You ain't never had a friend like me...

Going to see the live action Aladdin with the girlfriend tonight.  It's been a long time since we went to the movies together and we both have been looking forward to this live action take on our favorite Disney property.

Genie was perfect when voiced by Robin Williams.  I am a little nervous of Will Smith living up to the insanely high expectations set forth by the late actor.

In anticipation of Genie and the movie in general, I have chosen to show off one of my favorite blue cards (base parallels only, so no relics) from each year Cutch was with the Pirates from his MLB debut (2009) to his final season in Pittsburgh (2017).  I didn't want to repeat brands a lot although I absolutely love the Prizm color parallels.  Including relics, I have 152 blue parallels of Cutch.  I also didn't want to show off high end releases like Museum or Tribute in this quick scan.

Top Row: 2017 Topps Fire, 2016 Topps Chrome Sapphire, 2015 Donruss Production Line

Middle Row: 2014 Finest Competitors, 2013 Prizm Band of Brothers, 2012 Prizm

Bottom Row: 2011 Elite Extra Edition Status, 2010 t206 Chrome, 2009 Topps Chrome (rookie card)

(Mark "The ) Shark" Week

Jason Grilli might have started the shark tank, but no one understood what it was like to be a shark more than Mark "The Shark" Melancon.

Mark fully embraced the Shark Tank and his nickname by even swimming with the sharks in New Zealand which you can read about here.

Continuing with Shark Week is a card of Mark "The Shark" Melancon featured on an AJ Burnett card with Cutch.

It's the black parallel numbered to 64 copies. I am still looking for all other parallels of this card besides the black and pink.  If you come across any please send them my way.  This includes the base.

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.

I Got Friends When I'm In Lowly Places

Last weekend absolutely sucked.
I got news that my car was totaled and won't be repaired.
The Steelers defense gave up 45 points to Blake Fricking Bottles and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Pirates traded away their ace, Gerrit Cole, and face of the franchise, Andrew McCutchen.

I have been keeping a positive attitude though.
I can get a new car.
The Steelers are one of thirty one teams that won't be winning the Superbowl and got further than 75% of the rest of league.
Gerrit Cole was going to leave in two years regardless.
Andrew McCutchen is still my favorite player regardless of the uniform he wears.
I have great blogging friends that send card care packages just because.

Sports Card Collector sent me a six card package in a PWE that really helped brighten my day, not because it included some SICK DOPE NASTY NAILS patch or autograph, but because it simply was a package to say just thinking of you here's some cards you might enjoy.

4 cards were of Cutch.

2 were of AJ Burnett.

Thank you Matt!
This helped keep things in perspective and make me smile.

A Modern Halloween Family

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Visit the official site here.

Breast Cancer will be detected in one of eight women in the US each year.
It is the second leading cause of cancer death among women each year.
On average every 2 minutes a woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer and every 13 minutes one person will die from breast cancer.
There are currently 33 million breast cancer survivors in the USA.

It's important to support the research for cancer.  Breast Cancer is often associated with the color pink so I will be showing off some pink Cutch cards.

In addition, you can expect to see some boobs with each post.  Who doesn't love boobs?

So let's start with what we're hoping to save!

Sofia Vergara is stunning.  She plays a major role on the TV show Modern Family, but dressed up as Peg Bundy, who represented a then modern family on Married With Children.

Her husband is a Pittsburgh sports fan, which is a plus in my book especially when she converted to rooting for the Pens, Steelers, and Pirates.

She has a ..... great look as Wonder Woman.

Dressed up as a French Maid is a good look too

Let's just say that she is good at dressing up.

This Cardboard Cameo features Cutch holding his 2015 All-Star jersey next to AJ.

Gerrit Cole must have thought it was Halloween because his cosplay as Clint Hurdle is on point.

I am a huge fan of AJ Burnett.  I loved the "take no bullshit, I'm parking in the owner's spot" attitude.

I know Matt isn't a fan of him, but I would like to start a mini PC of AJ so if you have any cards lying around send them my way.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

I hope you all enjoyed this month long event of pink and magenta cards.  Because of the amount of comments that were made I am going to donate $100 to the Susan G Komen foundation.  Thank you all for the love you sent my blog this month.

SAVE THE BOOBIES!!!
Here's more of Sofia wearing pink to remind you all how important it is to bring awareness to this devastating disease.