The Great Rookie (and Cup) Debate

Topps rookie cup/trophy cards have been around for a long time.

Over the course of that time, Topps has made a few errors.  In recent years we have seen players have a rookie cup logo in addition to a rookie card logo on the same card because Topps has chosen to release the player's rookie card after the player's actual rookie season.  We saw it happen in 2020 with Yordan Alvarez, 2021 with Alec Bohm (although the year 2020 was a strange year for distribution, player debuts, shortened seasons, etc due to the worldwide pandemic), and 2022 with Wander Franco. 

As much as people get upset (myself included) for Topps not releasing a rookie card during a player's rookie season we have seen this happen many times in the past including HOF guys like Willie Mccovey and Eddie Murray.  Their Rookie Cup cards aknowleding the tremendous performance as a rookie got placed on their cards for their true 2nd year in the big leagues, but they are considered rookies because they didn't get a rookie card when they were actually rookies.

Many of us believe that in the earlier 2010s Topps seemed better at applying the correct RC logos on players and those good enough to make the Rookie Cup award get their 2nd year card to adorn the Rookie Cup. I'm going to prove that theory wrong too.

With the Pirates deep in nearly two decades of losing seasons, Andrew McCutchen's debut in 2009 gave the fans hope of better things to come.  Cutch won the Baseball America Rookie of Year, finished in 3rd for Baseball Writers NL ROY, and was announced as a Topps Rookie Cup winner for his debut season in 2009.

Cutch got a RC logo on his 2009 Topps Update card during his rookie season. 

Cutch's performance as a rookie lead to Topps producing cards of Cutch in 2010 with the Rookie Cup/Trophy logo for Topps Flagship and Heritage releases.

Good things were definitely on the horizon for Pirates fans as it saw the team promote their top 3 positional prospects (Pedro Alvarez, Jose Tabata, and Neil Walker) in 2010. 

Both Neil and Jose received a RC in 2010 due to their early season debuts.

Pedro Alvarez was called up later in the season and didn't appear in 2010 products except Pro Debut (a prospect filled minor league set).  He did not receive a RC in 2011 like what we have seen recently with other top prospects like Wander Franco, Yordan Alvarez, Alec Bohm. However as you can see below Topps didn't put a RC logo on Pedro's 2011 Topps release.

The 2010 Topps Rookie Team can be found here.  As you can see from that list, Pirates 2B Neil Walker was named a Rookie Cup winner.

This meant that Walker would have his Topps Flagship and Topps Heritage cards feature the rookie cup.

One name missing from that list is Jose Tabata, who was good enough to receive one rookie of the year vote in 2010 for his performance.

He slashed .299/.346/.400 with 19 stolen bases in 26 attempts.  After the 2010 season, he was believed to be atop the Pirates lineup for the future for his above average speed and hitting approach. He also provided outstanding defense in left field. 

Tabata had a good rookie season in 2010, but in comparison to Jason Heyward, Mike (Giancarlo) Stanton, and Austin Jackson it just wasn't good enough to receive the cup/trophy honor for his 2011 Topps flagship cards.

However, Topps Heritage did produce a 2011 Topps Heritage card featuring the All Star Rookie trophy for Tabata.

The back mentions Tabata having the second most stolen bases on the Pirates.  Andrew McCutchen lead the club with 33 SB that season. 

This means that Topps produced 4 outfield rookie cup cards for Topps Heritage.

But oddly enough, Giancarlo Stanton was rejected the All Star Rookie Trophy for all parallels while Tabata maintained the logo.

A more recent mistake by Topps was including Ke'Bryan Hayes in the 2021 All Rookie Cup product highlighting players who have earned the distinction of Topps Rookie Teams for the past 70 years.

The problem with that is Alec Bohm was announced as the 3B for the 2020 All Rookie Topps Team, not Ke'Bryan. Again due to the odd year that 2020 was, I am willing to forgive RC mistakes on 2020 products and having them all have to be included in 2021 products, but there's no excuse for putting someone on the checklist for a set called Topps Rookie Cup for a guy that didn't get nominated by Topps as a Rookie Cup winner for the 2020 season. 

Do you pay attention to the rookie cups and rookie card logos on flagship or Heritage releases?

Do you think there should be a clear deadline for Topps to release rookie cards of players so a Rookie Cup and Rookie Card logo don't appear on the same card?

Are you aware of any Rookie Cup logos being added or subtracted in error for Flagship or Heritage products?

 

1 Cup To Rule Them All

2010 Topps Andrew McCutchen is Cutch's most reprinted card.

It most recently was reprinted on the Rookie Cup insert series from 2017 Topps.

It is card number 19 in the 50 card checklist.

By the way in case you haven't been paying attention to my March Countdown...it's only 19 Days Until Opening Day

Here are some other cards I have of Cutch featuring the Rookie Cup
A pair of 2011 Lineage Reprint Style On Card Autographs (base and Canary/10)

Here are the 2010 Topps and parallels I have.

The Opening Day base card

 7 of the Topps Chrome cards with cup to right of Cutch instead of above team name.
Blue, base, red
Refractor, purple, orange
Xfractor

The red is Jersey numbered (22) to 25 copies

Wal-Mart Black, Black
Base, Gold


I also have some manufactured rookie cup cards of Cutch I have shown on the blog before.

This super thick card from 2018 Topps features a manufactured mini rookie cup inside the card.

I have both the Rookie Trophy AND Rookie Cup relic cards

I also have the 5x7 blue parallel limited to only 2 copies.

Only 19 Days Left to Opening Day!!!!

Early Season Predictions

I have a bunch of cards featuring Cutch with postseason hardware.

Let's start off with the two most important awards in the league from a personal level.

The MVP Awards

Cutch win the National League MVP award in 2013 as the Pittsburgh Pirates pushed for their first winning season in twenty years.

The MVP Award card you see above is from 2017 Topps.

I am predicting Cutch's current teammate Bryce Harper to win the MVP award.  I know Rhys Hoskins looks like a good choice after the first game, but I think teams will start pitching to Bryce and he will live up to the money he is being paid (at least for this year).  The Phillies will make the postseason for the first time since 2011.

In the American League, I am predicting Mike Trout to win another MVP award because, well it's a safe pick.

As for Team MVP for the Pirates, I think Corey Dickerson will be the first half MVP of the team, but will be traded at the deadline.  I can see Gregory Polanco being the second half MVP for the team.

Rookie of the Year

Well, Cutch didn't win the award in 2009, finishing third to Tommy Hanson and Chris Coghlan.  Cutch was a representative for Topps All Rookie Team though.

Topps has used Cutch for their Rookie Cup and Rookie Trophy cards in recent sets.

National League Rookie of the Year
Fernando Tatis Jr
The fact that the Friars believed enough inbhis ability to be a game changer that they risked an extra year of control says how legit this defensive wiz can be.

American League is loaded with top prospects Vlad Jr, Eloy Jimenez, Kyle Tucker.  I think that Tucker will stand out among the others.

As for the Pirates Rookie of Year, I am going with Nick Burdi.  The Seinfeld Boys (Kevin Kramer and Kevin Newman) are both ranked above Burdi as is their top pitching prospect Mitch Keller.  However, I think that Newman and Kramer will be fighting for playing time with other middle infielders on the Pirates roster.  Keller likely will have to have at least five strong starts in the minors before being promoted.  There will also have to be epic failures by the back of rotation in order for Keller to get a call up.

Cy Young
In the NL, I think Mad Max Scherzer continue to carve up hitters an route to another stellar season.  Blue Eye will strike out 300 hitters for a second straight season.

American League
Cutch's former team mate Gerrit Cole will step up in a big way as he is looking for a monster contract as the top free agent following the 2019 season.

Billy Ripken made a bold prediction that Trevor Williams will be the Cy Young.  I think he will be the team's best starting pitcher for the 2019 season.

Rookie Of The Year Race?

The National League has a lot of close races as we enter the final month of the season.  From the East and West coast divisions to MVP to Rookie of the Year to Cy Young there are a LOT of tight races that could literally come down to the final games to determine a winner.

If I had to pick my favorites here is what I would vote for
West: DiamondBacks
Central: Cubs
East: Braves

Wild Card: Dodgers at Rockies

MVP: Freddie Freeman
Cy Young: Max Scherzer
Rookie of Year: Ronald Acuna Jr.

I think the hardest to determine a winner is the ROY decision as Acuna, Soto, and Albies all look like they could win the award.

During Andrew McCutchen's rookie season of 2009 he immediately made an impact on Pittsburgh baseball.  He would get a hit in his very first at bat.  He finished the season with a .286/.365/.471 slash line in only 108 games.  He had 12 homeruns and 22 stolen bases.  He had a memorable walk off homer against the Phillies where he "Air Jordan" his helmet on the round tripper and also had a 3 homer game against the Nationals.

His 2.4 WAR earned him a 4th place finish behind 1.1WAR and winner of the award Chris Coghlan.  J.A. Happ and Tommy Hanson.

Cutch didn't leave 2009 without getting some hardware though.

He would win the Baseball America Rookie of Year award and be voted to the Topps All Rookie Team.

I am currently still in search for a 2010 Topps Heritage Chrome black refractor, but do have four of the 2010 Flagship card parallels featuring Cutch with the Topps Rookie Trophy.

Top: WalMart Black and Black Hobby/59
Bottom: Gold/2010 and Base

I have 7 of the 2010 Topps Chrome parallels and 2 of the 2011 Lineage Reprint Parallel Autos featuring the same image.

I Have No Words

I have been trying to think of the words to write to sum up the emotions felt about two of my favorite players being traded over the weekend.  This follows up a shitty week in general as my car was totaled the day of the ice storm.

Andrew McCutchen made me love baseball again.
He signed baseball cards, balls, hats, and even a Pirates Country sign for me in person.
He was always humble and a true talent to watch play.

I have so many fun memories of Cutch from his Altoona Curve days to that magical 2013 season when the Bucs returned to the postseason and beyond.

My brother's favorite player, Evan Longoria, was traded to the Giants this year too so the good news is that him and I may take a bro trip out west to visit AT&T Park.

What can I possibly say about Cutch being traded?
The face of the franchise was traded for a middle reliever and outfield prospect.

There's no words.

There. Are. No. Words.

Thank you for always being classy.
Thank you for bringing the franchise back hope.

Thank You Cutch!
The card pictured is a "Giant" sized 5x7 Rookie Reprint Blue Parallel /2.

It summarizes my feelings perfectly.