23 All-Star Appearances on 1 Card

I have been counting down predominately using serial numbers or card numbers.

Today would be the 17th day before Opening Day.  I am certainly excited for that.

I am more excited to announce that in 23 days I am heading west for the Pirates home opener vs the Reds.

Here is a 1/1 card from 2010 Triple Threads highlighting 6 players that Topps thought would be Perennial All-Stars in the National League.

The players depicted on the card is a who's who of upcoming outfielders patrolling the National League at the time.

Justin Upton has been a 4x All-Star (2009, 2011, 2015, and 2017).

Ryan Braun leads the group with 6 All-Star appearances, but some of those numbers may be tainted as we later learned.  From 2008-2012 he was an All-Star.  He also represented the Brewers in 2015.

Hunter Pence had a comeback season last year and made his 4th All-Star appearance joining his resume for the 2009, 2011, and 2014 seasons.

Matt Kemp (who,was robbed of the 2011 MVP) was an All-Star in 2011 and 2012 and had a resurgent year in 2018 giving him 3 total All-Star Games.

Cutch represented the Pirates in 2011-2015 making 5 All-Star games and finishing in the top 5 for MVP in 2012 through 2015.  He won a player of month award in June 2017 and had better numbers than Josh Harrison at the time of the All-Star Game, but Cubs manager who was representing the National League liked Josh Harrison's versatility for the exhibition game more.

Jason Heyward had an incredible rookie season in 2010.  He hasn't made an All-Star game since.

 This 1/1 is the Platinum version.  I also have one of these booklets in the Emerald format (/18).  There are also Sepia, Sapphire, and Gold parallels of this book to chase.

Joe Maddon, the Mad Scientist pt2

On Sunday Night, Joe Maddon had his Chicago Cubs team arrive in Houston wearing throwback basketball uniforms.  Since it's (Throwback) Thursday and the NBA Finals will kick off let's review what was worn.

We begin with Jon Lester sporting a Penny Hardaway pinstripe jersey and the old school Penny sneakers.

This may have been my personal favorite of the bunch considering that Penny was one of my three favorite basketball players growing up.  The others being Reggie Miller and Tim Hardaway.

I just showed off my Lester autograph last week when I questioned the impact prospects have on our hobby.

This wins best original concept award.  Cole Hamels as Jackie Moon sporting a Flint Tropics jersey made famous by Will Ferrell.  FANTASTIC CHOICE MR. HAMELS!

Here is another Just Minors dual signature card I have of Cutch, this time featuring Cole Hamels.

Also a printing plate featuring McCutchen and Hamels

Since it is Chicago, what kind of team would the Cubs be if they didn't support an All-Time Great and Chicago Bulls Legend, Michael Jordan?  Jason Heyward stepped up to the plate and he looks like he could actually ball.

Yet, another Just Minors dual auto card.

But wait, there's more...
Cutch, Heyward, another Maddon favorite, David Price

A dual History of Game card

And a printing plate from Just Minors

And a sexta jersey booklet

Want more basketball jerseys?  How about Albert Amora and Anthony Rizzo both sporting recently retired Dwayne Wade Miami Vice jerseys.

Plenty of Rizzo cards to go around which I've already shown off here.

And to wrap things up, the greatest act of all.  El Mago, the Magician Javy Baez, doing his checkups as the Doctor, Julius Erving.

And we finish with a sexta autograph booklet featuring autographs of Anthony Rendon, Javy Baez, Josh Bell, Ryan Zimmerman, Starlin Castro, and of course Cutch.

Who are you rooting for in the NBA Finals?

New Teammate Pairings

Andrew McCutchen has been the leadoff hitter since arriving in Philadelphia. Batting behind him is a two time All-Star and the 2016 National League hits leader, Jean Segura.  Segura has bounced around since making his MLB debut in 2012 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  He was a key part of the Zack Greinke trade where he went to Milwaukee and flourished as a table setter for a retooling Brewers lineup. 

He was then traded to the Diamondbacks for Aaron Hill and Chase Anderson prior to the 2016 season.  In Arizona he became a hit machine and lead the National League in hits that year.  

Following the 2016 season Segura and Mitch Haniger were traded for Ketel Marte and Taijuan Walker.  

After two seasons and another All-Star appearance, Segura was again traded for a prospect package...this time to Philadelphia.

Above is my only card I have of Cutch with his new teammate, Jean Segura, listed.  It is a 1967 Punch out Box Topper found in 2016 Heritage.

 Today is the last day to post for my contest, so if you want to get a last minute entry in before tomorrow's  before sure to leave a comment here.

Future Hall of Famers, A Look Back From the Future

Back in 2013, CBS wrote a story about several players under the age of 26 and their likelihood of achieving baseball immortality in Cooperstown.

The link can be found HERE.

Many appear to still be borderline candidates, but it is crazy to look back at how much has changed in only 5 years.

Names like Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw will have done enough once they meet the 10 year minimum to be first ballot consideration.

According to them names like Jason Heyward and Starlin Castro were already on the right path.

As Adrian Beltre recently proved though, you may not appreciate how great a player was until their career is over.

Maybe Justin Upton, Andrew McCutchen, and Matt Kemp will go on to play until theyre 40 and 10 years from now we will look back and realize "these guys were always pretty good."

But is "pretty good" over 20 years worthy enough to get you in the Hall of Fame?

Adrian Beltre may prove that longevity and consistency is more important than having 10 great years and that is basically it. 

Only 17 3rd Baseman have been enshrined in Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame.  And yet here we sit on the week of Beltre announcing his retirement and it seems almost unanimously that most talk radio shows, sports writers, and the like think he will make it to the Hall of Fame.  At any point though was he the best 3rd baseman in the game?  Would you rather have had Beltre or a guy named Wright, Rodriguez, Rolen, Machado, Donaldson manning the hot corner if you starting a franchise?  Most wouldn't say Beltre is my guess. 

I am in no way saying Beltre doesn't belong in the Hall. I am merely pointing out that we should recognize greatness as it is happening and not after it is gone.

Good luck to Mr. Beltre on his post baseball career.  You were fun to watch.

$7.83 well spent

This card by TriStar Signature Cuts isn't very good looking.
It doesn't feature player photos.
It doesn't feature stats.
It doesn't feature team names.

It does feature autographs of two guys who have the following credentials between the two of them

2x Rookie of Year by Baseball America
1x National League MVP
6x All-Star appearances
5x Gold Gloves
4x Silver Slugger Awards
1x World Series Champ

 Jason Heyward and Andrew McCutchen  Dual cut autos

What did it cost?
$7.83 shipped.

The seller included the original box it came with also.  The checklist looks pretty strong, but if I spent $100 and this was my card I would be pissed.

For under $8 tho?
Yeah, I'll add that to my Cutch PC