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.

Before Cutch22 there was Cutch62

Andrew McCutchen was invited to participate in a few Spring Training Games back in 2006, one year after being drafted as a high school outfielder.  Because he wasn't part of the 40 man roster yet, Cutch was given one of those "football jersey" numbers. His spring training career didn't start off in stellar fashion as he went 3 for 17 over 10 games as a recently turned 19 year old.  The following season Cutch made it very difficult for the Pirates front office to send the 20 year old back to the minors after slashing .321/.367/.482 over 56 at bats and 20 games.  On the last day before the regular season started Pirates manager Jim Tracy informed Cutch that he would return to the minors to start the 2007 season despite being the team's best offensive player over a small sample size. He remained off the 40 man roster for the rest of the season and the Pirates played the service clock game with him until June 2009. 

It was against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on March 12, 2006 that Cutch suited up wearing number 62 and made a SportsCenter top catch that made Pirates fans excited for his defense. 

I was able to purchase a small lot of older signed cards and photos from Spring Training Games and among the lot were these two focal points.

This photo is printed on Costco paper and appears to have been signed by Cutch in his early minor league career.  Prior to his more recognizable ACutch signature, Andrew used to sign items using his full name.  The photo captures the difficult running jumping catch that Cutch made in his very early career to impress Pirates front office and fans.

I also got this card, which shows the jersey number 62 as an inscription on the card.  Many minor leaguers (even top prospects) will sign their jersey number as an inscription to indicate who they are.  Since they haven't appeared in the majors yet, many want fans to recognize them from before they made it to the show.  

I think both of these items are pretty unique additions to the collection as they are a part of Cutch's road to the show. 

Do you have any cards or memorabilia signed by players before they made it to the majors?

Proof I'm not that special

Back in late 2016, early 2017 I was buying out another Cutch collector of his collection.  There were some really nice and rare items included in the cards I bought.

One of the most special cards I bought was this 2009 Upper Deck autograph with a rare inscription.  I initially thought this was a 1/1 type inscription and paid a premium to add it to my collection.  I think we settled on a bit over $100 for it.

The back looks identical to all other 2009 Upper Deck autographs

Here it is with my regular signature that is graded a BGS9.5.  Accompanying it are some other 2009 autographs.

Well, over the weekend someone has listed a similar card for sale for $1,500 or best offer...

Safe to say, I won't be buying a second copy at that price.