Morton Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Charlie Morton Memorial Day Weekend everyone!
I'm going to show my latest 1/1 from my favorite pitcher to jump start this weekend in celebration of Charlie's 1st win of the 2014 season.

 As is customary for Topps Blank Backs, they come sealed in tamper proof loaders.

This 1/1 ran me under the cost of a blaster, which made me much happier than the 2014 Topps Heritage Blank Back I bought earlier in the year.

It came from the vault...

My latest Charlie in my pursuit to collect all the Charlie Mortons in the world has landed me another 1/1 Topps Vault gimmick card.

2014 Topps Heritage Blank Back 1/1 Topps Vault

The above card ended up costing me the most I have ever paid for a Topps vault card.  $42 delivered.  Have these suddenly become collectible or are people trying to outbid me knowing that I'm a super collector of the veteran Jersey born Pirates sinkerballer?  Regardless, I'm happy to add it to my collection as Ground Chuck takes the mound today against the Brewers in what has typically been the House of Horrors over the past decade.  Let's go Bucs!

My Newest 1/1 for the Supercollection: Charlie Morton 2013

One of my goals for 2014 was to add a new Charlie Morton 1/1 to my collection and even though I am posting this in 2014, I actually purchased this card in 2013 but didn't get around to posting it until now.  Behold the awesomeness that is the Topps Vault 1/1 gimmicks.

2013 Topps Update ToppsVault 1/1 Blank Back

Once upon a time, I thought these were cool.  The next day, I realized they are a ridiculous gimmick that Topps uses to squeeze minimally an extra $10 from their customers.  Anyone that has a serious supercollection of a player HAS to have these, which just infuriates me to think I spent $13.45 for a half a baseball card.  

But the loyal supercollector I am I bought it....

because my collection just wouldn't be complete without this blank back 1/1 in it.

Just in from ebay, another Jose Tabata 1/1

Just in from ebay is another Jose Tabata 1 of 1.  This 2011 Topps Heritage blank backed proof was won for $15.  I now have 2011 Topps Heritage Blank Back proofs of James McDonald, Jose Tabata, Garrett Jones, Pedro Ciriaco, and Evan Meek.  If anyone comes across the McCutchen, Neil Walker, Paul Maholm, or Alex Presley please let me know.  I would love to make a team set of 1/1s.

One thing that bothers me greatly with the Topps license monopoly is that they use the same photo in different sets.  I'm ok with using photos from the same photoshoot, but the exact same photo? C'mon Topps!

Jose Tabata is my second favorite positional player on the current Pirates team after Andrew McCutchen.  My Tabata collection has been growing steadily over the past year as I have tried to collect some of his rarer cards.  With his ex wife's legal troubles behind him, Jose can focus on baseball and be a future fixture in right field for the Pirates.  He will be only 23 years olds entering the season, which is still relatively young by today's standards.  Recognizing the huge upside and five tool player that Jose may one day become, the Pirates agreed to a contract extension prior to the end of last year while Jose was on the DL that could keep the Venezuelan native in Pittsburgh through 2019.  It's a very team friendly contract similiar to the one that Evan Longoria signed in Tampa after his brief success that looks like a steal now.   

In 193 career games, Jose has 210 hits, 35 SB, and a batting average of .284.  His offensive WAR is only 1.5 currently, but I suspect that will improve when fully healthy and he develops more power. 

His fielding is also very impressive as he had lead all NL left fielders in his rookie campaign in range factor and fielding percentage.  Jose has committed only 3 errors in his career through 193 games.  Jose has asked the Pirates organization to move to right field to honor his idol Roberto Clemente. 

I just realized my thoughts were all over the place in this post and for that I apologize, but I'm feeling a little under the weather again.  To further make this post more random, enjoy this cheaply purchased Barry Bonds graded 1986 Topps rookie card.