From Grocery store bagger to MLB starting shortstop

Having worked in the retail environment of a supermarket since I was 14 years old, I really love to hear stories of success from "bag boy" to on field superstar.  Kurt Warner's HOF football career stands out above all the rest, but there is countless stories from "bagging groceries last week to being on field making a big play".

Kevin Polkovich isn't a name many people know, but for fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1997 team, he is memorable.

During Spring Training, Polcovich was bagging groceries and selling shoes to make some extra money before the season started and got called up during the 1997 season to replace Kevin Elster.  He played one of the most important positions on the diamond by handling shortstop very well and batting .273.

The above TTM was signed by Polcovich and traded to me by the Collective Troll, who I greatly miss being part of the blogging community.

Hey Topps! You SUCK!!!

I understand it's hard to get new images of retired or deceased players.

Wanna see the same of image of Pops from 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013?

I get it...there's no new photos of Willie to be found, but do I really need to add a Willie Stargell to my collection every year with the same image?

2010 Topps, 2011 Topps 60, 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen, 2013 Topps Museum

I don't!!!!

And that is why the only retired player cards I'm buying from now on is straight up vintage.

Don't get me wrong, if I see a card that completely blows my mind, I will probably get it and I will never turn down Stargell, Kiner, Mazeroski, or Clemente cards in trade packages, BUT I am done buying new cards with the same images reused over and over and over and over again.

Who says size doesn't matter?

Before I talk about the player on this card, I have a major gripe with it.  Topps currently is the exclusive producer of licensed baseball cards.  That's a pretty big honor to have.  Why do they keep fucking up by producing garbage?  If you're going to create a brand new design in 2013 for your online exclusive mini cards, why can't you use images from 2013?  No, instead we get this recycled and reused image of Jose Tabata (a right handed platoon outfielder) from 2011.  How do I know the image is from 2011?  The Chuck Tanner patch on Jose's right arm gives it away.  In 2011, the Pirates all wore Chuck Tanner stars to remember their recently passed away former manager.

Well....I do like this card for only $2 shipped even with the recycled image.

Now onto the player...

Jose Tabata....
what can I possibly say about you?

When the Pirates extended Jose Tabata in August of 2011, I could not have been more happy.  It was a long extension for a player that was viewed as a key core of the Pirates recent rebuilding.  In his rookie season, Jose showed patience at the plate and looked like he would be the long term plan for the Pirates leadoff position and man one of the corner outfield positions.

2011 and 2012 became lost seasons for Jose as he battled multiple injuries including several hamstring problems that would not go away.  Fans often claimed that Jose was dogging it and was lazy because of his attempts to chase down fly balls in the outfield, but I think it had a lot to do with him playing through his injuries.

In 2013, Jose returned to form in a limited role, posting a 1.2 WAR while mainly being used as a right handed hitting platoon partner in the outfield.  Jose made $1 million last year so posting a WAR of that significance in a limited role still looks to be a great deal for the Bucs.

Keeping in mind that Jose is still just 25 years old entering the 2014 season, should make the deal continue to be of value to the Pirates organization even when super prospect Gregory Polanco arrives.  Tabata may build up enough trade value that the Pirates could trade him at the deadline for a piece to help push the playoffs or he may produce enough that one of the other outfielders may be used as a chip.  Either way, for $2 I'll add this card to my collection without any regrets.

You Complete Me: 1972 Topps

My brother got me several hands full of Pirates Topps baseball cards from 1954-1973 for Christmas and I have finally gotten around to crossing off the cards I needed from my Topps Flagship needs.

Amongst the 44 cards were several 1972 Topps I needed including two of the most beloved Bucs of all time, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell.

 The cards are all in fairly well condition.  They all have soft edges, but with the exception of the Clemente they have no noticable creases.  All worthy of going into the binder and stored safely.

With the addition of the high numberes Davalillo, Virdon, and Hebner along with the 2 Stargells, Roberto Clemente, and In Action Bob Robertson I can now cross these off my needs.  This marks another Goal of 2014 complete and we are only a few days into the new year.

I struck Gold!!!!

Pack pulled Gerrit Cole Gold parallel from 2013 Topps Update.

2013 Topps Update Gerrit Cole 1783/2013

McCutchen Monday: 2009 UD Signature Stars GRADED

My current favorite player in baseball is Andrew McCutchen.  Quite honestly, he might be my favorite player I've ever gotten a chance to see play. I currently own over 350 unique cards of Cutch and hope to get that number closer to 500 by the end of the year.  Amongst my cardboard collection of Cutch are many autographs, over a dozen 1/1s, and almost enough jersey material to put his jersey back together.  Back in 2011, I created Morton Mondays, but with the lack of Charlie Morton cards available, I changed it to McCutchen Mondays so each Monday I will show off one new card from my Cutch collection.

Last October, I made a COMC purchase and showed off a few Upper Deck rookies of Andrew McCutchen that I had added to my collection.  I recently just purchased one of them graded off ebay because I had about $10 in ebay bucks and couldn't figure out what to do with them.  After using my ebay bucks the below graded Gem Mint 2009 UD Signature Stars rookie ran me under $7 delivered.

I don't collect a lot of graded cards, but have started to add more and more to my collection over the past year.  This is my 5th graded Cutch rookie (all 9.5)

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.