite player.

Cinco de Mayo

Another quick post for today.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Enjoy these En Fuego cards.

Regularly scheduled programming will resume Saturday

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the 4th (be with you)

I don't have any cardboard of Cutch hanging out with Harrison Ford, but here's a 2016 Topps Fire 5x7 jumbo that resembles Cutch holding a lightsaber

This is the Gold Edition /10