Saturday, March 24, 2018

Light Up The Bat Signal!

When the Pirates were trading for AJ Burnett just before spring training 2012, my optimism for the team was at an absolute high.  The team managed to be very competitive through the first half of the 2011 season.  Their use of shifts and elite bullpen was good enough that the Pirates offense could still hang in for games.  Add to the fact that they had a pipeline of front of rotation guys on the way in the form of Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon,  and Luis Heredia made it seem like the Pirates were going to finally start winning regularly again.

AJ Burnett instantly became my favorite pitcher of the staff.

Prizm released an insert called Band of Brothers and it featured both Andrew McCutchen and AJ Burnett.   For the past few years I have been trying to track down all the parallels.

One of the biggest non 1/1 needs from my entire collection can officially be crossed off.

I managed to snag this for $40.

AJ Burnett became known as Batman around Pittsburgh and during his final home game with the Pirates he was given a painting.

In his return to the Burgh after a stint on DL in 2015, the city lit up the bat signal behind him.
His final home game had Batman flags and posters and t-shirts all throughout the stadium.

6 comments:

  1. Never knew his nickname before. That's cool!

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  2. That photo with the Bat Signal should've been used on a Stadium Club card or something.

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    Replies
    1. Topps would use a random image of him doing his delivery instead I'm sure.

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  3. That photo would look awesome signed on a wall.

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    Replies
    1. I thought the same thing. I just don't know how to arrange a signing with AJ

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  4. He had an ok 2009, but definitely had a rough next few seasons for NY. Still, I hate seeing him traded for basically nothing.

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