Phil's Pulls
is a daily YouTube series by former Major League Baseball pitcher Phil Hughes. The series revolves around him unboxing and reviewing sports and Pokemon cards from various trading card brands, as well as providing occasional side commentary on his baseball career and teammates he's played with.
Launched in October of 2019, the channel has received a strong following with almost 30,000 subscribers. Phil's videos have a wide ranging following of fans of all ages and he has been credited for bringing awareness and interest into card collecting.
Tropes featured in his videos:
- Adam Smith Hates Your Guts: Phil gets certain desirable varieties of cards at a discount, but mentions he pays a higher price than the original retail value, and that the prices skyrocket on Ebay.
- The Collector: Phil collects baseball cards, hockey cards, basketball cards, and Pokemon cards.
- Eat That: Phil makes a controversial peanut butter and pickle sandwich in one video.
- The Faceless: Phil never shows his face in the videos save for photos of him during his playing career.
- It Must Be Mine!: Any video where he's opened 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire, he has made it explicitly clear that he wants a Ronald Acuña Jr. rookie card. He ultimately bought one off Ebay, but still wishes to find his own.
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Limited Special Collector's Ultimate Edition: Some of the card varieties that Phil has opened, particularly Topps Transcendent and Allen & Ginter, basically any exclusive sets. - P.O.V. Cam: The videos are shot from his view, with the main focus on his breaker mat, his hands and the card packs that he opens.
- Rimshot: When Phil makes an error or highlights an error, a rimshot will play.
- Stock Sound Effects: The videos are chock full of them.
- Take That!: Anytime he comes across a Houston Astros card, specifically Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Josh Reddick or Alex Bregman he will take a potshot at the 2017 Houston Astros electronic sign stealing scandal.
