Let's Open a Hanger of Topps Heritage on Video (and review a beer)!

Aloha, everybody, 

Here's a short and sweet video where I open my first batch of Topps Heritage cards. I'm chasing Dodgers and a Reggie Jackson auto. Let's see how I did...

Aloha! 

Card Show Provides Great Start (and some goodies for my buddies)

Aloha, everybody, 

The card show gave up some good stuff this week. As many of you know, I'm chasing vintage World Series subsets, and this week's trip to Walnut gave me a great start on the 1970 Topps 6-card World Series subset, which commemorates the 1969 Amazin' Mets victory over the Orioles. Let's check 'em out:

Card #305 

Card #306

Card #307 (my fave)

Card #308

These four are a great head start. I only need two more, cards 309, 310 to complete the subset. 

I also picked up a bunch of cards for some of you out there. Before I show those off, I just wanna say if I've promised some cards to you to finish your 2018 Topps teamsets, or for other trades - hang tight, please. I haven't put together packages yet bc I was hoping to pick up some extra things and make one trip to the PO. I should be packing everything up over the next week. Thanks for your patience. 

Now for some pics of cards. These aren't everything I grabbed at the card show, but I just wanted to show a couple because, why not? 

I think you'll know who these are for, and I hope these will be nice additions to your collections...

Aloha!

My Youtube Beer Review: Leo vs Ursus from Firestone Walker Brewing

Aloha, everybody, 

Here comes a quick Youtube video with a couple of Dodgers Spring Training Camp notes, and a review of an awesome new beer out of California's big brewer, Firestone Walker Brewing. 

The beer is Leo vs Ursus. It's a double IPA with double great flavor. Enjoy! And I'm not too proud to ask you to "Like" my video (if I've earned your click) 

Aloha! 

My Cardboard Lawyer Sent me Cards, but I Wish He'd Sent Advice

Aloha, everybody, 

Indulge me, please, while I cover two subjects in one post, and ask a "What would you do?" question at the end. 

First up, my cardboard lawyer, Tony from Off Hiatus, sent a fistful of 2018 Topps Dodgers to me. He's been sending team cards to a lot of us, and I'm lucky enough to have been included in his generosity. 

We'll check out my favorite cards individually, while I tell you about the collecting conundrum I found myself in at the card show yesterday. 

So I was perusing a box of cards at my favorite dealer's table yesterday, while a guy flipped through a binder beside me. He slelected his cards and asked about a Cal Ripken Jr. RC that was also in the binder. My ears perked up. A Ripken rookie card was one of the holy grails when I first got into the game, and I still don't have one. 

Joc Pederson hit a grand slam on Opening Day 2017, setting the pace for one of the greatest Dodgers seasons I've ever experienced. So glad they made that moment Joc's card. From the look on Joc's face, he was as surprised as any of us! 

So the dealer wanted $8 for the Ripken. I didn't get a close look at condition, but it looked pretty good from my spot. They both looked at it, and commented it was in pretty good shape. Another dealer who was there took a look and said it had a small crease, but it wasn't easy to see. 

I also dig this shot of my favorite Dodgers southpaw, Rich Hill. This shot really captured Hill's unique "leg sweep" finish. 

The guy was hem-hawing about the price, so the dealer dropped it to $6. Now I was definitely interested. The guy kept going back and forth, agonizing over buying the card. I told myself I wanted it if he walked away, but he wasn't exactly walking away. 

It took all my discipline to not butt into the conversation. I also didn't want to let on that I was interested, lest that drive the guy to buy it. 

The guy put the card back into the binder. I thought about jumping in, but some kinda cardboard etiquette kept me from bulling in. 

The guy took out his wallet. He counted his money and sloooowly put the money and wallet away. Again I wondered if I should jump in. I didn't. 

Love this awesome Alex Wood throwback card. 

The guy finally walked away. I thought, "Here I go." No more than three steps away, the guy turned back to the table and the binder. Should I have jumped in and said something? 

Here are some horizontals...

The guy looked at the card and his money again. Finally he committed and took the card. 

The dealer later told me I should have jumped in when he first put it down, and maybe I should have - but I just didn't feel right crashing in while the guy obviously wanted the card and he was there first. 

For all I know, I would have inspected the card and scoffed at the price myself, which was another reason I didn't just jump and say "I'll take it!" 

That said, it seemed like a good price for a card that I see from time to time and is almost always overpriced for the condition. So I kinda feel like this was the Ripken RC that got away. 

What would you all have done? (Thanks for the great team cards, Tony. I needed you at my side to advise me on that situation) 

Aloha! 

Goodbye to Yu (Darvish) A new Youtube Video

Aloha, everybody, 

So Yu Darvish took the money and ran – off to the Windy City. 

Well, I say, “Good riddance”, and don’t let the “tip” of the door hit you on the way out. We hardly knew ye - Yu?-, but Dodgers fans knew this bum long enough to know he's a big tipper. Sure, the recipients of the tips love it, but LA, not so much. 

After loyalty from the front officde, his teammates and his manager, the mercenary turned his back on a 2018 run at the World Series with the team he knew, and ran off to join the enemy. Because this is a semi-family-friendly blog, I'll leave it there, and humbly ask you check out my Youtube video about the whole sordid affair. 

Also in the video: A Beer review of Victory art Sea, a delicious chocolate and vanilla porter from Ballast Point Brewing.

Enjoy, and as always, please “like” the video. Comments also appreciated. :) 

Aloha! 

To Strike or not to Strike - A Youtube Video

Aloha, everybody, 

Have you heard the rumors of a possible players strike taking out the 2018 season? 

Here's a Youtube video with my take on the millionaires vs billionaires battle royale, and a beer review of the most excellent collaboration beer, El Camino de (Un) Real, from Stone, 21st Amendment, and Fireston Walker brewing companies. 

There's a lot going on, including an annoying fan sound in the background (sorry bout that). I hope that won't stop you from enjoying a quick and humble video from little ol' me. 

Aloha! 

Here's my First (and probabbly only) Blaster of 2018 Topps

Aloha, everybody, 

Everyone was showing off their brand new Topps 2018 cards and I just couldn't resist. I bolted out the door and went right over to my local Target. 

Topps hadn't been up 48 hours, and just as Dimebox Nick reported, the early bird pack searchers had already struck. Several hanger boxes were ripped open and jumbo packs showed signs of being "massaged". Ugh! 

I grabbed a blaster box and headed home. We'll start off the highlights of the box with the Dodgers I pulled...

With his ROY award, young Cody will be stuffed into a lot of packs, and I'm glad I pulled one in my first foray. 

Here's an awkward pull. While I liked finding this Alex Verdugo RC, Zippy Zappy already had one waiting for me, so it was raining Verdugos. 

A great shot of Justin Turner. I presume he's watching one of his dingers fly outta the park. Cody watches as well from the on-deck circle. 

Here's a nice shiny shiny League Leader. Boy, I wish that Turner card was one of these...

Four Dodgers isn't bad for my ten packs. It could have been five if the Dodgers hadn't traded away my favorite prospect in the quest for the Tipping Boy, Yu Darvish. The Rangers made out well with this trade...

Each blaster comes with one of these Weekend MLB patches. I got Wil Meyers. 

Gavin from Breakdown cards jumped on this one, so at least if I didn't get a Dodger, it was a card for one of my friends. That'll work. 

Next up are the inserts. As you all know, everything here is trade bait, so just give a shout if you are chasing any of these subsets or players. 

A.J., the Lost Collector set aside a couple of Bellingers for me from his 2018 pulls. Do you want either of these Yankees? (There's another Judge in the upcoming subsets)

Anybody for any of these? 

There you have it. Not a great blaster, but not really a disappointment either. One last note, the collation was excellent. I caught only one double, CC Sabathia, in an unflattering photo showing quite the tummy. lol 

Now all I need to complete the weekend is for the Cheatin' Pats to go down in flames. 

Aloha! 

You Can't Have Too Many Great Things to Read

Aloha, everybody, 

I have to start this post off with an apology to Dennis, from Too Many Verlanders. You see, Dennis sent a package to me long, long ago, and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. 

It wasn't because I didn't like what he sent - rather, I liked it so much, that I immediately stashed it in my library to be enjoyed in my leisure time, but I forgot it was there until now. 

When Dennis' package arrived, I was still reading "Electric October". So I put it aside to be perused when I finished the book. Unfortunately, I didn't finish it until a few days ago. All the while, the package sat there waiting, while I forgot to post about it. Ugh!!

OK, self-flagellation is over. I finished the book, and I'm currently enjoying this generous package of past collecting periodicals from Dennis. 

Most were old Beckett mags, and I love 'em. I read Beckett religiously back when I started collecting, and I saved a few from back in those days. These are great additions to my collection. 
There's so much goodness and collecting nostalgia in these mags, I'm going to spread them out over a few posts. 

Let's get started with Mike Piazza, the cover boy for July 1996. 

I love reading and reminiscing over what the card collecting world was like back then. For many of us, Beckett was the cardboard bible, and it set trends as much as it reported on them. 

Here's who collectors were chasing back in '96. Frank Thomas and Piazza were at the top of my wish list back then. 

The main attraction this mag has for me is a gallery of full-page photos that were meant for autographs. I wonder of anyone ever got every autograph needed to fill out the set. 

Autographed or not, these are great photos. I'll hold commentary and let the pics speak for themselves...

Good stuff, right? THANKS for these wonderful mags, Dennis. Sorry it took so long to post up. 

Next time, we'll get into the way-back machine and pull out a real vintage Beckett with plenty of fun reading inside. 

Aloha!