All Hail the Middle Reliever (Also I'm a Wizard)

A few weeks I had semi ranting post in which I said I get more excited about checklists than card design. I specifically made this joke. "Hey Matt this your left brain, that 2015 Panini Prizm set looks like shit." More powerful right brain....."that set has a Jared Hughes card!!!!!" 

Look at what I just bought. My words are magical.  Cards appear if I write about them. 

clemente rookie clemente rookie clemente rookie.

2015 Prizm Jared Hughes Fresh Faces Tie Dye /50

Design be damned! I think Prizm is the only set Hughes has signed for.  These type of cards are right in my wheelhouse. I already owned the base version, but the acid dropping parallel got my attention. I like to assume a former Pacific employee designed this card.  /snorts coke...you know what guys lets make it a diecut..../drops acid. I'm also thinking tie dye for the color scheme.  

All hail the middle reliever card! 

Thanks for reading. 

A Small Taste of Series 2

I really didn't have much of a desire to buy packs of Series 2, but from a Pirates perspective I really liked the checklist. I'm really hoping to find a clear acetate parallel of Pirate backup catcher Chris Stewart at some point.

My one and only auction success for Series 2 was won last week.

 Jared Hughes Topps Series 2 Clear Acetate

Something always satisfying when middle relievers get cardboard love. They are some of my favorite cards to chase.  The price tag on this card was ~$11 if I remember correctly. A little on the high side, but the acetates tend to carry a premium around release time. 

Hughes has been a mainstay in the Pirates pen during the "good" years, but is really struggling this year. I'm guessing he'll probably have until the trade deadline to get things worked out or they may have to let him walk.  He is known as a groundball specialist and when things were going right would be placed in games when a double play was needed.  This year he has had trouble getting the sinker down and hitters have been teeing off.  

With all that being said that doesn't make me any less happy to own this card. Here's to maybe finding a few more of the lesser know Pirates in the coming weeks. 

Thanks for reading. Hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July celebrations.