Gerrit Cole 2021 Topps NOW #487

Gerrit Cole fired his first complete-game shutout of 2021 in the heated duel between the New York Yankees and his former Club, the Houston Astros. The 30-year-old ace competed all night with his elite repertoire of pitches as he scattered just three hits, walked two and fanned 12 Astros batters over the course of his nine-inning gem. Down to the final out of the contest, Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to check on Cole as his pitch count ran up to 126. Gerrit refused to leave the game with one out to go in the ninth and would go on to fan the final batter on three pitches. His final and career-high 129th pitch registered at 99 mph to seal the 1-0 win.