Saturday, June 13, 2015

P-Town Tom Turned ATBATT Into T-Town (Trade Town)


Aloha everybody,

This week we met quite the milestone in my home, as my youngest son graduated from high school. That's not such a big deal for many of us, but as a couple of you out there already know, my son's graduation is a true miracle, as he barely survived his own birth. So Hurrah!!! for Michael, and his super accomplishment! 

Whomever first said, "Good things come in small packages", must have received a PWE from Tom (Waiting 'til Next Year) , because that small envelope was packed with cardboard goodness - of the Dodgers variety. 

Let's have a look at what Tom sent my way. First up are Brooklyn Dodgers cards from1990 Pacific Baseball Legends. This is the final set that Pacific released.


Never mind Erskine's card being cut off on the left side; that's just my bad scanning. Actually, these cards are so clean and sharp, they look like they came out of packs just yesterday. 
 

 Receiving cards with these two great Brooklyn Dodgers pitchers is absolutely fantastic. Tom really nailed it with these.

Coming up next, we jump to 2014 Classics, but sticking with the Brooklyn squad, the Duke of Flatbush...
 

 Just like an artsy movie that jumps its timeline back and forth, we leap back to the past with 1990 Swell...


 I love when I get a new Steve Garvey card for my collection - as a matter of fact, all of these PWE cards are welcome new additions. 


 More Brooklyn Dodgers with great photos...




 Let's leap back to the future with new Dodger, Jimmy Rollins...

 It seems Philly got rid of Rollins just in time, as he seems to have brought everything to the Dodgers but his bat. Poor Rollins has become an automatic out and a real hole in the Dodgers' batting order. 

Speaking of getting rid of guys just in time....



A ride to the 90's brings one of the great Dodgers of that era, the all-time LA Dodgers home run leader...


And Red Turn Two Turner. This is my first Turner card and it's a good 'un...



The PWE had a fantastic closer....



 Vintage, well-loved Maury Wills. Nice! 

The Dodgers' sports channel has a great commercial featuring Maury telling the story of how the crowds at Dodger Stadium were so loud when he was on first base, chanting, "Steal, Steal, Steal!", they could be heard in downtown LA. 

The legend is folks would hear the chant and know Wills was on first. I get Dodgers goose bumps every time I hear him tell that story. 

And I got baseball card goose bumps from this great PWE, Tom. THANKS a bunch! 

Aloha! 

Saturday, June 6, 2015

I Zipped Him Cardboard - He Zapped Me Beauty

Aloha everybody,

I recently sent an oversized card of  Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese pitcher to play in the major leagues, to my friend and fellow trader, Zippy Zappy.

While I do consider the card I sent to ZZ beautiful, I had no idea he was going to turn around and send me some real examples of cardboard beauty. When I opened the package he sent to me, this was the first thing I saw...


Nice, right?
Turns out she was just a cute bookend (card-end?) that had lots more cardboard beauty hidden beneath. Check it out...


Leading off with a great Grip Shot



 ZZ's trade packages always contain these Japanese CardGen issues. I love this card of El Jaguar, A-Gon, standing at the plate, ready to pounce on a fastball. ZZ is always gracious enough to include a translation of the card back. Much appreciated, buddy!



Viva Puig inserts! Yasiel has been out a few weeks now with a bad hamstring. The good news is, he tore it up in his rehab assignment in AAA this week. Best part is he stole a base and ran down balls in the outfield showing no signs of a bad wheel. Just this morning he tweeted that he'll be back with the big club for tomorrow's game.


Speaking of inserts, here's a very cool card with the Dodgers' comeback player of the year. What makes this card so cool? It's the vanity pose, the card has a faux leather, wrinkly surface, and it's limited to 199. 


 Did somebody say "Cool"? How about a RC of the best young outfielder since ....last year. Just kidding there, as Young Joc is showing signs of being the next great center fielder for the Dodgers. He's a true five-tool player who makes Willie Mays style catches look easy, while swinging a big bat at the plate. 

Perhaps you've heard of the Duke of Flatbush? I'm saying it first - this kid is going to be the Duke of Chavez Ravine. 


How about some vintage? Thanks to ol' Hector here, I'm one step closer to completing my 1966 team set. 


ZZ added a note here asking me to trust him that Dodgers' prospect Jose De Leon is going to be good. Dodgers Nation agrees, and we're keeping watch on him. 
 De Leon had his OneOK debut last night:   7 innings pitched, 4 hits, 3 runs and 6 K's. 


I love me some tribute cards. Here's one for Kershaw's first no-hitter. 


  Staying with the pitchers vibe, one Kenley Closer Jansen. Kenley had a strange night this week in Colorado where apparently the altitude messed with his blood pressure. It's a touchy situation as Jansen has had heart trouble before. He didn't pitch that night - and he was sorely missed. The bullpen gave up the lead and lost. 



Almost last is this beauty, a RC of another young Dodgers sensation, shown here turning two on Tatooine. 

Guerrero has made quite a splash swinging a home-run loaded bat in his debut season. He crushed a grand slam the other night in Colorado to win the game just like we all imagined as kids. "9th inning, the team down by 3. Bases loaded and it's up to me.  2 outs, 2 strikes..." He lived the dream and won the game!

Some of you out there might remember Guererro having a chunk of his ear bitten off in a dugout fight with Miguel Olivo in AAA last season. 

That wasn't the final beauty...this is....


Our opposite side, cute bookend closes out this post as I send a hearty ARIGATO to good ol' ZZ. 

P.S. If you dig these idol cards, stop by and check out ZZs' latest post for a whoooooole lotta idols :) 

Aloha!