You can dance if you want to...

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  For each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog I donate a dollar to hopefully help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram (max $400).  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  Last year I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 4th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014.)

Today I want to take a look at

Kalani Hilliker

She became famous for her dancing as a teen (seen on left in the gif above)

She is currently a model and YouTuber

You may notice the H&M backdrop.  I don't know what H&M actually stands for, but on my blog that stands for (Josh) Harrison & (Andrew) McCutchen.

Both were pretty good dancers while teammates in Pittsburgh and shared many celebrations on Team USA too.

The pair of former Buccos brought a lot of fun and entertainment to the Steel City in their time together from 2011-2017.  They helped change the Pirates into a perennial contender for three years (2013-2015) when the Pirates had the 2nd most wins in baseball.  They were steering the ship.

This is a desperately needed card for my collection.

I have only seen one sold on eBay and one sold on COMC in four years.

Help me get this card.  

It is a pink 2016 Topps Update #US30 Pirates Mateys 

Each year I post 1 card I aim to add to the collection as part of my Save Second Base event.  I am 2 for 3 in acquiring the cards I post (still looking for the 2013 Topps Chrome Pink /5)

Both Harrison and McCutchen know how to be Safe at Second Base in style

I actually have doubles of another McCutchen/Harrison pink card (2015 Update #US15 "River City Rakers)

If I was to obtain the 2016 Topps Update #US30 Pirates Mateys pink card I would likely BUST out into a dance like this

2020 has been a strange year, maybe next year I can celebrate by unmasking this card as having been acquired.

Completing the pair of Harrison/McCutchen cards would be a lot of fun.

(Kalani on left)

Bob Walk, Playboy, Steelers Football, and Walkoff Taters: this post has it all

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  For each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog I donate a dollar to hopefully help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram.  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  Last year I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 4th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014.)

The World Series winner is getting closer and closer!!!! In only a few days we will have a winner to a season I had doubts of actually being played.

On another note, the Steelers continue to roll and remain undefeated.

Today I am going to look at Amanda Cerny

Amanda is an actress and former Playboy model. 

She was the Playboy Playmate of the month for October 2011.

She has recently appeared in movies like The Bet.

She will be appearing in the comedy Deported available for streaming next month.

And she has recently appeared as Violet in the Babysitters Film Series.  You may recall I talked about the first movie when discussing Samantha Weaving last week.

Amanda is from Pittsburgh so it is very likely that she will be joining me in rooting on the Steelers for the rest of the season.

As a matter of fact, the former Playboy Playmate was born just after a moment that is referenced on the back of an Adam Frazier card I own.

In 2017 Adam Frazier hit a walk off homer while batting in the leadoff position.  He joined only three other Pirates to accomplish that feat in the past 40 years.  One of them is Andrew McCutchen, making this a cardboard cameo.  The other two are Barry Bonds and Orlando Merced.  (Remember when Barry Bonds was a leadoff hitter?)

It is the last name mentioned, Orlando Merced, that I want to focus on today.

On the afternoon of May 25th, 1991 the Pirates were hosting cross state rivals, Philadelphia Phillies.  Former Phillies World Series champion and universally adored Bob Walk was on the mound for the Pirates.  He gave up 2 runs in 4 innings and got a no decision in his 59 pitch effort.  The game remained tied going into extra innings until Orlando Merced came up with one out and Curt Wilkerson on base.  He smacked a 2 run walk off homer from the leadoff position becoming the first to do it since Barry Bonds.

Merced would be the last Pirate to hit a walk off homer from the leadoff position until Andrew McCutchen did so 18 years later in 2009.

Adam Frazier joined the list of Steel City leadoff hitters in 2017 when he smacked his first walk off homer.

War, What Is It Good For?

Because it's football Sunday I am going to talk about someone closely related to football, but first let me give some background info on...

Kate Mara

For just a few of her roles I recall her in 24, House of Cards, and the very forgettable Fantastic 4 movie (2015)

She also appeared in movies like Zoom and Brokeback Mountain when she was just a teenager.

One of her best looking roles was in the action thriller Shooter.

You may not expect this from a famous actress, but Kate is football royalty.

She is the great granddaughter of the original founders of the New York Giants (Tim Mara) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Art Rooney).

That's two of the most famous football franchises and two of the most winningest franchises too.

Royalty!

She has also starred in the real life War Hero story, Megan Leavey (available for streaming on Hulu).  It tells the story of Megan and her dog Rex who completed over 100 missions, until one day a new explosive device injured both of them.

It's ok to admit crying while watching the movie, no one will think you're any less manly.

The real Megan Leavey was a die hard Yankees fan and was invited to Yankee Stadium in 2012 where she received a Purple Heart for her services.

Yankee Stadium was a stadium Cutch called home for the tail end of the 2018 season.

This 2019 Topps Mini is numbered to only 25 copies.

The back of the card has a name cameo of Cutch as part of the Starting Lineup.

Speaking of WAR, pink cards, and heroes; how would you like to win an autograph of the late Lou Brock?

I will random all the comments on this post that say what their favorite war movie is (feel free to also discuss Kate, Megan, the WAR stat, Lou Brock in your comment too).  The person on top after the 6th (Lou Brock's All Star Game appearances) random will receive the Lou Brock autograph.  This contest entry will close Thursday morning 10/29/20 at 8am.

It's another pink card with an autograph of a deceased Hall of Famer so please participate in this contest.  Limit one entry per blogger.  Must leave a comment about your favorite war movie.  Additional comments are appreciated too.

Lou Brock was elected to the Hall of Fame with his first year on the ballot after a 19 year career that saw him collect 3,023 hits and at the time of his retirement he was the all time Stolen Base leader.  Despite over 3K hits, Brock finished his career with only a 45.4 WAR (Wins Above Replacement).  I thought it was strange that a 19 year veteran with over 3,000 hits and being the Stolen Base Champ would have amassed only a 45.4 WAR over his career.  Then I started to dissect his career a little bit and it's easy to see why he received only 1 top 5 MVP vote and why his WAR is lower than some of today's current outfielders.

I never saw him play, but he lead the National League in Outfield Errors 7 times in his 19 year career and finished in the top 10 in 14 of those 19 seasons. 

He struck out nearly 1,000 more times than he walked and finished his career with a slugging percentage of only .410.  He lead the National League in caught stealing 7 times and has the second most caught stealings in a career. His SB% was surprisingly only 75% in his career and produced the 21st most overall outs in a career.  

I know it is a much different game played now than in the 60s and 70s, but Andrew McCutchen has already accumulated nearly an identical WAR (44.4) in 1,000 less games played.  His OBP and SLG is significantly higher than Brock while his SB success is slightly worse (71%) and average .285 is slightly worse.  He also doesn't make the routine plays into errors as he has only twice finished in the top 10 for errors made as an outfielder.

The WAR stat was created so that we could judge players of different eras to see how much better they are than a replacement level player from the minor leagues.

Do you agree with the WAR stat?  Is it helpful to gage players of different eras?

What is a favorite war movie for you? (You must say your favorite War movie to qualify for entry into the Lou Brock auto card random)

Crikey!

Today we will be looking at...

Bindi Irwin

Bindi Irwin has been in the public eye since she was 9 years old and starred as Bindi, The Jungle Girl.

She is the daughter of the legendary Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter

She has starred in Free Willy 4 (I didn't even know they made a 2 or 3).

During the 2020 Coronavirus, Bindi married her long time boyfriend at the Australia Zoo.

She had worked with her late father when she was younger and honored him on Dancing With The Stars when she danced to Crocodile Rock

I had plans to do this post last year and even drafted it back on October 5, 2019.

Finally got around to completing it.
Celebration dance!!!

Her father's famous saying was "Crikey"

The Pirates have a pitcher with a nickname of Cricky.

Kyle Crick was part of the trade package the Pirates received when they sent their generational talent and face of the franchise, Andrew McCutchen, to the San Francisco Giants for the 2018 season. 

This is one of only 2 Kyle Crick cards I have in my collection, the other being a 2019 Topps Heritage.

Did you ever watch the Crocodile Hunter or any of Bindi's shows?

What is your favorite wild animal?

What player trade hurt you the most emotionally?