Meet Your New Manager

It's been a few days since news broke that Cutch is heading West.  I've been going through my cards remembering all the moments the former MVP gave us Pirates fans.

One card I found was this 2015 All-star game card of Cutch in the batting cage talking to Bruce Bochy.

Initial projections has Cutch batting in the leadoff spot for the Giants.  He hasn't batted there since 2009 in an official game.  He did however bat leadoff for the 2015 All-Star game which included Cutch's 1st All-star game homerun.

Cutch will once again return to right field and the team is still searching for a defensive minded centerfielder.  Hunter Pence will move to left field.

Series 1 Checklist

Andrew will be appearing in a Pirates uniform for a number of cards in 2018 Series 1.
The Base and Clear Base will both feature Cutch.
He will appear as an 83 insert (Card number 3)
He will appear as an insert called Superstar Sensations (number SSS-46)
He will have a retail exclusive insert called Legend in The Making (number LTM-AM)
Also a retail exclusive insert is Opening Day Images (numbered OD-15)
Spring Training Patches return (STP-AM)
A retail manurelic called Players Weekend Patches will feature Cutch (PWP-AM)
Relic cards called Major League Materials will feature Cutch (MLM-AM)

I won't be buying any blasters as I am on a tight budget for a few months.  If anyone pulls Cutch cards,  keep me in mind.

I'm still here

I want to thank everyone who messaged me over the past few days regarding both my car accident and the trading of Cutch.

I am working on finding a new car at the moment, but have a rental lined up until I find something definitive.

As for Cutch, I will still be Collecting Cutch.  Looking back at the recent Hall of Famers dating back to 2010 only 3 played their entire careers with one team (Larkin, Bagwell, Biggio).  We know that Alan Trammell, Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera will all make the Hall of Fame too.

The days of great players staying with one team their entire careers are few and far between.  Even a 10 year No Trade Clause doesn't mean you get to stay with one team.  Just ask Stanton and Verlander.

So what will my focus be now that Cutch is no longer with the Pirates?

I'm still going to seek out any Pirates cards I don't own
Any certified autographs will always be high priority
I will be looking to get some game used items (bats, jerseys, etc)

Stay here as I provide daily updates to the collection and continue to show off my over 2,000 unique cards of Cutch.

And don't forget to checkout Chasing3000cards, my latest blog where I am making a decade long commitment to acquire 3,000 unique Roberto Clemente cards.

I purchased this Topps Now off eBay yesterday.  It is my first Cutch card with a Giants logo.

It breaks my heart.

When the card arrives, I will be sure to post it.

Who knows, maybe Topps will make some Cutch/Bonds dual cards now because of the Pittsburgh/San Francisco connection.

I Have No Words

I have been trying to think of the words to write to sum up the emotions felt about two of my favorite players being traded over the weekend.  This follows up a shitty week in general as my car was totaled the day of the ice storm.

Andrew McCutchen made me love baseball again.
He signed baseball cards, balls, hats, and even a Pirates Country sign for me in person.
He was always humble and a true talent to watch play.

I have so many fun memories of Cutch from his Altoona Curve days to that magical 2013 season when the Bucs returned to the postseason and beyond.

My brother's favorite player, Evan Longoria, was traded to the Giants this year too so the good news is that him and I may take a bro trip out west to visit AT&T Park.

What can I possibly say about Cutch being traded?
The face of the franchise was traded for a middle reliever and outfield prospect.

There's no words.

There. Are. No. Words.

Thank you for always being classy.
Thank you for bringing the franchise back hope.

Thank You Cutch!
The card pictured is a "Giant" sized 5x7 Rookie Reprint Blue Parallel /2.

It summarizes my feelings perfectly.

Cardboard Cameos #6: No Relation!

Daniel McCutchen may be best remembered in his Pirates career as being the losing pitcher of the 19 inning Jerry Meals game from July 26th 2011.  In the game, McCutchen threw 92 pitches in 5.1 innings of relief.

What a train wreck the Pirates season became after that game.

Way before No Relation pitched this game he was in the 2009 TriStar Projections set.

Well sort of.

The card actually features Andrew McCutchen on the front, not Daniel.  This marks another Cutch Cardboard Cameo.

Fun Trivia Fact
Doc McJames who played from 1895-1901 was born James Mc Cutchen James.  He was the only other player in MLB history to play with a born name McCutchen.

Daniel and Andrew were teammates beginning in 2009 through 2012.

Thanks For The Memories

With Fall Out Boy playing in the background it is with deep regret that I must pass on the news that Gerrit Cole has been traded to the defending World Series Champions, Houston Astros.

Gerrit signified an important time for Pirates fans.  They weren't going to shy away from taking the best talent available in the amateur draft.  They were going to be committed to their plan and building around a young core to bring the Pirates back to the post season.  They were going to finally get an ace level pitcher.

Cole debuted in 2013 after two years in the minors.  He was part of the team that broke the 20 year losing streak.  He was handed the ball in Game 5 of the ALDS that same year and the 2015 Wild Card Game.  He was meant to be the pitcher we could rely on when it mattered most.

Ultimately the Pirates were unable to advance far into the post season in 2013, 2014, and 2015 despite having the league's 2nd best record during those 3 years. (CURSE YOU CARDINALS!!!!)

I've shown off a bunch of Cutch and Cole cards before.
Now I'm going to rank them.

This was a no brainer as it ranks as one of my favorite cards I own.  A dual patch, dual auto numbered to only 5?  Yeah, not much can top that.

Ok, there are two things wrong with this card.
Cutch should have had the logo patch and I wish we had gotten Pedro Alvarez, Josh Harrison, or Starling Marte instead of Jung Ho Kang.
It is a 1/1 though

The reason for liking this card is simple.  It's one of only two dual autographs produced with Cutch and Cole.  I had won a redemption for this card and when it was time to redeem it, Topps said that the card was no longer available.  Instead they sent me a dual David Ortiz/Alex Rodriguez as compensation.  I eventually found one on eBay and bought it.  Only 25 of these were produced.

There's no patches on this card, but AJ Burnett was one of my favorites.  A lot of fans disliked him because of his attitude, but that rockstar carefree IDGAF STFD attitude is why I liked him so much.  It was AJ's first and only All-star game.  Only 25 copies exist.

Similar to the card above, I really like the design of the 2015 All-Star stitches relic cards from Update.  Another card with only 25 copies.

Here is another 1/1 from Triple Threads.   This one features a 2014 Post Season patch on the JHay swatch and a Jolly Roger sleeve patch for Cole.

The first unlicensed card appears and it is for no other reason than Panini makes some classy looking cards for their National Treasures release.  Like many others on this list it's numbered to only 25 copies.  Unlike many others it is jersey numbered for Cutch.

I got a bunch of various patch cards to choose from but this one with the Ralph Kiner (4) tribute patch from the 2014 season for Cole is one of the better patches I have of Cole.

Gotta Steel this one and post it for the 3rd time on the blog. The placement of the Alvarez patch looks awesome.

It's another booklet. YAY!
it's boring swatches BOO!
It's numbered to 5 YAY!
Cole isn't pictured in a black jersey BOO!

Polanco Jolly Roger swatch gets this card to fall in the Honorable Mention column.



I wish Gerrit the best of luck in Houston and I hope for a team that once called themselves the Colt .45s that they come up with some great marketing for Cole 45.

A lot of T!!!!

Who doesn't like the T in T&A?

Well...I know I love the T

Welcome back again Katy Perry.

Your role on this blog is to bring attention to the letters just like Sesame Street.

Today's letter is T.

Are there any Ts?

Well, yes there is.

My latest Cutch letter comes courtesy of Hits Memorabilia Royalty.

A few weeks after winning this auction, I won another letter.  Expect more Katy when it arrives.