It's Shaq Week, I mean Shark Week

Yesterday saw a familiar face return to Shark Week.  Shaquille O'Neal was the host of Shark Week a few years ago and he returned this year for a special called Shaqattack.

Shaquille O'Neal is best known for his Hall of Fame basketball career and big (no pun intended) personality.

He was born in 1972 in Newark, New Jersey.

In his 19 year career he was a 4 time NBA Champion, winning the NBA Finals MVP Award 3 times. He made 15 All-Star Games and was selected the game's MVP in 3 of those contests. He won the Rookie of Year Award in 1993 and MVP in 2000. His number is retired by both the Miami Heat and LA Lakers.  

He has starred in movies, video games, and even has had his own rap album and ice teas.  

Shaq is larger than life!

I will finish with showing off this 2013 Topps Archives 1972 Basketball design (Shaq's birth year) of Andrew McCutchen.

I like that Topps has used the other sports designs from their old catalog to make unique inserts like this.

Lost Cards from the Lost Collector

 A few weeks ago I received a 4 card PWE from AJ at The Lost Collector.  The same day I received that package I sent him a package containing an Andrew McCutchen autograph Tier 1 Yankees card because he commented "I hope to get one someday" or something like that.  Well I had a double so I sent it his way.  

Then in the middle of spring cleaning, I lost the location of those 4 cards before I could scan them in.  While preparing to send some packages to go out next week, I found them.

AJ hit my two main basketball player PCs with a Paul George and Reggie Miller.  He also included an orange Chris Archer 2019 Tek numbered to only 25 copies.  Sad news came out yesterday that Chris Archer is shut down for the 2020 season (if there is a season).  That 2018 trade that sent Glasnow, Meadows, and Baz to the Rays looks worse and worse every month.  AJ also included a 2017 Chronicles base card of Cutch.

Today I got ANOTHER PWE from AJ with even more Reggie Miller cards.  Sweet!!!!!  Of these 7 cards, 6 are brand new to the collection.  Only the All-Star card in bottom left was already in my collection.  I love the fact that he included both the cardboard and actual sticker of the '96 UD Stickums.

AJ hit up some more PC additions with a base card of Josh Bell 2020 Donruss (I am trying to put together the rainbow for the Cutch name cameo on the back).  The highlight though is that bright yellow retail exclusive 2020 Donruss of former Pirate and NJ born Charlie Morton.  Before being traded to the Phillies, I had every non-1/1 Charlie Morton card made.  I really need to up my Morton game for releases in 2019 and 2020.

AJ thank you so much for such an awesome pair of envelopes.

Stay safe everyone and Keep Collecting.

Today's Movie: The Lost Miller Time Catch (rated PG13)

Last week, I received a PWE from AJ @ The Lost Collector.  Coincidently I sent him a package the same day just to say "hey".

AJ hit me up with a sampling of 3 of my favorite players

Reggie Miller is my favorite basketball player ever.  The way he faced off against super teams like the Bulls and Knicks almost single handily is a testament to the absolute scoring machine that he was.

This 1999-2000 Upper Deck Encore Electric Currents insert is my favorite card of the half dozen Miller cards he sent.

Paul George is another of my favorite basketball players.  Were it not for the Miami Heat super squad, I think the Pacers could have won a title this past decade. 

PG13 is a two way player.  He is one of the best defensive forwards in the game and makes some of the most electrifying dunks I've seen since the days of Vince Carter.

That is such a cool shot!!!

 AJ also included this sticker of Cutch getting ready to make a sliding catch.

Thanks for the thoughtful PWE AJ.  You should have received the random act of kindness I sent you and I hope you enjoy it.

The numbers game

I have been collecting Andrew McCutchen cards for over a decade now.  In that time I have accumulated nearly 2,700 unique cards of Cutch.

As I gained more and more Cutch cards I thought it would be more fun to get serially numbered cards of Cutch to his jersey number.

With the exception of 30 games (25 regular season, 5 postseason) with the Yankees Cutch has always worn number 22 in the major leagues.  I recently acquired a new  Cutch22 (card numbered 22/xx) to my collection.

This autograph ran me only $12 delivered.

It helped spark a new collection for my growing basketball collection.


My favorite active basketball player is Paul George.  A few years ago Paul George changed his jersey number from 24 to 13 so that he could market PG13.

Here are my PG13 cards

 This Donruss Press Proof is 13/299

 It is from 2016-17

Pacers cards of PG13 will always be my favorite to collect, but I really like the variety of cards that a small (but growing) basketball collection offers.

This card is the Gold Standard (literally) of the type of Paul George PG13 cards I want.

Any PG13 card that mentions my favorite basketball player of all time (Reggie Miller) on the back is an instant favorite.

Now time for some Thunderous PG13 cards

Look at the design on this card.

This PG13 card is numbered 13/25 and as of now is my only Paul George relic in the PG13 collection.

Optic is a brand we are all familar with thanks to the baseball version, but the basketball version is so much better.

 Look at nice Panini makes licensed cards.

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?

Basketball Diaries

My favorite sport to play and watch has always been baseball, but the sport that got me the most recognition with my friends was basketball.  I was pretty tall in 8th grade and that helped me make the team.  I wasn't very good with the rock, but like Dennis Rodman I could jump and grab those boards.

Some of my favorite players were Reggie Miller, Penny Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, and of course Shaq.  I changed the teams I rooted for fairly regularly going from Bulls to Hornets to Pacers to Magic.

With the basketball playoffs in effect, who are you rooting for?  I'm pulling for OKC Thunder vs Pacers.  I'm tired of the Warriors vs Cavs matchup.

Today's card is 1972 Basketball Design found in 2013 Topps Archives.  The set is 20 cards deep and features players on the 1972 Topps Basketball Design, made famous by the Julius Erving (Dr. J) rookie card.