1,178 Home Runs!!!!

I have been so extremely busy preparing for our closing date of moving into our new house.  

It has been an absolute roller coaster of emotions.  From the fun moments of looking at houses to putting in offers and the anticipating of knowing if the offer would be accepted to all other things this process has been extremely stressful and taxing mentally and physically.  Hopefully we will have everything finalized early in December and I can show off the new Cutch Cave early next year.

About 2 months ago I showed off a box of relics that I never logged or showed off.  I haven't had much time to go through all my boxes still as I prepare for the move, but did come across this nice card from 2015 Topps Museum.

What a beauty of a card!

The Cutch and Josh Donaldson patches are really nice!  I love the tiny sliver of silver from the Stanton patch too.

It's unfortunate that the Trout relic is just a boring grey jersey relic.  

Fun fact, this card has 1,178 career Home Runs between the 4 players featured on it.

Giancarlo Stanton leads the pack with 347 career homers.  He hit 35 last year leading the four featured players in 2021.  He won the NL MVP in 2017 and finished second in 2014.

Mike Trout has the second most career round trippers, but hit only 8 last year due to injuries.  He has 9 seasons of top 5 MVP votes.  He has played only 9 full seasons in the majors, winning the award three times.  He is this generation's greatest ball player.

Cutch has 270 career homers and hit the second most in the 2021 season among the four with 27. He has finished in the top 5 MVP votes in 4 consecutive seasons (2012-2015), winning it in 2013.

Josh Donaldson has 251 home runs and hit 26 in 2021.  He was the AL MVP for the 2015 season and has finished in the top 5 three times. 

Overall these are extremely impressive numbers for the four players featured on the card.  

How many of these guys do you think will be immortalized in the Hall of Fame one day? 

Look at that shine!!!

When it comes to modern baseball cards, many of us can agree that we love things that are shiny

The Superfractor has been one of the most prestigious parallels in our hobby for nearly 2 decades.  

Beginning in 2005 Topps Chrome, we have seen the champagne circles expand to many other sets like Topps Tribute, Allen & Ginter Chrome, Topps Heritage, Transcendent, among other sets.

Topps has been producing chrome parallels in their Topps Heritage set since the beginning of the product, but the Superfractor remained absent until the 2016 release.  Prior to that only the Chrome, Refractors, Black, and Gold Refractors existed.

With only a limited number of Superfractors produced for Andrew McCutchen Topps Heritage Chrome cards (2016, 2017, 2018, 2018 High Number, 2019 High Number, 2021) the chances of me getting one of these rare 1/1 style cards has been slim to impossible.  Only six McCutchen Heritage Superfractors exist in the past six years.  

Topps Heritage is THE MOST COLLECTED set of any hobby collectors.  It supports both the modern collector with current stars of the game along with a limited number of shiny parallels to chase after along with the vintage collectors that love the look and feel of vintage cardboard.  Unlike Flagship or any of the hit focused products, Heritage dives into the nostalgia fans because of that vintage design.  Heritage appeals to the original set design fans, player collectors, team collectors, set collectors, and master set collectors.  Lots of competition for the rarest of rare cards.

Well after many many many searches, I finally got one.

2021 Topps Heritage Chrome Superfractor based on the 1972 design.

It's so fricking sweet!

Check out the gold foil 1/1 on the back right corner.  

I grabbed this card a little over a month ago, but with the chaos of house searching, additional work hours, and prepping for the Save Second Base event I never got around to taking a picture of it. 

Do you have any Superfractors?

What kind of cards have you been looking to add to your collection for a few years, but you've never seen one available?

The Last Catcher to Win MVP is Retiring

It's being rumored that Buster Posey will be retiring today.  I have some really amazing cards featuring Cutch with Buster Posey. 

This 2015 Immaculate Collection card features 9 (YES 9!!!!) patches of some the game's best (at that time) players at each position.

Pitcher- Clayton Kershaw

Catcher - Buster Posey

1B - Jose Abreu

2B - Robinson Cano

3B - Miguel Cabrera (he moved to 3rd so Prince Fielder could play 1st for the Tigers)

SS - Troy Tulowitzki

Outfielders - Giancarlo Stanton, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout

The card is limited to only 10 copies and is serially numbered on the back.

Troy Tulowitzki is the only player on this side to not win an MVP award.  The last shortstop to win MVP was Jimmy Rollins in 2007.  

Ribinson Cano is the only player on this side to not win an MVP.  The last Second Baseman to win the MVP was Jose Altuve in 2017.

Buster Posey had a tremendous 12 year career and looked to completely reignite his career after taking 2020 off for COVID concerns.  He finished his career with many accomplishments.

The biggest knocks on Posey will be only 1,500 career hits and only 729 RBI.  

Joe Mauer retired after the 2018 season and Yadier Molina is retiring after next season.  All three could be candidates for the Hall of Fame as they were perennial All Stars year after year.  The Hall of Fame ballot could get loaded with deserving guys in the next few years especially if the steroid guys stay on the ballot (Rodriguez, Ortiz, Manny)

Cutch and Posey were teammates in 2018 so I do have some relic cards featuring both Cutch and Posey.  

Among them are a few low numbered cards including the above 1/1 from Topps Tribute featuring a Majestic logo for Cutch and part of the Giants lettering for Buster.

By far though, this is my favorite Buster Posey card.  It's a triple patch relic of Brandon Crawford (featuring a bold Giants logo sleeve patch)

Buster Posey (featuring the R in San Francisco from a road grey jersey)

Andrew McCutchen (featuring a G from a white Giants home jersey)

Do you have any favorite Buster Posey cards in your collection?

Do you think he makes the Hall of Fame? 

Serial History, The Zombie Connection from NJ to Pittsburgh

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  

Due to my own financial situation this year I will not be able to make a donation for each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog.  Once things settle down on the home front though I will be looking to make a donation in 2022 based on the comments left during this year's event.  Hopefully together we can help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram.  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  In 2019, I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will also be showing some Cutch's Crew cards that show pink cards of players that have played with Cutch on multiple teams. I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 5th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014).

I am always looking for new ways to incorporate new celebrities into the event so today I am presenting

Lauren Cohan

She is a model and actress

She is known for her fit body and roles in sci-fi pop culture 

Her most well known role is playing Maggie Grace on the zombie series The Walking Dead

Born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey January 7th 1980, the zombie killer seems perfect to finish out this year's event

Remember how I mentioned Lauren was born on 1/7?

Here is a 2021 Topps Now Turn Back the Clock Cherry parallel serially numbered 1/7.  Fun connection points for the Cherry parallel for someone born in Cherry Hill.

The card talks about rookie Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen hitting 3 homers in front of the hometown Pittsburgh crowd.

Fun fact, Night of the Living Dead was filmed at the Monroeville Mall and the zombie Hall of Fame was featured at the mall

Happy Halloween everyone

Some Glitter I don't hate

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  

Due to my own financial situation this year I will not be able to make a donation for each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog.  Once things settle down on the home front though I will be looking to make a donation in 2022 based on the comments left during this year's event.  Hopefully together we can help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram.  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  In 2019, I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will also be showing some Cutch's Crew cards that show pink cards of players that have played with Cutch on multiple teams. I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 5th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014).

I am always looking for new ways to incorporate new celebrities into the event so today I am presenting

Mariah Carey

She rose to the billboards in the 90s and has become an international star thanks to her multiple platinum albums.

She was named the artist of the 90s 

The New York native is has also been a judge for American Idol

One of her most famous songs All I want for Christmas has transformed her into the moniker of "Queen of Christmas"

She starred in the film Glitter which also topped the Billboards for it's soundtrack.

Begining in 2021 Topps began producing a Magenta Speckled parallel in it's Topps Chrome release that looked like it was covered in glitter.

The cards are all numbered to 350 copies.  

I hate glitter!!!!  I wrote about my disgust with glitter 4 years ago here.

Do you have any strange hated items?

What's on your Christmas list?

Falco Files: The Man

Sorry for all the delays with this year's event.  We are continuing to move forward with the purchase of the house.  I can't wait to show you all the new Cutch cave basement once we finally settle in next month. 

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  

Due to my own financial situation this year I will not be able to make a donation for each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog.  Once things settle down on the home front though I will be looking to make a donation in 2022 based on the comments left during this year's event.  Hopefully together we can help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram.  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  In 2019, I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will also be showing some Cutch's Crew cards that show pink cards of players that have played with Cutch on multiple teams. I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 5th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014).

I am always looking for new ways to incorporate new celebrities into the event so today I am presenting

Rebecca Quin

She is best known as her WWE personality, Becky Lynch and is the current WWE Raw Women title holder

She was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1987 and began wrestling professionally in 2002 as a teenager. 

She has become one of the most popular female wrestlers in the history of professional wrestling.

In 2021 she married fellow WWE superstar Seth Rollins who she has a child with

Becky Lynch has a nickname of The Man that she got in 2018 thanks to a feud with The Queen, Charlotte Flair.

Bryan Reynolds, acquired in the 2018 Andrew McCutchen trade, has become the best player on the Pirates.  Elected to his first All Star Game in 2021, he was the first Pirate to start an All Star Game since Andrew McCutchen in 2015.

He was named a finalist for a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. 

This 2020 Topps Finest The Man insert is a callback to the 1998 Topps Finest set featuring a neon pink The Man logo on front

It features an Andrew McCutchen name cameo on the back in addition to that bright pink border on side

Do you have a favorite wrestler (past or present)?

Who is "The Man" on your favorite baseball team currently?

Just Tell The Truth

Each year during the month of October, I show off only pink (and shades of pink like magenta, peach, etc) to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, a leading cause of death for females in the United States.  

Due to my own financial situation this year I will not be able to make a donation for each (meaningful, non spam) comment left by those that follow the blog.  Once things settle down on the home front though I will be looking to make a donation in 2022 based on the comments left during this year's event.  Hopefully together we can help at least one woman get a much needed mammogram.  Early detection is key!!!

If you want to make your own private donation please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  There is a donate button on the main page and it only takes a minute of your time.  Every little bit helps.

I have focused primarily on cards that only feature Andrew McCutchen on the card, but in recent years have also featured cards with a cameo appearance (either being seen on the card or as a name cameo on the back of the card).  In 2019, I created Falco Files which discussed players that replaced (Shane Falco Replacements movie reference) on an active roster, number worn, or trade.  I will also be showing some Cutch's Crew cards that show pink cards of players that have played with Cutch on multiple teams. I will continue to utilize these styles of posts as we celebrate the 5th Collecting Cutch Save Second Base event (I am no longer counting my first run on the Pirates Treasure Room I did back in 2014).

I am always looking for new ways to incorporate new celebrities into the event so today I am presenting

Krista Allen

You may recognize her as one of the adult film lesbians in the Adam Sandler & Jack Nickolson comedy, Anger Management.

She certainly stands out in the film.

You may also recognize her from the horror movie, Feast


She may be best remembered for her role as the busty new tenant in the elevator of the Jim Carrey comedy, Liar Liar

This 2017 Josh Bell Topps Chrome pink refractor rookie card is a fantastic looking card.

Flip it over and you could have seen an Andrew McCutchen name cameo on the back.

It states that Bell is the only player to be named the Pirates minor league player of the year twice.

That is a lie according to The Baseball Cube
Zach Duke, Sean Burnett, and Andrew McCutchen were also winners of the award twice while in the minors.

However, according to an article via MLB.com it states the exact same thing Topps printed on it's card back.

What do you consider a lie?

What are some things you've found on the internet to not be true?