2018 Topps Players Weekend Logo Patch Card #PWP-JZ Javier Baez

Last week, I posted my first Twitter trade. Shortly after, I worked out another Twitter deal with @pksteinberg. Peter also runs the Baseball Every Night blog that popped up during my hiatus. 

Peter sent a couple of 2018 cards but the highlight of this exchange was this Javier Baez manu-patch from the MLB Players Weekend. Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber also have cards in this set.

The "patch" itself is more of a hunk of metal(?) and not something that would be worn on the uniform, but is a pretty neat take on the standard MLB logo.

A few weeks ago, I lamented how Topps could have used a better photo of Anthony Rizzo on a Jackie Robinson commemorative card and this time Topps got the photo right. You can clearly see the full nickname Baez chose, El Mago (Magician), which was one of the highlights of these special jerseys.

The players wore these for several games (one series?) towards the end of August 2017. 

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 26: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 26, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 17-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

I had almost forgotten the 17-2 game against the Phillies. After a lifeless 7-1 loss the day before, the Cubs' bats woke up for a drubbing with six home runs, including a pair each from Tommy La Stella and Anthony Rizzo.

Unfortunately, the subject of the card had a bit of an off day going 0-4 with a walk. He did score twice though. After reaching on a fielder's choice, he scored following a Kyle Hendricks double in the 7th inning. His 9th inning walk was followed by a Ben Zobrist home run.

This card was my 60th unique 2018 Cubs card already. Observant readers may have noticed I've added four new trackers in the sidebar. One is counting my 2018 additions, one my Ivy collection, one my Ryne Sandberg PC and the last is my overall Cubs collection. These counts reflect the cards I have scanned, catalogued in my spreadsheet and put where they need to be. The first two (2018s and Ivy) are completely up to date as of this morning. The Sandberg PC is almost done, just need to finish up another 100ish cards. 

The overall Cubs collection is a work in progress, as a lot of my cards from prior to 2015 are tucked away. Hopefully, that project will be completed soon. I'll update the tracker as needed, and will try to add my spreadsheets when I can.

Thanks again to Peter for this awesome addition!