Target Acquired!!!!

Back in May I declared that I wanted to add more of the rare 2009 Andrew McCutchen cards to my collection as one of my main goals for the rest of the year.  You can revisit that post here.

Well, my friends...

That Target has been acquired

Quite literally actually

Before Topps started to make glossy backed vintage logo designs in hobby packs with serial numbers to 99 copies, Topps was making Throwback variants in Target exclusive Hanger boxes.  

These Target exclusive vintage "umbrella" design logo of Topps weren't numbered and had a very vintage cardboard look and feel to them, especially the backs.

These days not only can you not find packs of cards at Target, but are now associated with red parallels, made famous of course by the 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout.

Do you think Topps should make the throwbacks with the classic cardboard non glossy stock again?

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.

Missing The Target

In case you weren't already aware, Target has pulled their MLB, NFL, NBA, and Pokemon cards from shelves effective May 14th due to an altercation that occurred with trading cards.  Several young men were arrested and a hand gun was pulled (no shots fired) in a Target parking lot. OVER TRADING CARDS!!!!????

The pandemic caused a huge boom to the sports card industry and many saw the "lottery tickets" that could result in hitting key cards sold in packs as a side hustle and way to get rich quick.  It has left many retail places with empty shelves for trading cards, action figures, and other collectible markets for well over a year.

It is entirely possible that as things begin to open up and mandates become looser that normalcy returns and eventually trading cards prices stabilize, but I think the bubble is still very real for a few more years.  

Target is known to offer exclusive products over the years and we have seen demand for those products only rise over time.  

Beginning in 2011 Topps Update, Topps began offering exclusive red parallel cards in Target packs.  These red border parallel cards can fetch huge money now of the rookies.  Even some of the stars from that release from a decade ago can fetch larger dollars up to the original price of the blaster boxes they came in. 

The McCutchen 2011 Topps Update red border is a card I've coveted for nearly a decade. 

I recently picked up one of those exclusives and couldn't hit the buy-it-now fast enough. 

The red border Target exclusive from 2011 Topps Update has eluded me and I even missed out on an auction for one last year.  It's an iconic set.  It's a popular parallel exclusive to chase after.

And I bought it for $4 B-I-N

Time to cross that one off the list. 

One card I unfortunately can't cross off and fear the prices will skyrocket now due to (even) less product being available for sale is the 2021 Topps Heritage red border exclusive of Andrew McCutchen.

I regrettably missed putting in a sniper bid and lost an eBay auction and the only one that was listed on COMC.com sold VERY QUICKLY upon being listed.

I know it's a long stretch, but if anyone gets a red border Target exclusive from 2021 Topps Heritage of Cutch please let me know.  I am very interested in adding this to my collection.

Do you think 2021 Target exclusive cards will hold more value in the future with many products being pulled from shelves this year?