So long Tony

Today, the Pirates officially announced the signing of former Rookie of Year, Neftali Feliz but in doing so they released Tony Sanchez.

 

As someone who has collected Tony since he was drafted and thinks he is incredibly fan friendly, this move saddens me a bit. However, as a Pirates fan, I love this move. Feliz could help make the Pirates bullpen even stronger than it has been for the past few years. Caminero, Watson, Melancon are all solid at the back end. Hughes is a ground ball making machine and if John Holdzkom can get healthy he will no doubt be another flame throwing strikeout guy. Recent signing of Juan Nicasio helps sure up the pen too.

 

So even though Tony could clear waivers, its very likely that his Pirates career is over.

 

Here's a Superfractor Test Proof I picked up last year for around $10. It's not signed or numbered, but is a cool piece of cardboard.

 

And here's a few more from my Tony Sanchez collection

 

 

Tony Tuesday: It's Finally Mine!!!!!!!!

One of my 2015 Collecting Goals was to try to grab a few more of my 2009 Bowman Chrome Tony Sanchez Autographs.  I've previously shown off the Gold, Blue, XFractor, and Base.  That left me to add 3 very low numbered cards (1/1 Super, /5 Red, /25 orange) and the refractor (/500).  My goal for the year was to add 1 more to the collection.

I did it in a big way by grabbing the Red /5. 

I submitted a best offer for only twice what the base refractor was selling for and the seller accepted!!!!

Behold the beauty of RED!!!!!

Since Tony didn't receive a September call up for the Pirates this year, I think that it's safe to assume that his days catching for the black and gold are pretty numbered.  His bat and glove never lived up to the hype of being an elite defender with a plus hitting tool.  He still has team options so it's likely that the Pirates will keep him on the 40 man roster for catching depth next year.  Elias Diaz and Reese McGuire have likely surpassed him as being the backstop of the future though.

Tony Tuesday: TriStar 1/5 Auto

My Tony Sanchez collection has been increasing a lot over the past month when he went on a rampage tearing the cover off the ball in Spring Training.  Well, not literally, but he did have an excellent Spring Training and earned a place on the Pirates Opening Day Roster.

This low numbered 1/5 autograph hails from 2009 Tristar and is the red parallel.  It cost me $17 delivered and is my 19th Tony Sanchez autograph.

Tony Tuesday: Another Graded 9.5 & 10 AUTO

If you have been reading my blog for the past few years, you know that Tony Sanchez is one of my favorite players in the Pirates organization.  I had high hopes for Sanchez to one day become a staple in the Pirates winning lineup as a 2 way catcher who could provide elite defense and provide solid offensive numbers.  Tony has been on fire this spring training and has earned a spot on the opening day roster.

I am always on the look for adding Tony Sanchez high grade cards to my collection and for under the price of a blaster I snagged this 2009 Donruss Elite Status Signatures numbered to 50 copies graded 9.5 with 10 autograph.  It's my 6th graded autograph of Tony I have added to my collection.

Tony Tuesday: I struck gold!!!

For under $2 I was able to win a low numbered gold parallel of Tony's 2014 chrome update card.

Couldn't be happier with this purchase.  I just don't know where Tony fits into the Pirates plans for the 2015 season.  With Spring Training starting up, maybe we will get some answers soon.

Tony Tuesday: It's Black & White!!!!

This week will feature a lot of metal. Last year one of my favorite musicians, Wayne Static of the band Static-X, passed away and I have recently been listening to a lot of Static-X.  I remember when I was in a metal/hardcore band back in the late 90s having my hair stand up identical to his before Static-X came on the scene.

I thought today would be a good day to show off some of my own metal that I've added to my collection.  It's a black printing plate to Tony Sanchez' 2014 Topps Update card.  It's my 5th printing plate of the former 1st round pick.

Oh and because metal is fun...here's a video of Static X

It's so Clear to me we need a Tony Tuesday

As the year is drawing towards the end, I think it's best that I show off nothing but sweet cards to end the year out.  Today's is a clear acetate parallel of the former 1st round draft pick and backup catcher for the Bucs entering the 2015 season.

I've previously stated how much I love this parallel when I showed off TWO Charlie Morton clear parallels I 've grabbed this year.  I hope Topps brings them back for 2015.

Tony Tuesday: Another Slabbed Edition

One of my 2014 collecting goals was to try to get half of Tony Sanchez' 2009 Bowman Chrome Autograph rainbow BGS graded 9.5 or higher.

Here's the list so far
Blue /150
Xfractor /199 (posting soon)
Base (not numbered)

Here's what I don't have...
Refractor /500
Superfractor /1
Red /5
Orange /25

Once I post the XFractor that I have had for a long time, I will be sitting at half complete.  Unfortunately three of the four remaining are very tough and expensive to track down.

Here's my recent addition to the list though...a gold refractor numbered 12/50

Tony Tuesday: Another Penny Deal

Last Tuesday, I showed off a gold parallel Topps Pro Debut of Tony Sanchez numbered to 50 I won for only a penny.  Today it's another penny deal of the former first rounder.

2011 Topps Heritage Black Parallel 2/62

Despite what happens to Russell Martin in the offseason, it is almost certain that Tony Sanchez will play some kind of role in the Pirates for the 2015 season whether it's backup catcher, right handed platoon partner at 1B, a pinch hitter, etc.  I still have high hopes for Tony with the Pirates, but the window of opportunity for him to prove himself at the position is narrowing with each passing season.

As for Martin, it's reported that he's looking for a 5 year/$75 million contract.  I appreciate your time in Pittsburgh Russ, but I hope you have a great career.  It's clear the Pirates won't be AND SHOULDN'T be paying that kind of contract.

I struck gold for a penny!!!! Tony Tuesday

I won the above card for only 1 cent!!!! 1 fricking cent combined with several other items that cost me a grand total of $6 delivered for 10 cards serially numbered 62 or less.  What a fricking steal!!!!

Best of all it's an ebay 1/10.  Do the math and you'll see what I'm talking about. LOL!!!  Next Tuesday I'll show off another Tony Sanchez that I won for a penny.

Tony Tuesday: 1/1 Red Refractor LAST POST BEFORE CHARITY EVENT!!!!

In my final post before I start the month long Save Second Base Charity event, I decided to show off a 1/1 Red Refractor of one of player collections, Tony Sanchez.

 The beautiful 1/1 ran me $28 delivered and helps me get closer to completing the rainbow.
The black can be seen here and the purple here

Tony Tuesday: Cyan Printing Plate 1/1

My latest Tony Sanchez is another 1 of 1 printing plate from 2011 Bowman.  It marks my 4th printing plate of the former first rounder.

Seeing Red: School Colors AUTO

My latest Tony Sanchez autograph is from 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition School Colors and is numbered 93/100.

It's my 15th unique certified autograph of the former first rounder.

Tony Tuesday: a new theme? and a new 1/1

I've been collecting cards of Tony Sanchez off and on for about 3 years.  I missed out on all his initial releases in 2009 products, but midsummer (after injury) I really started to collect as many Tony Sanchez cards as I could find.

Recently I've been trying to track down as many 1/1s of the young backstop as I can get my hands on.

Behold, my latest acqusition...

2011 Topps Pro Debut Printing Plate 1/1

I grabbed this 1/1 for around $20 delivered and it marks my 4th printing plate of the former first rounder.

Today is Tony's 26th birthday and I have a question for all my loyal readers...
Should I start making weekly posts called Tony Tuesdays where I show off my latest Tony Sanchez purchases?  Let me know if there is enough interest.

Seeing Red: Tony Sanchez 2011 Heritage Minors

I've missed 2 straight McCutchen Mondays and for that I'm sorry to those of you that care about that sort of thing. Last Monday I got into an accident that came a foot away from likely killing me. Yesterday I spent 14 hours car shopping before I finally decided on a used Pontiac Sunfire.

Since this is a card blog though I'll show off another Tony Sanchez for the PC.  This 2011 Topps Heritage Red Tint parallel ran me just a few bucks and is numbered 308/620.

2011 Heritage Minors Red Tint 308/220

Starting to reunite the family...(again)

It's been nearly 3 years since I posted a Tony Sanchez 2011 Bowman Top Prospects printing plate and I recently purchased several from the same seller.  This marks the 2nd of the 2011 Bowmans Topps 100 Prospect printing plates of Tony that I own.  I have the cyan and now the yellow.  Gotta keep my eyes open for the black and magenta.

Tony is back in the majors due to an injury to Russell Martin. Let's hope he can jump start the Pirates offense.

I've noticed that I have a bunch of half started printing plate projects that never seem to get finished

Garret Jones 2013 Gypsy Queen Cyan and Magenta
Andrew McCutchen 2010 Topps Triple Threads Unity AUTO/RELIC Cyan and Black
Luis Herredia 2012 Bowman Black and Yellow
Andrew McCutchen 2012 Topps Archives Cloth Sicker inserts Cyan and Magenta

Walk it off....sometimes it's ok to be blue

The first two games of the Pirates 2014 season opened with walk off winners from former first round draft picks Neil Walker (2004) and Tony Sanchez (2009).  What's more interesting though is that these two walkoffs were both MLB firsts for the former first rounders.

One of my collecting goals for 2014 was try to and get half of the 2009 Bowman Chrome Tony Sanchez autos graded 9.5 or better.  I had previously shown off the base auto from January.

I've had this blue refractor for sometime, probably since the beginning of January or maybe even the end of December.  I remember getting it for a steal of a price, $40 or so if I remember correctly.

I decided now was a good time to show it off though as the Pirates just lost their first game of 2014 and I'm feeling a little blue.

Tony got slabbed

My latest Tony Sanchez BGS 9.5 or higher acquisition ran me just $15 delivered.

Even though it's not from the 2009 Bowman Chrome series I am trying to collect from, I couldn't resist this slabbed Tony to add to my collection.

Extra, Extra, Read all about it

I just got my newest Tony Sanchez in the mail today for the low price of $4.50

It hails from 2009 Panini Extra Edition and is the red di-cut numbered to 100. Tony hit a 3 run bomb in yesterday's first spring training game for the Buccos.

The Best Ebay Lot EVER!!! Only 5 cents a card!!!!

While browsing for some good deals on ebay, I stumbled across this ridiculously cheap lot of 670 Pirates cards for $35 with FREE SHIPPING.  When you break that down, it's only a little over 5 cents a card.  Forget about your dimebox heroes, these are nickel heroes.

As part of the lot were 4 autographs from Francisco Cordova, the last Pirate to be involved in throwing a No-Hitter. Mike Kingery, Jon Liever, and Steve Cooke were the other signatures in the lot.

Also were 10 new Andy Van Slyke cards for my collection which I showed off yesterday.

It was overflowing with complete team sets from Topps, Upper Deck, Fleer, Donruss, Gypsy Queen, Pro Debut, etc.

It had over half a dozen minis.

Plenty of duplicate Andrew McCutchens (31 to be exact)

Plenty of new Andrew McCutchens (8)

More Jason Kendall, Brian Giles, Freddy Sanchez, and Jack Wilson cards than I will ever know what to do with

A Garrett Jones 2010 UD Biography card I've been chasing for awhile along with some more favorites that are all new additions to the collection

Several gold, blue, sparkle parallels (but my favorite is the blue Alex Presley shown below)

Oddballs and Diamond Kings

Some Hall of Famers

and a boatload of rookie cards for Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Gregory Polanco, Josh Bell, Luis Heredia, Tony Sanchez, Nick Kingham and Austin Meadows including a 2013 Bowman Refractor mini of Jameson Taillon

Of course there was junk in there, but considering that the cards were only 5 cents a piece, I think I got my money worth.  What do you think?