Topps Heritage is Awesome!

I was looking at some of my non Cutch cards the other day as I try to organize my collection better.  I realized that I should pick up some more Pirates Heritage cards (especially the certified autographs of the players from the 50s and 60s).

I haven't been buying much in terms of cards recently, but there was an eBay promo a few days ago for 15% off a purchase of $25 or more.

I used the code to grab an awesome addition to the Pirates and Cutch Heritage collection.  Expect me to show it off sometime next week when it arrives.

Until that card shows up, here is an awesome box topper relic I have that I completely forgot I owned.

This oversized extremely rare, hand numbered, box topper features a very boring grey swatch.  I haven't seen one of these pop up for nearly 2 years. 

The 2013 card highlights Cutch's multi homer efforts in consecutive days.

This Day In Cutchstory: Cutch Goes Clutch!

The year was 2009.  The Pittsburgh Pirates were on the verge of becoming a franchise with the longest consecutive years of losing streaks in North America.  Things were not looking bright for their immediate future either as they had no pitching help coming up in the minors.

The team had just traded away many of their previous season's All-Stars.  Nate McLouth, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson, and Jason Bay had all been traded in the previous year or through the 2009 trade deadline.

The lone bright spot was the Pirates top prospect (#13 overall) had made his debut in early June and hit the ground running. Literally.  His first at bat was a ground ball up the middle then Cutch had proceeded to steal his first base.

By July he was looking like a contender for the Rookie of the Year.

It wasn't until August 1st that Cutch got some more "National coverage" when he hit 3 HomeRuns against the Nationals, another National League basement dweller team.

There have been numerous cards over the years that Topps has produced referencing Cutch's big day at the plate, but the biggest of them is this 2010 Allen & Ginter Boxtopper.

I think it would be really cool to get custom cards of these "minis" on the card actually made.

The Pirates are playing Cutch's new team, the San Francisco Giants this weekend.  Here's hoping the Pirates can make a serious run in the final two months and pick up some ground for their playoff push.

The National Exclusives 2012

The National Sports Convention just ended and I considered making a set of posts about all the National exclusive cards I have of Cutch, but then the Pirates made a blockbuster trade for Chris Archer and I went out to Pittsburgh for his debut.

So rather than grouping all the cards over a series of consecutive posts I will just randomly show them off over the course of time (or maybe all next year for the Convention time frame as I haven't quite decided yet).

Cutch began gaining superstar status in 2012 following his first All Star Game appearance in 2011 and an extremely hot start to the year in 2012.

Through June 2012 he looked like the clear cut MVP as the Pirates were battling for 1st place in the division and at one point in July Cutch had reached a season average of .386.

As part of the National circuit, Panini made a series of restamped cards including the Elite Extra Edition you see below.

This would have been a good Star Wars Day card as it is numbered 4/5 and I celebrated May the 4th this year with cards all numbered 4/5.

Happy Sidney Crosby Day

Happy Birthday to the superstar hockey talent once known as "Sid The Kid".

While he may no longer be a kid (31 years old today), Sidney will go down as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.  He has already won 3 Stanley Cups in addition to numerous gold medals, awards, and the hearts of Pittsburgh Penguins fans across the nation.

#87 is special to me.  He helped save Pittsburgh Penguins hockey.

Much like how Andrew McCutchen reinvigated the city with a love for baseball.

To merge these two generational Pittsburgh athletes together, I am showing off my Andrew McCutchen on an 87 design. 

Topps has had a recent love affair with putting 1987 and 1983 designs in a lot of their products.  I am looking forward to those 1989 designs next year.

Stop looking at me Swan

I love the older Adam Sandler movies from the 90s.  Movies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Little Nicky, Waterboy, etc. I can quote nearly every line.

I don't know if it is subliminal messaging to my shaved summer head, but when I got this 2017 Allen & Ginter Silk Framed Parallel numbered to 10, I remember doing the entire bathtub scene from Billy Madison mainly because of the silky and smooth line.

Silky and smooooooooth

I actually broke down and bought a new card (1st in awhile) so that I could continue my A&G Silk collection.  I have shown the 2015 and 2016 versions here.

Scripture Sunday - 1 John 4:8

Too often we get caught up in not showing or expressing our love for each other because of daily functions.  It's important to remind those you love that you love them.

This past weekend my girlfriend drove 6 hours west with me to Pittsburgh to see Chris Archer's Pirates debut.

That is love.

We are reminded of love in 1 John 4:8
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Show your love and God will show you.

Today's card is a Stadium Club Gold from 2014.  You can see Cutch displaying his cross arm band on his right sleeve.

Will To Win

As I mentioned yesterday I attended the Pirates debut of Chris Archer.  In a very short time Chris' personality and clue collar work ethic has already endeared himself to the City of Pittsburgh.

I was having trouble with my camera not focusing very well on my phone, but did manage to take some pictures.  I didn't take any pics of the stadium because quite honestly I have done that dozens of times with all my trips out west.

Last night was a Stand Up For Cancer day so I got my sign and wrote my friend and extremely talented artist name Josh Medors (R.I.P. my friend). My standard is to get a pierogi hoagie from Manny's BBQ (Manny Sanguillen owns it).

Our seats were in section 109 so we had a great view of the game.

I didn't take pics of the 11 non profit charities set up for early detection or any of the baskets the Pirates wives offered for charity raffles.  I should have though.  There were some really great baskets put together from the wives of their husbands favorite things.  Nearly every basket had an autographed ball, but also had gift cards, foods, clothing articles, etc.  The one I really wanted was a giant quilt consisting of all the players signed jerseys.  Unfortunately I didn't win anything.

The game started out on a sour note as Chris Archer threw two balls before giving up a mammoth shot to Matt Carpenter putting the Pirates quickly behind 1-0.

Chris struggled with command for most of the night walking four, hitting one, and giving up 7 hits in 4 1/3 innings.  He did manage to strike out 6 in that brief start and was hurt by a series of bizarre plays in the 5th inning.  Jordy Mercer normally known for being a solid and not flashy shortstop booted an easy double play ball which was followed by Starling Marte losing a ball in the lights.  Because he didn't get his mitt on the ball it was ruled a hit instead of an error.  If you were to ask any MLB player they would say the ball should be caught.

The top of the Pirates lineup continued to hit as Adam Frazier, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, and David Freese went a collective 9 for 17 with 5 Runs score and 4 RBI.

Keone Kela also made his Pirates debut and threw a scoreless inning thanks to an absolute laser throw by Gregory Polanco to nail Matt Carpenter at the plate trying to advance from 2nd.

The Pirates got the win, but the Cardinals basically gift wrapped the game as they left 16 men on base.  The Pirates had a will to win the game and took advantage of opportunities that were presented to them by the Cardinals baserunning and fielding miscues.

Overall I had a blast and think that this team could make a serious push to make a playoff run.  They will be getting back their best offensive player, Corey Dickerson, soon in addition to Josh Bell who has been sidelined this week. The back of the bullpen is going to be a strength and hopefully the starters can work 6 innings.  If the fans show up like they did last night and really get behind this team, they will have the ability to win meaningful games down the stretch.

Let's Enjoy The Show!