Testing....

How early is too early to set up a Christmas tree and decorations?

Just testing out everyone else's theories. 

My girlfriend wants to set up the tree this weekend, but I am trying to convince her not until after Thanksgiving like we have done in the past.

Is now too soon?

Throwback Thursday: Willie Mac Unis

I wish I had this card in hand to show off when remembering the great Willie McCovey. 

Cutch has been getting the Throwback uniform treatment in Heritage each of the past two years.

I'm pretty excited I was able to land a copy for about half of the going rate for this Super Rare short print.

Heritage always knocks it out of the park year after year.

Red Hot, Hot Stove

The hot stove is upon us.  Rumors of who will be signing where will no doubt be flying as we near December.

The Pirates are wasting no time at shuffling their 40 man roster at the early stages of the off-season.

They have already renegotiated a contract with Jung Ho Kang to keep him in Pittsburgh after he missed the 2017 and most of the 2018 seasons due to legal issues and injuries.

In addition they traded away a pair of rookies (Max Moroff and Jordan Luplow) for utility infielder Erik Gonzalez and a pair of 19 year old pitchers.

While these aren't the blockbuster moves that teams with larger payrolls make, I like that the Pirates are beginning to check off some of their needs to make the team more competitive.

The Pirates know they will begin the year without starting right fielder, Gregory Polanco, and many thought Jordan Luplow would be the Pirates first option.  Many fans weren't pleased about this logic.  Shipping Luplow out to get a glove first utility infielder fills the void that Sean Rodriguez leaving caused. 

Now obviously I would love a reunion with Cutch to fill Polanco's injury issue, but there are a lot of really good corner outfielders on the market this year.

R.I.P. Stan Lee

News shook the pop culture world yesterday when it was confirmed that Stan Lee had died at age 95.

He was a legend in the comic industry and helped create so many icons that kids and adults still love today.

Fantastic Four? Yup
Hulk? Yup
Spider-Man? Yup
Thor? Yup
Iron Man? Yup
Black Panther? Yup
X-Men? Yup
Daredevil? Yup
Inhumans? Yup

The list goes on and on for what Stan helped create with Jack Kirby, Steven Ditko, John Romita, and the many many other contributors of the Silver Age of Marvel Comics.

Even Cutch was a fan of some Stan Lee creations.

Yup, Cutch wore a Black Panther mask in the dugout while a member of the San Francisco Giants this year.

How anybody can't root for Cutch is beyond me.

And he even got compared to Spider-Man (Lee's most iconic superhero) sometimes as seen on the back of this Panini Fathers Day card.

Why Topps? Why?

You may recall back in May that I showed off an early preview of 2018 Topps Update.  You can see it here.

I was excited to collect all the parallels of Cutch in his new Giants uniform.  I have checked off a few of the parallels, but still need the base.

The initial preview showed a gold parallel of Cutch on a horizontal design.  I really liked how it looked as I don't have many cards of the former Pirate in a horizontal look.

The card however was produced vertically using a closer cropping of the same image.  You can see the gold parallel below to,compare them both.

Which version do you like more?

Scripture Sunday - Daniel 11:32

Daniel 11:32
The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out GREAT EXPLOITS.

In Need Of A Clever Title...

I literally couldn't come up with anything to write about. 

Here's a 1/1 yellow printing plate from 2018 Topps Update.

Toodles...