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.

I Got My Eleanor

Holy $#*+!

After 5 years of coming close to landing this SP photo variant of Andrew McCutchen's 2014 Topps Opening Day release I have finally gotten it in hand.

Nate from the blog Bucs Stops Here hooked me up with this unicorn like card.

I told Nate this card was akin to Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds to me.  I had come close on two occasions to acquiring it, but could never actually get it in my hands.

A day went by while he searched to verify he did in fact have the card.  I sat patiently waiting, not knowing what it would be like to actually get possession of this card I have coveted for 5 years.

Then I got this...

Nate being a class act didn't even hold me hostage for the outlandish price that I was offering to get this card.

I sent Nate a package in return for the card and also sent $50 PayPal for the finder's fee.  He claimed it The Most Epic Trade
The link will show sime of the highlights. Below is what I sent him to open. 

Here are the variant, base, and blue parallel

The photo variant has a code of 8969

The base is  8491

Thank you for the card Nate.  I am so glad I can finally cross this card off the needs list. I'm glad you enjoyed the package I sent you.
Man I am pumped about having this in hand finally after all these years.

Wooooooo!

Cutch is the last Giant to wear #22

It was announced Sunday that the San Francisco Giants are retiring #22 for Will Clark.

Will Clark played 8 seasons and was a 5 time All-Star with the club.  During that time he won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger and was a top 5 MVP vote getter four times.

He finished his 15 year career with a triple slash line of  .303/.384/.497.  He collected 2,176 hits and 284 homers among the four teams he played with (San Francisco, Texas, Baltimore, St. Louis). Clark is definitely a member of the Hall of Very Good, but could he one day be elected to the Hall of Fame?

With it likely that the Giants won't issue #22 to any Giants player over the next six weeks it appears that Andrew McCutchen will be the last San Francisco Giants player to wear #22 before it is retired.

Next year when #22 is officially retired by the Giants I will highlight my 22 favorite Giants cards of Cutch.

In the meantime though here are a few cards that show the full 22 on Cutch's Giants cards.

Cutch has two different photo variations to,chase in 2019 Topps Museum Meaningful Materials.  Each of those photo variants are believed to have 5 different color parallels to chase.

This is my only Triple Threads Wood 1/1 of Cutch I own.  I always wanted a Pirates one, but they were going for $200+ and only featured relics when Cutch was in his prime.  I am pleased that I was able to get an autographed one (albeit a sticker) for under that mark.

 Cutch became an instant fan favorite in SF when he got 2 walk off hits in his first 10 games.

This walk off was one of the most memorable moments of the 2018 season. Cutch collected 6 hits in the game then launched a 3 run walk off homer in extra innings to seal the victory against long time rivals, Dodgers.

Here is a cameo card of Cutch running towards Nick Huntley after another walk off victory.

No airbrushing on this triple relic with two other San Francisco ball players. 

 Bad airbrushing on Panini's end for this San Francisco card of Cutch.  The yellow gloves and jersey number indicate that minimum effort was put into making this a card that resembles what Cutch wore in his brief time at the bay.

 Here are six different parallels from 2018 Stadium Club

 Here are four chrome versions

 Including the 1/1 Superfractor

Here is just a boring relic from Tier 1.

It's tough to see with the nice on card signature, but this Dynasty card features a great swatch of patch.

Two former MVPs congratulating each other...or practicing how to line dance.

You want the Proof, you can't handle the proof....

I have been on an autograph quest lately.  I am still seeking out any parallels of Cutch autographs I don't have. 

For over half a decade this card had been on my radar, but I was never able to secure a copy.  That all changed a few months ago.

I was pretty happy I got this card as it brings me very close to 200 unique autographs of Cutch.

Another Day, Another Auto

 This is the Panini Gold Proof from 2012 Signature Series.

It is numbered to only 10 copies.

Just Win Baby

I can not believe the kind of baseball the Pirates have been playing since the All-Star break.  The team looked to be a serious contender for the division during the first few weeks of the year when the starting rotation was throwing up a bunch of zeroes through the first three weeks of the year.

Then injuries started to happen and they slid back to reality and in a very clustered and talented NL Central standings.

At the All-Star Break they were just a few games back from a Wild Card berth and looked to potentially be a buyer at the trade deadline.

Then the All-Star Break happened and it has been nothing but losing since.

4-24
That is the Pirates record since the All-Star break.

4 WINS!!!

Their winning percentage is .142 since the break.

I legit haven't seen baseball this bad in a very long time and that's with a team that had 2 DECADES OF SUB .500 BASEBALL!


When the Pirates win a game, announcer Greg Brown says "Raise The Jolly Roger".  This is a reference to Pirate ships hoisting their colors after approaching a ship requesting their surrender or risk the fate of death.

It has been over a week since the Pirates have raised the Jolly Roger so I am posting all my Andrew McCutchen relic cards featuring the Jolly Roger Pirates logo sleeve patch.

Here's hoping they do better than continue at a .142 pace the rest of the year.

Just another 1/1

Can You See Where This Is Going?

With October only a few weeks away, I thought I could use some imagery to get everyone excited for a month of pink baseball cards.

Today though as you can tell from the (fabric bursting) Army t-shirt worn by Caroline Vreeland I will show off a camo card.

Caroline will appear for the month of October as well.