Pack Break: 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights
Written by Steve on November 27th, 2009
2008 Topps Updates & Highlights:
- #UH60 Jim Edmonds
- #UH139 Jon Lieber
- #UH79 Willie Harris
- #UH262 Brian Wilson (All-Star)
- #UH125 John Smoltz (Highlights)
- #UH48 Grant Balfour
- #UH114 Billy Traber
- #UH168 Ben Zobrist
- Gold Border #UH15 Kevin Cash (Serial#1591/2008)
- First Couples #FC-14 Franklin Pierce/Jane M. Pierce
…and Checklist 1 of 3.
Back in 2007, Kevin won the crowning achievement of his career by being at the right place at the right time. Just before the postseason started, the Boston Red Sox backup catcher Doug Mirabelli pulled a muscle and Kevin was called up to replace him. While Kevin’s backup catcher services were never needed during the Red Sox’ 2007 championship run, he happened to be on the roster and win a World Series ring as a result.
The same thing almost happened again this year when the Yankees picked him up. In May 2009, both Yankees catchers, Jorge Posada and Jose Molina, were injured and Kevin was brought in to play for the Yankees. Unfortunately for Kevin, the Yankees released him just before the postseason, the Yankees won the World Series, and Kevin Cash decided to retire.
He retired with a .186 batting average in 527 at-bats spread out over 7 Major League seasons. At least he gets to show his grandkids a World Series championship ring.
“Kevin won the Red Sox back-up catcher’s job in 2008 thanks to his defensive acumen, and in particular, his proficiency at corralling Tim Wakefield’s knuckeball. To practice the art, Cash catches from a pitching machine which spits out rag balls made of tacky fabric that makes them stick as they go through the mechanism, causing them to flutter.“