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?

Did I Do That?

While I was scanning in my first wave of the Cutch SP 2020 Challenge cards, I noticed something...different about the backs of the cards I had acquired on the same day.

This got me thinking back to a few months ago when Topps posted on Twitter about the vintage logo Topps currently used for their vintage parallel.

I doubt I changed the production, but feel like I may have actually made Topps aware of their laziness with my posts.

This was the original tweet.

It's actually a good question because in my research I dont see Topps using that logo for their base sets for any year.

I responded with why don't they make the vintage backs appear more vintage like when they were a Target exclusive.

Two other Twitter trolls tried to argue that they do make vintage stock, but I put them in place when I showed this picture comparing the backs which look identical sans a serial number.

I don't have any 2020 Series 1 to compare if the backs are the same colors for base and vintage, but I can confirm that they are different in Series 2, well at least Andrew McCutchen is.

As you can see the vintage design (on top) numbered to 99 copies is darker than the blue parallel (under) numbered to 50 copies.

This is what I was hoping for when I made those tweets.  Make the vintage have a more vintage, less glossy, darker card back than any of the traditional cards.



Does anyone know the history of the Topps "umbrella logo"?

What year was it actually printed on the cards?

The First Wave Arrived Today

Over the weekend sales of the McCutchen SP went from $60 to almost $400 in less than 24 hours.  It was absolutely insane to see the hype and frenzy that surrounded that card all due to ESPN, Cutch, and Dick Allen's tweets.

I never put much into social media influencers and thought it was all a scam, but damn if I didn't see something like it first hand.

The average price of the cards at their highest selling point was almost $275.

Similar pricing spikes occurred around Memorial Day for the Project 2020 cards.

I refused to pay over $200 and certainly not  $275 for a Short Print photo variant

For
A
Card
That
Comes
1:7 Packs

Mind blown!!!!

Rather than use that money to be caught up in the here and now, I used it to only buy Cutch cards I needed from COMC, eBay, sportlots, and artist sites.

Over the course of the next week (I'm guessing) I will show off the cards and items I bought during that 24 hour frenzy.

Some of them I have been after for a LOOOOOONG TIME.  I will provide screenshots of the receipts too.

One of the cards is a unicorn I've been chasing for 7 years!

Now let me preface and say that I overpaid for some of these cards.  This isn't how I normally collect, but I wanted the challenge to be genuine and only purchase cards over the weekend of the frenzy.

The first batch came today and it's a pair of 2020 Topps Series 2 parallels.

On the left is the Father's Day variant numbered to 50 copies.  I really like the baby blue color on this card in particular because it matches up nicely with the Powder Blue uniform of the Phillies.

Speaking of powder blue uniforms, I also got the vintage stock and logo parallel.

This parallel is numbered to only 99 copies.

First 2 cards
$37.00

The New High Five?

The world today is radically different than it was a few months ago due to COVID-19.

I'm curious if the social distancing will continue after things settle down and life begins to get back to normal with businesses opening back up.

If so, will we ever see forearm bashes again?

High Fives again?

Today is National High Five Day and I miss the social interactions.

Pops Hat Patch and Rookie Card

It's my dad's birthday today.  I have always called him dad, but my brother (because of his strange Speed Racer fandom) always called him Pops.  I joke with my dad that my younger brother has aged him more than I ever did.

Happy 60th Dad!

Here are my Pops and Cutch cards in my collection.

This is a 2019 hat patch of Willie Stargell aling with some arm sleeve piping from a Spring Training jersey.  The card is Star Wars Day numbering (4 of 5).

Topps Heritage has used the combo of Cutch with Pops A LOT

Topps Museum has also paired these Steel City legends up often.

And to wrap things up are a few more Steel City MVPs with other Fan Favorite Pirates of yesteryear on Triple Threads

I also finally added a long standing want by picking up a Willie Stargell rookie card for $40.

The card is in decent shape for vintage and the front displays very well

The back is a little rough.

After 9 Years, It's Finally Mine!!!!

Before Topps was issuing the vintage logo limited to 99 cards, Topps was placing vintage card stock with the vintage logo exclusively in packs at Target.

Trying to find copies of these cards now is relatively impossible.

The only completed sale of one of these  vintage stocks from the ENTIRE SET sold on eBay for the past three months is a rookie Buster Posey that sold for $61.  Others are listed including a Stanton rookie for $1K.

None show up on COMC at all for the entire 2010 set.

When I saw this second year, rookie cup winner card appear for $12 or best offer, I couldn't click buy-it-now fast enough.

It may have only cost $12, but adding this early in his career release of Cutch feels like a huge triumph considering it took 9 years to finally track one down.

Scripture Sunday - Isaiah 26:3

I have been having some frustrating times at work dealing with some problematic associates.  This verse is quite helpful.

Isaiah 26:3
You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.

Cardboard Cameos #8: We Are Family!

The Pirates had a winning culture for 3 years.

The team felt like a family.

Many of my favorite players from those years are all gone.

Only Josh Harrison and Starling Marte remain.

I wish the team was more like this image, but I am learning to root for the new guys on the team.

Guys like Colin Moran and Corey Dickerson have been impressive thus far.

I have to remember that long time Pirates were moved prior to the team winning their last championship back in 1979 too.  No one wanted to see the team give up Frank Tavares or Al Oliver, but Tim Foli and Bert Blyleven were crucial to the team in 1979.


Speaking of 1979, the above vintage Topps card is numbered 79/99.

Heritage Comparisons: Clemente v Cutch pt2

Over the years, Topps has used Heritage to bring the current stars of the game on designs from the past.

Cutch has appeared using the same numbering as Roberto Clemente a handful of times.

You can view the first Heritage Comparison of Cutch and Clemente here.

I want to preface these segments and state that I do not believe that a single season of Cutch can take away from the greatness of Roberto Clemente's life or his baseball career.

Each of these Heritage comparisons will take a look at a card of Cutch and compare it to the design's original numbered card.

The 2011 Heritage card release is based on the 1962 design.

Cutch's 2011 Heritage card is numbered 10 the same as Pirates Legend and Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente.

Oddly enough, the card backs were printed flipped differently than the original 1962 backs.

As will be customary for these Heritage Comparisons I will take a look at the standard counting stats typically found on the back of a baseball card.

Slash Lines
Clemente in 1961 went .351/.390/.539 for a .949 OPS
Cutch in 2010 went .286/.365/.449 for an .814 OPS
Advantage Clemente

Plate Discipline
Clemente had a 1.68 K:BB rate (59:35) during his 1st batting title run in 1961
Cutch's 2010 season showed a 1.27K:BB (89:70)
Advantage Cutch

Extra Base Hits (XBH)
Clemente had 30 doubles, 10 triples, and 23 HR in 1961
Cutch had 35 doubles, 5 triples, and 16 round trippers
63 v 56
advantage Clemente

Runs Scored and Runs Batted In
Runs scored and RBI are based on who hits in front of you and who hits behind you.
Clemente scored 100 runs and drove in 89 in 1961
Cutch scored 94 runs and knocked in 56
Advantage Clemente

Stolen Bases
Cutch's main advantage over Clemente was in Stolen Bases 33 to 4
Advantage Cutch

Hardware and awards
Clemente won his 1st Batting Title, 1st Gold Glove, and was elected an All-Star
Cutch had no hardware victories in 2010
Advantage Clemente 

Winner
Clemente
4 to 2

I hope you enjoyed the comparisons made based on the Heritage and original design numbering.  I will continue to do these segments if there is enough interest in them.

To close out here are my 4 parallels of the 2011 Heritage card I own.

Chrome Refractor, Chrome
Retail Black border, Green border chrome