You won't find these in any pack

Someone was unloading their entire Pirates collection on eBay over the past month and I (along with Matt from Bob Walk the Plank) took advantage of adding some new cards that we both didn't know existed.

This was one of the highlights for me of the cards posted.

Neil Walker is such a fan favorite because of his ties to the city and ability to come up with some clutch at bats.

The front of the cards is clearly based on the 2013 Topps "turtle" design

The back have a look reminiscent of vintage baseball cards

Funny oddball of one of my favorites

For 99 cents delivered, I grabbed this unique oddball card from CardToons of Andy Van Tyke for the Parrots.

Look how tiny Andy is compared to the catcher!

Here's some interesting facts about the toddler

McCutchen Mailday 98, 99, and 100!!!!!: All 1/1s All Archives!!!!

Last week I showed off a near complete rainbow of 2015 Topps League Leaders.  That was cool and all, but now I am going to show off my nearly complete rainbow of 1/1s from 2015 Topps Archives.

I was lucky enough to acquire two of the 4 printing plates along with the extremely rare 1/1 black border last month.

Here's the cards seperately

Beautiful, right?

Well...I figured if you're going to show off a milestone 100th new Cutch of the year, why not do it in style.

To remember some of the 1/1s of Cutch I have added this year, here's a recap
#90-97 2015 Topps Printing Plates League Leaders

#85: Letter "C" from Cutch's Jersey in 2015 Five Star

#73: Laundry Tag from 2015 Museum

#52: Letter "E" from Cutch's All-Star jersey in 2014 Topps In the Name

#47: Letter "N" from Cutch's All-Star jersey in 2015 Topps In the Name

#46: Original Sketch by Chris Henderson from Leaf Legends of Baseball Artist Proof

#12: Red Paper 2012 Bowman  (damaged by post office)

My new PC player is....

Ke'Bryan Hayes

Shortly after Ke'Bryan Hayes was drafted by the Bucs, I went out and bought about a dozen cards of him.  Prices ranged in the $3-$15 range for relics and low numbered autographs.  I wish I had been more aggressive as Ke'Bryan is tearing it up in his first taste of proball.

I know it's a small sample size, but in his first 60 at bats, Hayes has a slash line of .417/.507/.517 with 3 stolen bases.  He's showing good plate discipline as his strikeout and walk rate are almost identical.
If you've never heard of Ke'Bryan Hayes before, maybe you have heard of his father

Charlie Hayes
Charlie was a journeyman third baseman that played in 14 seasons with 7 clubs.  He finished his career with a .262 average and 144 round trippers.  Hayes spent part of a season with the Bucs in 1996 before being shipped off to the New York Yankees.  I'll have a future post about the Pirates 2015 draft class and how many of them relate to the TV series Seinfeld (including Hayes).  As a member of the Pirates, Hayes hit .248 with 10 homers.

Traded!!!!????

 There was a lot of discussion about Johnny Cueto being on the trade block before the season and shortly after the season started.  One of my collecting goals for 2015 was to add a certified autograph of every Pirate who appeared in the 2013 Wild Card Blackout Game.  It would have been an unjustice to us the fans not to go after the guy who got PNC Park so amped for Buctober by chanting "Cue-To Cue-to Cue-to".  That game was the most memorable game in my life.  Pure awesomeness!

The above auto ran me $15 for the new Royals ace.

Another guy who was on the trade block was Pedro Alvarez. Pedro shows signs of absolute domination being able to crush the ball into the Alleghany River at will. He also shows month long levels of frustration of excess strikeouts and weak groundballs to the 2B. The Pirates are clearly willing to upgrade their 1B, but the obvious options available aren't all that inspiring. Maybe a huge salary risk like Prince Fielder could lead the Bucs to a Championship.

The above Pedro Alvarez 2014 Power Gold Foil ran me less than $5  delivered for the /75 card. These were prizes for unlocked codes from last year's Power Players cards.

Don't Do Drugs!!! You can still throw no hitters

These were a pair of oddball Dock Ellis cards I recently purchased for $4 delivered.

They were made to celebrate Dock's LSD no hitter.

Cole Hamels threw a non drug related No Hitter yesterday.

Jung Ho, Jung Ho...it's off to work we go....

With the Pirates Opening Day SS and 3B both out for 5+ more weeks, it's a great thing that the Pirates acquired Jung-Ho Kang (pronounced Gong) in the offseason.

In only 78 games, he has already produced 2.2 WAR according to his baseball-reference page.  That's incredible!!! In a half season produced enough for his entire contract (4 years/$11M)

The Pirates are continuing to battle the Red Birds for top place in the NL Central and currently have the 3rd best record in baseball.

Hopefully between Kang at SS and recently acquired former Bucco Aramis Ramirez, the Pirates can continue to gain some ground on the Cardinals.

Jung-Hoooooooo!!!!!

I bought the above Prism Fresh Faces auto the day Prizm went live. With Topps putting Kang's auto in several product releases since then, I should have waited.

McCutchen Mailday #90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 A NEAR RAINBOW!!!!!

In my Quest to add 100 new Andrew McCutchen cards to the PC, I knew I wanted to grab some parallels that I never had acquired before.  I never expected to be reaching the 100 card goal so early in the year and definitely didn't think that this would be my 7th and 8th 1/1s.

Did you see the 2 new 1/1s added to my collection in the scan above?
Need a better closeup?

I have already shown off 

#85: Letter "C" from Cutch's Jersey in 2015 Five Star

#73: Laundry Tag from 2015 Museum

#52: Letter "E" from Cutch's All-Star jersey in 2014 Topps In the Name

#47: Letter "N" from Cutch's All-Star jersey in 2015 Topps In the Name

#46: Original Sketch by Chris Henderson from Leaf Legends of Baseball Artist Proof

#12: Red Paper 2012 Bowman  (damaged by post office)

I am nearing my goal and actually have a bunch more cards due to arrive soon.  I can't wait to show them all off.  Some of these are absolutely sick!!!!

Like many of you I was a big fan of the silver frame parallels

Here's the rest of the near rainbow

Morton on the Mound: 2015 Topps Black

Some fans will start to panic if their team is playing only .200 baseball to begin the second half in a tight division title chase and you don't have your starting shortstop or third baseman. But not me...

Here's my reasons why I'm not panicing
1) The Bucs still have the 3rd best record in baseball.
2) Jung Ho Kang is one of the best utility players in baseball this year and his defense at SS and 3B is well above average.
3) They have a stacked farm system so they should be able to add clear upgrades at the trade deadline.
4) Morton is on the Mound tonight.

#freebonds

It was just announced today that the Department of Justice is dropping their case against Barry Bonds. While I will never support cheating, I also will never discount the talent that Bonds had.

It stung a lot when Bonilla left for NY for the 1992 season and both Bonds and Drabek left after the 1992 heart breaking season loss to Atlanta.  That early 90s team was one of my favorite teams to watch. I still search for oddball and regional releases of the players on those teams.

Such was the case when I came across this 1992 Art Images Promotional Card for 99 cents with free shipping.

Jim Leyland Auto

I have been looking to add an autograph of former Pirates manager, Jim Leyland, for awhile. I have seen copies of this card pop up in the $15+ range over the past few years, but never pulled the trigger on it.

Thanks to a $10 certificate, I was able to grab this for free.

Dual Auto of 2 Future Hall of Famers?

It's safe to say that the Pirates won't be having any recent retirees make the Hall of Fame. The Pirates best hope for a Hall of Famer already retired is for Dave Parker to get inducted via veteran's committee.

Andrew McCutchen certainly looks like he could have a Hall of Fame career if he continues his success for another decade though.

This got me thinking who in today's game has what it takes to make it to the HoF? Albert Pujols is a certain lock. Miguel Cabrera certainly has the credentials to make a case. Alex Rodriguez has the stats to back up his case, but there is a lot of off field drama with him.

Like many of you I gave up on baseball during the 94 strike. The HomeRun chase with Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa brought me back. I didn't fully commit to the hobby again though until Andrew McCutchen debuted in 2009.

That's when I really got back into baseball (both as a fanatic and card collector).  When I was younger my 2 positions I would often play were Pitcher and 3rd Base. Occasionally I would be asked to play CF if the team we were facing had a lot of sluggers. Because of that I have always gravitated towards those positions when picking my favorite players.

What I saw of King Felix and Adrian Beltre over the past 6 years since rejoining the hobby makes me believe these guys will one day be forever enshrined in Cooperstown after retirement.

Because of that I needed to pick up a dual auto of both them in their Seattle uniforms. King Felix has such an awesome signature, right?

Of the players currently in today's game who do you think will one day make it to the Hall of Fame?

A new AJ piece

Earlier in the week, I said I wanted to go back and add as many AJ Burnett cards to my collection as possible, even ones that depict him as a Marlin, Yankee, Blue Jay, or Phillie.

For $3 delivered I've added another relic to the mix.

McCutchen Mailday #87 & #88: 2 more Prizms

When 2015 Prizm hit the secondary market I went out and snagged a bunch of Cutches for my PC in my quest for 100 new Cutch cards.

For $6 delivered I grabbed this Diamond Marshal and Red Checkerboard parallel.

As you can clearly see I am on a great pace to get to 100 new McCutchen cards by year's end. I very well could potentially add 200 new Cutch cards this year.

McCutchen Mailday #86 & a new AJ

Tonight is the All-Star Game and the Pirates will be well represented with 4 participants. Andrew McCutchen is making his 5th consecutive All-Star game (2nd starting) and is batting leadoff.

Gerrit Cole will be pitching the 3rd and 4th innings with AJ Burnett scheduled for the 7th.

Mark Melancon isn't scheduled for a full inning, but will be ready to come out of the bullpen should anyone get in trouble.

To honor the participants, I'm going to show off a pair of cards I have recently picked up.

Up first is a low numbered 2015 Prizm Gold parallel (3/10) that I snagged for $20.

For $4 delivered I also grabbed a new AJ Burnett card. As a reminder I am looking for any and all AJ cards.

Strata Redemption received!

What a crazy 24 hours it has been for Pirates fans!

Early Sunday morning, the Pirates came back in 14 innings to beat the Cardinals thanks to a walkoff 2 run homer by Andrew McCutchen.

24 hours later, the Pirates staged a 2 out rally to plate 3 runs in the bottom of the 10th. Sophomore right fielder delivered the walkoff on the first pitch he saw off Cardinals closer, Trevor Rosenthal.

This is just a badass card and its my latest Gregory Polanco autograph.

I didn't want to remove it from it's protective home so it didn't scan very well. The 2014 Topps Strata features a massive jumbo patch and on card autograph.

McCutchen Mailday #89: Fireworks!!!

Due to the way the month is falling and the heroic effort by Andrew McCutchen last night/early this morning, I am going to skip around a little as I wind down on my Quest to add 100 new Andrew McCutchen cards to my PC by year's end.

This 2015 Prizm Fireworks insert was actually the 89th new Cutch to get added to the PC so I am temporarily skipping over 86, 87, and 88. This beaut ran me a cool $1.50.

Cutch lit up the Steel City in the bottom of the 14th inning around 12:20am when he launched a 2 run homer over the batter's eye to give the Bucs an extra inning walkoff. It is Cutch's 4th career walkoff and helped extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

Light it up Cutch!!!!

My first 1/1 AJ

When the Pirates acquired AJ early in 2012 I was extremely happy. I attended his first game in a Buccos uniform and I remember the crowd all screaming "Noooooo" when AJ squared around to sacrifice bunt. He instantly became a fan favorite.

This year will be AJ's final season and it couldn't end better than for AJ to make All-Star team in his last year. Hopefully he can add a 3rd World Series ring too.

I know I am very late to the party but I would like to start up a PC of AJ. If anyone has some cards of AJ Burnett they would like to trade me please hit me up via email or leave a comment below.

For $22 I added my first 1/1 printing plate. Hopefully I can add more to my PC.

McCutchen Mailday #85: Another 1/1 Letter!!!!!

Ok, this is just starting to get silly right?  I've been showing off booklets and jumbo swatches, and prime patches, and autographs over the past month.  Well now I drop this hammer on y'all.

It's a 1/1 2014 Five Star Letter "C" from McCutchen's jersey.  It's my 5th letter of Cutch and my first C.  After acquiring this card, I thought it would be fun to spell out McCutchen using cards from various jerseys.  I currently have M C E N.  I also have an extra E.

Of all the cards of Cutch I have acquired thus far in 2015 for my pursuit of 100 new Cutch cards, I think this is the card I am most happy to own.

Yesterday I found out that my submitted best offer for a "U" from Tier One wasn't high enough so I will need to hope c C U T H pop up sometime again.

Sick Jumbo Patch Autograph of Gregory Polanco

Couldn't pass this up a few weeks ago.

Polanco has been having a lot of late inning heroics in the recent games.

Morton on the Mound: 2014 Pocket Schedule

Since I have pretty much conquered adding Charlie Morton cardboard to the PC, I have been looking at other avenues to add to the super collection.

Adding to the oddball list is this 2014 Pocket Schedule featuring Ground Chuck and Francisco Liriano. It cost me $1.50 delivered and has been added to the Morton binder.

Black is the New Black: HarRam Auto

I love Bowman Black!!!
I have a copy of every top Pirates Bowman Black autograph made except Cole Tucker.  I've actually got 3 Tyler Glasnow.

My latest pickup is of Harold Ramirez. Ramirez is only 20 years old hitting for a very high average in A ball as a corner outfielder.

Through most of his minor league career he has been splitting time between CF and RF. Due to Austin Meadows playing most of his time in CF this year, Ramirez was moved to RF due to having a stronger arm.

Ramirez is currently batting .356/.402/.477 through 37 games. Featuring the potential for all 5 tools he has stolen 11 bags already while driving in 21RBI.

One thing that Harold will need to work on is his K% which is currently 2.3x his walk rate.

Shark Week with the Shark Tank.

When Jason Grilli took over as the Pirates closer in 2013, he dubbed the Bucs bullpen : The Shark Tank.

The Pirates had one of the best bullpens in baseball that year thanks to Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, and Jason Grilli. They fed on hitters in the 7th thru 9th innings and basically shut the game down to a 6 inning game.

Three members of the 2013 Shark Tank were also members of the 2010 Eastern League Champions Altoona Curve. They were ground ball specialist Jared Hughes, setup man Tony Watson, and flame throwing southpaw Justin Wilson. Wilson was actually the MVP for the Curve's Championship run in 2010.

Last year, the Curve had a giveaway to the 1st 1,500 fans in attendance receiving a Shark Tank figurine that can be placed in your fish tank. It depicts Watson, Hughes, and Wilson riding a shark. I have wanted to add it to my collection for some time, but they very rarely pop up for sale.

Since I finally got one for my collection and it being Shark Week, this seems like the perfect week to show it off.

McCutchen Mailday #84: Cole & Cutch booklet 1/5

Whaaaaaaat!!!!????? Another booklet?????!!!!!

I couldn't resist adding this 1/5 booklet from 2014 Museum to my collection featuring the top pitcher and position player in the Pirates new millenium.

It's my first DUAL relic booklet of Cutch I have added this year in my Quest to add 100 new Cutch cards to my PC in 2015.

Found another treasure...

Another Gregory Polanco National Treasure has hit the Treasure Room.

This was a cheap pickup.  Only $17 delivered for the acetate autograph and jersey swatch.

Morton on the Mound: Oyo Toy edition

Much like Wrigley Wax's Darwin Barney super PC, I try to get anything with Charlie Morton for my PC. I missed out on the Generation 2 Morton, but recently snagged a Generation 4 for $12.50.

I really like these little figures and have been trying to hunt down all the Andrew McCutchen variants.

Throwin a Marte Partay in a Hippie Craze

Marte Partay

Prizm has some of the coolest color parallels each year. From Jackie Robinson's 42 parallels to Major Mojo Blues to America Red,White,Blue; Prism delivers each year. Despite the lack of logos, this year's newest parallel, tie dye, continues that trend.

Numbered 17/50 this trippy parallel on card auto of potential All-Star ran me 20 bills. It's my 20th certified autograph of the speedy left fielder.

O Canada!!!

Canada Day is today and since I have a few new Jose Bautista cards coming in, I thought I should show off my latest Joey Bats.

Hailing from 2015 Diamond Kings is this low numbered (14/15) dual relic auto of the former HR crown winner.

I didn't purchase any boxes or packs of DK but I have been picking up a bunch of singles.