McCutchen Mailday #110: A Trio of All-Stars

Jason Grilli and Pedro Alvarez were once some of my favorite Pirates.
I still like both as professional athletes, but seeing how many games Pedro's defense has nearly cost the team is wearing thin with me as a fan.

I have already completed my quest for 100 new Cutch cards, but I don't intend to stop adding more cards of Cutch as the year winds down.

A Pair of Grillis

My collection can be broken into a few categories
Flagship Topps Pirates 1952-2014
Super Collection: Charlie Morton
Player Collection: Andrew McCutchen, Jason Bay, Andy Van Slyke, Tony Sanchez
Pirates Autographs
Pirates Relics
Pirates smaller player collections
Penguins
Steelers
Pacers

When I am browsing the interwebs in pursuit of some new cardboard to add to the collection, I sometimes come across deals too good for me to resist, but deep down I know that I don't really need to add the card to my collection.  Such was the case for what you are about to see below.

Quite frankly I didn't need any more autographs of the former Pirates All-Star closer, Jason Grilli.  BUUUUUUTTTT this was toooooo good to pass up I said.

I already have a healthy amount of Jason Grilli autographs in my collection including the best on card inscription autograph of Jason Grilli ever along with a sweet sticker auto/jumbo patch numbered /10 for my Triple Threads reverse box.

Well for $7 combined and delivered I managed to add two more John Hancocks of Jason Grilli to my collection.

One is numbered /10 and features Grilli as I will always remember him (smiling and having a good time)

And the other is on card and numbered /40.

What do you guys think?
Was $7 worth it for more cardboard of a guy you don't really collect and already have in your collection?

Grill Cheese is Toast

Over the course of 2014 I added several Chris Henderson sketch cards to my collection.  For those that don't know Chris' work, he has done Allen & Ginter Highlight Sketches, some Rittenhouse sketch cards, among many other sketch cards for various companies.

Chris has an uncanny ability to capture the athlete perfectly in time and recreate it on a tiny trading card.  Need proof of his majestic prowess with art supplies, check out the Travis "I just got suckered punch in the eye" Snider.

I've had this sketch card in my collection for many months, but with the announcement earlier in the offseason of Grilli going to my hated Atlanta Braves, I felt now was a good time to show it off.  It's not like the other sketches I've gotten from Chris because this one is vertical compared to Morton, Marte, McCutchen, Cole, Martin, and Walker.

Even though Grilli was one of my favorite relievers to ever put on a Buccos uniform, I can't cheer for him in a Braves uniform.  I absolutely loathe the Braves.

15 bucks lil man, put that Grilli in my hand....

I had that Jay & Silent Bob quote in my head when I realized how much I paid for this card.
For $15 I received an autograph of the former closer Jason Grilli.  It's funny how saturated Grilli's autograph has become with Topps.  A few years ago before he became an All-Star closer and Sports Illustrated cover material, tracking his autograph down was almost impossible.  Now Topps is putting him on everything.

2014 Topps Triple Threads AUTO/PATCH 3/10

Which is fine because it keeps the prices low and allows me to grab awesome pieces of cardboard like you see above.  Numbered to only 10 copies and having a really nice patch piece along with an autograph of the former first rounder for $15, well....

For $15 I couldn't resist it especially since I'm putting together a reverse box.  You'll see more Triple Threads appearing on the blog over the next few months as I try to reverse a box.  So far though I have been very successful.