Top 10 List: The Pinks!

If you've been following this blog at any part over the past 4 years you are likely aware of my campaign to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and my charitable donations I make each year based on comments left in October.  

I show off some beautiful women all month long

I also show off a lot of pink (and shades of pink) cards throughout the month featuring Andrew McCutchen.  

Some of the cards could just be a Cardboard Cameo with either an image of Cutch on someone else's card or a name mention on the front or back of the card

I have also shown pink cards featuring players that have replaced Cutch on an active roster by wearing his number, traded for, or replaced due to injury.  I call those Falco Files cards in honor of the fictional character Shane Falco from The Replacements.

Beginning this year I will also feature pink cards of teammates of Cutch, called Cutch's Crew.

Through the past few months I have discussed some items I wanted to add to the collection regarding a "Top 10" List of items that aren't directly cardboard related.  

Because my blog gets associated with October and pink cards, I thought I should actually show off some pink cards I don't own to kickstart the event.

I have a lot of pink cards I can show off this October, but due to the current living situation where some cards are in storage, some are with the in laws, and some are at my dad's I may not be able to post daily as I typically have.  

Here are my Top 10 pink (and shades) cards I want to add to my collection.

2013 Topps Chrome

Pink /5

I actually know one person who owns this card, but he is only willing to part with it if I buy his entire collection of Andrew Mccutchen cards.

2016 Topps Update #US30

Pink /50

2015 Topps #400

Pink /50

2014 Topps Finest #24

Magenta /15

One of these was sold on COMC in 2020 and I know a person who owns a copy of it, but is asking several hundred dollars for it (NO THANK YOU!!!!!!)

2021 Topps Now Turn Back The Clock

Cherry /7

I drafted this post before I actually opened my Topps Now brick of 20 I bought and was surprised that I actually received one of the cherry.  This card will be featured again in October.

2013 Topps 2012 Home Run Leaders #246

featuring Ryan Braun, Jay Bruce, Giancarlo Stanton

Pink /50 OR mini pink /25

This card has an Andrew McCutchen name reference on the back

There are of course many Bryan Reynolds pink cards and plenty of checklists featuring Cutch's name on the back that I still need.  Also if there is a pink card of one of Cutch's teammates or former teammates I would be interested in adding those too.

And of course I need any magenta printing plate that I currently don't have.

If you have any suggestions for celebrities this year leave them in the comments below.

A Top 10 List Part 2: Rookie Year cards

I promised that every 10th day or so, I would reveal one of ten categories I want to add to my Cutch collection.  These 10 posts will become a map for where I want my collection to go and help keep the collection focused.  

Over the years I have had a Pokemon "gotta catch em all" type mentality when it came to my Andrew McCutchen collection.

With the current baseball card market and Cutch not playing for my favorite team anymore, I am now looking towards the past to focus on the future of the collection.

Today, I am going to have this post focus on the "rookie year" Cutch.

He made his MLB debut in 2009.

I showed off a 2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic silver foil card limited to only 59 copies recently and it is one of my favorite pickups of the year.  I love that it is a rare rookie card of my favorite athlete and would love to grab some more rare rookie cards of Cutch.  

The majority of Cutch rookie debut cards I need are mostly limited to serial number cards /50 or less with the majority being 1/1s.  

Something about having those rare rookie year cards brings great joy to my collection.

Like the above 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractor or the Orange /25

or the Logoman from the 2008 Futures Game Jersey found on the below 2009 Topps Unique 1/1

Here is a list of cards I need 

2009 Bowman Chrome #178

/50 Gold

/5 Red

1/1 Printing Plates: Cyan, Magenta, Black, Yellow

2009 Bowman Sterling #BS-AM

1/1 Printing Plates: Cyan, Magenta, Black

Need the base, have all color parallels

2009 Topps T206 #10

1/1 printing plates: cyan, magenta, black, yellow

2009 Topps T206 Mini #10

/99 Cycle Back

1/1 printing plates: cyan, magenta, black, yellow

1/1 Carolina Brights Back

2009 Topps Update

1/1 printing plates: black, cyan, yellow

1/1 platinum

Target Throwback Logo and back

2009 Topps Unique #196

1/1 unique

2009 Topps Unique Uniform #UU04

/25 Gold

1/1 Platinum

2009 Topps Chrome #213

1/1 printing plates: cyan, magenta, black, yellow

2009 Tristar Projections #74

/50 Green

/25 Yellow

/5 Orange

1/1 Purple

2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic #132

/19 Titanium

So there's a list of my 2009 McCutchen needs

Cutch was such a breath of fresh air for a team that was on the verge of two decades of losing records

✌ I'm at peace ✌

On Saturday night at 1130pm a grail card was ending on eBay being sold by PWCC Vault and it was already graded as a PSA9.  

PSA, 1/1, and PWCC tend to be a mix for very high sales

Now when I say grail card, I literally mean THE CARD that any Andrew McCutchen fan would want to own.

Above is the Superfractor 1/1 from Andrew McCutchen's Bowman Chrome draft year (1st Bowman)

Would it be nice to add such a legendary card to the collection?

You bet your ass it would have been awesome.

6 months ago, I probably would have gotten into a bidding war for it even though it is being sold by PWCC who is known to be involved in graded trading card scandals over the past few years.  

Not today though

Because here's the thing...

as I was packing and preparing to move I came to a very zenful moment regarding my collection.  

I'm at peace with my Cutch PC.

I have acquired over 3,000 unique cards of Cutch including over 20 1/1 cards that use the Superfractor technology (this includes Bowman Platinum Foilfractors and Panini Gold Vinyl cards)

In addition to those Superfractors (and similar style technology) I also have the 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Red Refractor, which just happens to be a 1/1 also.  I wrote about it just over a year ago here.

The 2005 Bowman Draft Chrome release had 6 1/1s available for each card produced when you take into account the 4 printing plates, Superfractor, and Red Refractor.   Having bought the red 1/1 for 10% of the Superfractor is fine with me.  I don't need to drop THREE GRAND on a card to prove I have the best McCutchen collection, grail card or not.

That doesn't mean I won't be adding new Cutch items to the collection.  I am most definitely not done CollectingCutch.  

I'm just changing my mindset on how I am going about adding new things to the collection and the prices I am willing to pay.  I got more of an adrenaline rush adding the foul ball hit before his EPIC walkoff homer in 2018 than any 1/1 Superfractor could bring.

Card prices are stupid right now and that's why I'm changing it up a bit

I will share a top 10 list soon...

I am the Thanos of CollectingCutch

Remember when sports cards exploded shortly after The Last Dance during the initial month of COVID?  Something similar is going on in the nonsports card world with Marvel themed sets.  Sealed boxes of Series 1 from the early 90s used to be sold for $20 at flea markets as recent as last year.  Now, some of them are selling for $500+.  It is mind blowing what is going on with trading cards these days.  I only kept my Gambit, Daredevil, and Iron Fist themed cards from my nonsports collecting days.  I wish I kept more.

I'm sure some of my loyal readers have watched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and understand what it's like to put together the Infinity Stones.

Well, I am attempting a similar such feat.  For those that don't know, in the Marvel Universe there exists 6 gems that can control the universe.  These are the Mind, Power, Reality, Soul, Space, and Time stones.  

The 2015 Bowman Best release has only 1 more 1/1 that I am searching for and if I get it, I might hold all the power in the Collecting Cutch universe.  

Below is a scan of the card I am seeking.

I captured it from Worthpoint years ago and hasn't resurfaced since it was initially sold on eBay shortly after release.

It would go nicely with these other printing plate 1/1s

As you can see I have already captured all 4 of the printing plates.

I have also gotten 2 1/1 buyback autographs from 2018 Archives Active Player Signatures.  They can be seen below as the refractor and base.

So if you ever see the 2015 Bowman Best Superfractor surface, please make me aware of it.  I promise if I get it, I won't snap away half of existence.

You can dance if you want to...

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  For each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog I donate a dollar to hopefully help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram (max $400).  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  Last year I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 4th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014.)

Today I want to take a look at

Kalani Hilliker

She became famous for her dancing as a teen (seen on left in the gif above)

She is currently a model and YouTuber

You may notice the H&M backdrop.  I don't know what H&M actually stands for, but on my blog that stands for (Josh) Harrison & (Andrew) McCutchen.

Both were pretty good dancers while teammates in Pittsburgh and shared many celebrations on Team USA too.

The pair of former Buccos brought a lot of fun and entertainment to the Steel City in their time together from 2011-2017.  They helped change the Pirates into a perennial contender for three years (2013-2015) when the Pirates had the 2nd most wins in baseball.  They were steering the ship.

This is a desperately needed card for my collection.

I have only seen one sold on eBay and one sold on COMC in four years.

Help me get this card.  

It is a pink 2016 Topps Update #US30 Pirates Mateys 

Each year I post 1 card I aim to add to the collection as part of my Save Second Base event.  I am 2 for 3 in acquiring the cards I post (still looking for the 2013 Topps Chrome Pink /5)

Both Harrison and McCutchen know how to be Safe at Second Base in style

I actually have doubles of another McCutchen/Harrison pink card (2015 Update #US15 "River City Rakers)

If I was to obtain the 2016 Topps Update #US30 Pirates Mateys pink card I would likely BUST out into a dance like this

2020 has been a strange year, maybe next year I can celebrate by unmasking this card as having been acquired.

Completing the pair of Harrison/McCutchen cards would be a lot of fun.

(Kalani on left)

The New Want List

As the year comes close to an end I am grateful that in 2019 I was able to have crossed off 3 of my top 5 cards thanks to a pair of early Heritage Black Chrome Refractors becoming available (2009 and 2010) along with the 2014 Topps Opening Day SSP that Nate sent me.  In addition I picked up a pink card I put as a featured want during my 2018 SaveTheBoibies event.  I spotlighted that card this year as part of my SaveSecondBaseEvent here.

While I do plan to not be as aggressive in the coming year with adding Cutch cards in Yankees, Phillies, or Giants uniforms I will be looking for some of the older Pirates uniformed cards.  It is now time to update my Needs list for the Cutch PC.

Most of these images were taken from COMC by reviewing the sold out category or old eBay auctions.

Any 2009 1/1 will always be a top priority

I am always looking to add multiple copies of 2005 Topps Update or 2009 Topps Update cards.

2010 Pepsi Refresh Project Photocard 4x6

This has leaped into the #1 card I am seeking

2011 Gypsy Queen #79 Mini Photo Variant

2016 Topps Update #US30 Pink/50

2013 Bowman Chrome Fit The Bill Xfractor/25

Any card with a significant game used patch (Postseason, Jackie Robinson Day, Negro League Uniform, WBC Classic, Chuck Tanner Memorial, Ralph Kiner Memorial, etc)

 An example of a Ralph Kiner Memorial patch card I own is above.

2015 Topps #400 Pink/50

2013 Pinnacle Clear Vision Home Run (1 per case) or Cycle (1/1)

2017 Topps #636 Black/66
Allegheny Armada with John Jaso

2010 Topps Triple Threads #115 Sapphire/25

2010 Topps Chrome #35 Gold/50

2013 Topps Chrome #49 Pink/5
(Can't find any record of these actually existing besides this worthpoint capture from 2013)

Any 2015 Allen & Ginter Buybacks
(Below are ones I own)

Any oversized box toppers featuring McCutchen with other players

2010 National Chicle Umbrella Back /25

2012 Panini Prizm Team MVP Green Parallel

2013 Topps Cut to Chase Die Cut Relic /25

2018 Bowman Holiday Snow /50

Any autograph card from any year that I don't have, no matter how ridiculous or expensive they may be

Any additional pink cards I need (even if it is just a cameo card)

In addition to those cards I am always looking to add cards to my unimpressive basketball player collections of Paul George and Reggie Miller.