The Cubs Won the WS, and I Won a New Cub Trade Partner

Aloha everybody, 

Back in September I was contacted through email by Chris, an ATBATT reader, who wanted to get a trade going. 

Chris collects Nomar, Dan Haren, Jeff Samardzija,and those ever-lovin' World Series Champion Cubs. My Cubs trade bait pile was running slim, but happily, we were able to put a trade together. 

When I received Chris' package in the mail, it contained a hefty fistful of cardboard! 

 Chris said he had a lot of Dodgers for trade, and he wasn't kidding! Here are some of the highlights; we begin with Masterpiece...

 Since the WS just ended, why not drop in a Dodgers World Series moment?

I just cannot have too many from these sets. Even players from other teams look great in Masterpiece. 

The one below is one of my all-time favorite post-career Koufax cards...
 

How about this gem from the 80's...

Fernando and Gary Carter were the starting battery for the 1981 All-Star game. The big question is, who's that lurking?

Keeping with the 80's, one of my favorite Dodger catchers, in action, at home...

Speaking of Dodgers pitching for the all-Stars, here's the most underrated closer for the modern day team. Saito was lights out as the Dodgers closer. 

I loved to watch him play. His pitches had wicked movement that left batters with bats on their shoulders while umpires called them out. I can still see it like yesterday. 

I'm a big fan of the Dodgers' Japanese imports, and Chris included a good amount of those to really fluff out my collection.

 Of course, when you get a fistful of cards, they're not all golden. Here's an example of a sweet card, wasted on a Dodgers dud...

Pierre is striking a glorious home run pose here, but the trouble is, he never was able to figure out he's not a home run smasher. 

He would hit one out, and then hit weak fly balls the next 35 at bats. Not healthy for a lead off batter. 

Pierre shoulda had a card that more accurately reflected his overhype and showed the look of a man who will only deliver underperformance. Like this one...

This was a fun card to discover...

Olmedo Saenz, pinch hitter extraordinaire, AKA, The Killer Tomato. You could count on ol' Olmedo to get the job done when you needed a clutch pinch hit. 

Finally up, another favorite Dodger, on a very attractive, mirror-finish card...

It was a great first trade. Here's hoping the cards I sent were just as good for you, Chris. Looking forward to the next one. 

Aloha!