"Just do it!"

For the entire time since I got back into collecting, Majestic was the clothing manufacturer for MLB uniforms and thus were the logos that card collectors would hope to get their hands on.  

I've shown off some of my Majestic logo cards in the past.

For those that may forget what some of those Majestic logo cards looked like, here is a recap.

2012 National Treasures autograph 

Nike bought the exclusive right to manufacture MLB uniforms for the 2020 season, which meant eventually we would start to see some Nike swoosh logos pop up on cards. 

Earlier this year I picked up this 2021 Five Star 1/1 Nike Swoosh logo with on card autograph.  

If you follow me on Twitter you've seen this with my MLB Logoman of the same design.  The laundry tag is available on eBay, but it seems the seller isn't willing to budge on his $500 asking price. 

I haven't bought any of the new Nike jerseys that debuted in 2020.  All mine that I wear around are still the Majestic jerseys.

Have you have bought any jerseys with the Nike logo yet?  If so, do they feel different than the Majestic ones produced?

Besides Michael Jordan, who else do you associate with the Nike brand?

Keep Grinding for the Super Collection

This will likely be my last big mailday for awhile, but don't worry I have plenty of cards to show off.

The first is actually the highest numbered card of today's mailday.  It is a 2021 Topps Five Star Inscription autograph. 

The card is numbered 9/20 and comes with an inscription saying "Grind"

In my job, our owner often thanks us for all the hard work we do and says "I know it's a grind, but thank you for everything you do." I guess Cutch lives by that same motto...just keep grinding.

The other two cards I got today were both one of ones.  Yup, a mailday consisting of two 1/1s.

Topps Gallery really changed up the product last year.  Rather than using artist drawn cards with a limited number of parallels, this year's set only had artist drawn cards for inserts and really upped the number of parallels this year including a bunch of new shiny sparkly parallels.

The 1/1 red parallel requires sunglasses to look at as the shine on this card is unlike anything I have ever seen from a Topps retail exclusive set before.

My other 1/1 was a very generous gift from a Twitter friend Josh JrNoble1

This is the 2020 Topps Chrome Update cyan printing plate.  I have the magenta and Superfractor. Maybe I will chase after the yellow and black printing plates to complete the set.

Fish Are Friends, Not Food

Today is the last day of Shark Week programming.  I'm saddened by this as I always enjoy learning more about sharks each year.

I will FINish up the week of celebrating this Jawsome event by highlighting some more former sharks that are teammates with Cutch.

After all... fish are friends, not food

I have shown off a few of my former Jupiter Hammerhead, JT Realmuto, and a few Clearwater Threshers too.  

Today I am going to look at another former Clearwater Thresher who is a current teammate of Cutch.  

I am talking about Rhys Hoskins

Now before I go showing off a pair of Rhys & Cutch combos I wanted to talk about Rhys' 2015 season in Clearwater A+ ball.  

In 67 games with the Threshers, Rhys hit at a .317/.394/.510 slash line good for a .904 OPS.  He also collected 39 RBI, 29 BB, and clubbed 8 homers in those 67 games.

Pretty good numbers for the former Clearwater "ninja shark".

Now for the cards...

Above is a dual autograph from the Target exclusive Topps Fire product.  

It is limited to only 25 copies.

Above is the on card autographs of Cutch and Rhys from 2019 Topps Five Star.  It is limited to only 10 copies.

Ho hum...Five Star Friday

It's Five Star Friday

Ho hum...

Just another Five Star Silver Ink Autograph from 2019

Ho hum...

It's only numbered to 30 copies

Ho hum...

It goes nicely with this one I showed off back in November

Ho hum...

Phucking Philly

Right before the September 2019 Philly Show where I met Cutch, I purchased a pair of 2019 Five Star Silver Ink autos.  I sent the Steve Carlton to Brad which you can view here.

Below is the other card from the lot.

The Phillies eliminated themselves from Postseason play when they lost to the Nationals during the last week of the season.  This made me happy and annoyed.

On one hand, I am happy because I enjoy the misery of Philly fans because they are a rowdy annoying bunch (except Brad...he's a class act).  On the other hand, I wanted Cutch to be part of a winning culture again.

Oh well, there's always next year.

I Love This Hobby

News broke yesterday from a 2019 Topps Luminaries booklet that had 50 sticker autos of some of the game's most popular living home run hitters from the 80s to current.  Johnny Bench and Carl Yaztremzki were also on the booklet.  It was a monster hit with names like Trout, Guerrero (both them), Griffey Jr, Acuna Jr, Ortiz, Otani, and many others.  I couldn't even imagine getting a hit like that.  It is probably worth 10s of thousands of dollars.

I recently hit a pretty big booklet card myself, by my standards.
2013 Topps Five Star booklet

It is a 1 of 1

Cost me $81 delivered for a pair of players that are legends in Pittsburgh.  It is possible that Cutch gets his jersey retired post playing career and Willie has already had his jersey number retired along with getting a bronze statue built outside PNC Park.

At the time of purchase the hottest name in the hobby was Aristides Aquino, who is nicknamed the Punisher.

I am not sure if Reds collectors are just over paying, but the concept of prospects demanding such outrageous prices is mind boggling to me.

At age 25, Aristides has 40 career hits, 15 HR, no All Star Games, and 38 career RBI.

His sloppy signature isn't rare and yet people are paying more for an autographed baseball of him than a baseball signed by any living Reds Hall of Famer.  It boggles my mind!!!!

Yes, he had a hot streak in his call up, but since then he hasn't done much of anything.
His most recent 15 games he has a .236/.263/.455 line which equates to an OPS of .718.  If his recent numbers were continue for an entire season he would be the 68th best in National League and not even break the top 125 in majors.

I know the hobby is always looking forward for who the next great superstar could be and maybe one day in 20 years we could look back at Aristides numbers and be amazed by the numbers he put up playing into his late 30s, but I highly doubt that will be the case.

To put into perspective, Willie Stargell a Hall of Fame power hitter already appeared in two All-Star Games, had 236 RBI, 343 hits, and 59 Home Runs by his age 25 season.

Another Pirates legend, Andrew McCutchen, had 2 All-Star Games, 293 RBI, 82 HR, and 694 hits by his age 25 season.  Cutch was on pace to beat Stargell's numbers over his career.

Thanks to all those in this hobby neglecting this amazing 1/1 early Five Star release booklet in favor of cards of 25 year old rookies.  I will gladly pay $81 for 1/1 cards like this all day every day.  People can enjoy their $260 autographs with print runs of over 1,000 of 24 year old Pete Alonso.

I will stick to cards printed with two players who represent nothing but class on and off the field for my favorite team, the Pirates.

The only problem?
This is the only dual signature of Cutch and Stargell ever produced.

Collect what you want, I will stick to Collecting Cutch.