One of the big improvements in Topps’ flagship this year was photography. Usually, it would take Chrome & Refractors to get me excited over the historic brand but not this year. Keeping up with the great theme of action photographs, Topps has releases information for Red Hot Redemption #3.
This time around, Pirates Outfielder, Andrew McCutchen, gets the “Hot” treatment. While the 22-year old McCutchen hasn’t been fantastic, he has managed to hit .333 in the 17 games he’s played in this season.
What really sticks out about this card is the wonderful photograph of Andrew attempting to bunt. I love how his name is in the frame, along with the eerie shadow. While I am the furthest thing from a Pirates fan, this is one card I wouldn’t mind owning.
Previous 2009 Red Hot Rookies:
1. Fernando Martinez, Mets
2. Gordon Beckham, White Sox
3. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
i’m torn about this one:
It’s a cool photgraph, but it seems to violate what I think is important about a baseball card – the ability to see a player’s face. If I was one that never met or seen Andrew McCutchen before, I’m not sure what he would look like and thus I would miss a graphing opportunity because I wouldn’t know who he was when he trots by on the way to the field from the clubhouse.
This kid may turn out to be really good.
I have watched him play a handful of games and he can really hit and has good speed.
I like it. To me a card doesn’t have to show a players face if it is a good enough shot.
Pirate fans were not happy with the trade but McCutchen is holding his own afterwards. I am glad he is getting his shot finally because he was ready last year. I talked to Bill Virdon (former manager of the year and current Pirate outfield spring training coach) this offseason and he says that McCuchen is the real deal. He also thinks that there is a lot of talent on the farm system that we will be seeing in the next few years and the new management is going to turn things around soon. I’m glad because the Pirates need something although with thier track record it makes you think it may just be wishful thinking.
That is a very nice photograph. His face needs to be in a second photograph either on the front (like ‘63 or ‘83) or on the back (like ‘71, etc.).
Yay, I have redemption card #3. Hope I get the card and not some crappy “sorry we ran out” consolation prize.
now that’s a FUN WAY TO COLLECT CARDS!
Crappy photo. Only about one third of his body is showing.
moe.
Hooray for Cutch! He is really having one hell of a start to his big league career. I am not a huge baseball collector, but I do root for the Pirates, so it’s great to see a Bucco getting some recognition from the masses…
I agree, this is a great photo. I love seeing guy’s jersey names, and the photo just seems to frame the whole play. It’s different, too, which is certainly nice.
Better than a boring spring training photo that’s for sure.
It’s a really cool IA [in action] shot, and the shadow makes it look even cooler.. It’s definitely better than some posed shot at spring training, lol.
His dreads are so tiny! I wonder if that was spring training in ‘08. Anyways, in a set with 630 cards, there should be some interesting and neat photographs. Sure, I’d love to see his entire frame, but that would get boring really freakin’ fast.
The best part of this photo is the mirror effect the shadow provides, which is sorta a go-to photo in sports photography. In the photo you have him bunting, but the shadow shows him celebrating, holding the bat over his head. It’s neat.