EPIC!!!

I missed an opportunity to add some of the other color parallels of this rainbow to my collection recently, but have had the "base" version numbered to 15 copies for many months sitting around.

2019 Luminaries features on card autographs (for the most part) inside 1 touch mag cases and sealed with a security sticker on top.

The set focuses on Hit Kings, Home Run Kings, and Masters of the Mound.  While not known as a Home Run hitter, Cutch got the HR treatment for his entry into the set.

On the front of the card you will notice that it says 6HR.  Surely Cutch has more than 6HR in his career.  But, if you flip the card over...

you will notice it talks about Cutch's walkoff homers.

Among active players, Cutch has the third most walkoff homers trailing only Albert Pujols (12) and Ryan Zimmerman (11).

Cutch hit 5 walk off homers with the Pirates tying him for second place on the franchise all time records.  He also hit one as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

It happened 2 years ago when Cutch hit his 6th All Time Walkoff Homerun April 7th, 2018.

Back to back days of This Day In Cutchstory? 

Yup.

As I predict I will do every April 7th due to Cutch's epic day at the plate of Game 7 of the 2018 season, I will show off a card that discusses his 6 hit performance that was capped off with a walk off homerun in the 14th inning.

Here are some fascinating facts about that epic at bat:

This was Cutch's 1st SIX hit game of his career and the first time he collected FIVE hits in a game since 2010.

Cutch hit SEVEN 2 strike foul balls to stay alive in the 12 pitch at bat.

Cutch was the first player since 1969 to collect six hits and a walk off homerun in the same game.  Jim Northrup and Cutch are the only players from 1900 to do such feats.

Andrew McCutchen became the first player to hit a walk off homer in the 14th inning or later with his team losing since July 11, 2015.  The player that did that?

Andrew McCutchen versus the St. Louis Cardinals.

It was the 3rd time in 4 games of only a 7 game season that the Giants had beaten the Dodgers decided because of a homerun.


Do you remember Cutch's walkoff for the Giants?

A Cardboard (1/1) Cameo I didn't know I had

As I was putting together a nice package for Nate as part of my Eleanor trade, I came across this 2010 Topps Black Printing Plate I completely forgot I owned.  I scanned the card to my gallery 8 years ago and paid probably about $10 for it at the time.

Considering that the card is from 2010 Series 2 I knew the image had to have been from early in the 2010 season or something from the 2009 season.  Both seasons featured very few walk off victories to warrant such a celebration.

With some help thanks to Getty Images I was able to pinpoint the game to Brandon Moss' walkoff homer in 2009.

 If you look just to the left of Zach Duke you can see a certain Rookie Cup Winner enjoying his team's victory.

I am pretty excited about realizing I had a Cutch cameo card I didn't even know about.

Now I have to track down the other parallels of 2010 Topps Series 2 card number 608.

More Giants Cards Arrive

Just a few days after posting about not receiving my Topps Now cards from eBay seller TwinsJake, I received all three of my Andrew McCutchen Topps Now cards I had preordered.

So let's look at each card and break down the look of these Topps Now cards.

The first 2018 Topps Now card released was technically the 2017 Offseason card of Cutch being traded on January 15th.  I discussed that card the day after he was traded.

The Road to Opening Day has been a staple for the past two years for ToppsNow.  It highlights fifteen players who will make the big league roster as Opening Day starters.  When Cutch was traded to the Giants, it was clear he would be their everyday right fielder and batting near the top of the lineup.

This is everything fans should hope to see from a Spring Training set.  It has the spring sun, players wearing unique Spring Training uniforms, and a certain level of joy on the player's faces.

The back discusses the even number magic the Giants have been known for and the acquisitions of Longo and Cutch hopefully leading the team to a playoff push in September.

The print run for the Giants set was 231 copies.





Once the season began, I kept my eyes on Cutch and the Giants daily to see if there might be some Now moments.
It didn't take long for Cutch to make a magical moment in the Bay.

This is the biggest moment that Cutch has had in a Giants uniform thus far.  Cutch had a massive day at the plate collecting 6 hits, the final one being a 3 run walkoff homer in the 14th inning to help defeat the long standing rival Dodgers.

The image shows Cutch connecting for the game winner, but the image below would have been a better image as he shows the emotion of the hit far better.  That swing used for the card could have been a foul ball and no one would be the wiser.  The image below shows the raw fiery emotion that Cutch must have felt when he finally arrived to help the Giants defeat their longest rival.

Hopefully Topps can use this image in a future release and not just on their Bunt App.  I would LOVE to own this card.

The print run of this card was 445

The April 10th walk off single looks nearly identical to the walkoff HR (another reason I dislike the image chosen for the 6 hits/14th inning HR walkoff shot).

I actually like the look of this one as it captures the moment and writes it up perfectly on the back.  I wonder if Night Owl seeks out these Topps Now cards as there is A LOT of night cards produced.

The Print Run on these was only 195 copies so it is very possible that this card becomes one of those tough to find cards in the future.




One of my friends is a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Phillies and has great seats in center right field. 

I went with him to watch the game and see the Giants lose to the Phillies for the second night in a row.  Cutch went 1 for 3 with a walk.  Cutch is starting to heat up as he is now hitting .409/.533/.455 over his last seven games. 

The Phillie Phanatic cracks me up.

Cutch's Cardboard Cameos #1: JHay Walk Off!!!

I thought it would be fun to show off some cameos of Cutch on cardboard in a new monthly segment called Cutch's Cardboard Cameos.  Alliteration is so much fuuuuuuun.

Last night, Rich Hill was pitching an absolute gem against the Pirates throwing 8 perfect innings.  Trevor Williams and Felipe Rivero shutout the Dodgers through 9 innings as well though.  In the 9th inning Logan Forsythe had a leadoff error to Jordy Mercer to eliminate the perfect game, but the no hitter was still in tact. After a sacrifice bunt by Chris Stewart, Hill got Jose Osuna and Starling Marte to retire in the 9th.  Juan Nicasio shutout the Dodgers in the top of the 10th and Rich Hill went back out to the mound for the bottom of the 10th since his pitch count was still under 100 pitches.  Josh Harrison lead off that inning and on a 2-1 pitch launched a ball just over the left field wall for the game's 1st Pirates hit and game's only run.

JHay All F-ing Day!!!!!
(Click link to see other Josh Harrison cards I have shown on Collecting Cutch)

Josh Harrison will likely get a Topps Now card to celebrate the feat.  Harrison is no stranger to Topps Now as he has appeared on 2 other walk off victory cards.

The first one occurred last year when Topps initially labeled the card as John Harrison.  A lawsuit for the card broke out after being released as Josh and Topps corrected it by rereleasing a limited number of John Harrison cards.  The Johns sell for A LOT more money ($300+ as opposed to $15-).

The July 19th 2016 card in question features a nice cameo appearance of Cutch celebrating with his long time friend Josh Harrison.

I thought I had owned this card, but after looking through my Topps Now collection I realized I didn't have it.  I have since remedied it by purchasing one for $15.