Aloha, everybody,
A few weeks ago Colbey from Cardboard Collections ran an affordable group break. I used to jump into these all the time, but I've been away from that game for a couple of years.
I noticed Colbey's break really was affordable - just $12 got you two teams, one you chose and one random, plus postage. He was cracking two boxes - 2004 Fleer Focus Jersey Edition and 2005 Fleer Showcase. I didn't have any Dodgers from those products, so I checked, and the Dodgers slot was still open. BANG! I was in.
My original random team was the Indians, but you random teams were open for trading. I noticed the Brewers were being dangled for a trade, and hadn't sent anything out to my buddy Tony for a while, so I made the swap, the Tribe for the Brew Crew. Let's check out the cards I caught.
We'll start off with the big card, at least in terms of not being base.
It's still not so rare of an insert, just a 1:5 pull. That said, it's Adrian Beltre, so that's good in my book.
I caught another couple of base cards to go along with that one.
I wish I hit more than two, because I like the looks of this base product.
No inserts from Fleer Focus, but I got more base cards....
Not loving this design, though. I prefer less lines running around the sides. With that much linear distraction, why add to things with a giant product logo eating right in the already compromised photo?
Another question is - why the radioactive glow coming off the player? Are these those "aura" photos?
My favorite of this bunch is Paulie LoDuca blowing a bubble as he trots off (or on?) the field.
On to Tony's loot...
Nothing too special in that batch, Tony, but we nabbed a few for you.
Colbey dropped in another couple of extras to sweeten the pot...
That chrome Puig is very attractive. Digging it mucho!
I just might try another group break soon.
Aloha!
Aloha, everybody,
As you may remember, I'm showing off some samples from the large box of cards that Bo sent over to me. We're down to the last couple of posts, so let's get started.
Here come some great Dodgers cards from the shiny and creative '90s and beyond. Leading off are a few Beltres...
Now some shiny (and new!) Nomos...
Tribute reprints that came off very nicely...
I wonder how many reprint versions of that Steve Garvey All-Stars card are out there? This is my third different one.
Let's get modern with some Diamond Kings...
These DKs work just as well on the backside. I like stats on the back as much as the next guy, but I'm also a big fan of the snippets I can read that give me context...
Takeshi Saito didn't get on a lot of cards back then, but boy, I'm glad he made it onto this cool blue Spectrum specimen...
I don't think there's another ex-Dodger who's cards make me feel sad, like Pedro's...
This Mondesi card has a nice textured surface to go along with the shiny stars...
I wonder if we'll ever get sparkly, glittery cards again...
Let's close with a couple of lights-out pitchers...
As always, THANKS for these cool cards, Bo!
Aloha!
Aloha, everybody,
Most of you know I collect Adrian Beltre. Why is simple. He was the great third baseman the Dodgers let get away.
After Ron Cey, I thought I would never love a third baseman again. Then along came Senor Beltre.
The man had everything one wants in a player for one's team. He fielded his position very well, he hit mammoth home runs, and he had a fun personality. Best of all, he was just starting out, and I was looking forward to him having a long career in Dodger blue.
Beltre would only play in LA for seven seasons, but I loved watching him for every one of those seven.
Know what else I love? Adrian hails from the era of the shiny card and multiple card companies creating a wide variety of product to enjoy.
Above is the offering from 2003 DonRuss Estrellas. The backside is all in espanol.
Below are a couple of 2005 DonRuss Production Line inserts. The cool thing here is the cards are limited to the statistical number each athlete produced.
The batting average card is numbered 102/334 and the OPS card is 454/1017.
The Dodgers unleashed Adrian on the field, and now he's unleashed 3,000 hits on the major leagues' pitchers.
The Bowman card below touts Beltre as the Dodgers' top prospect and a possible rookie of the year. He didn't win the ROY, but he won a Silver Slugger award and was the NL leader in home runs in his last year with LA.
Below from 2005 Playoff Prestige, numbered 36/100
Finally, Beltre is beautifully drenched in mirror blue on a 2005 DonRuss Longball Leaders insert, numbered 1359/1500.
Congrats and aloha, Adrian!
Aloha, everyone,
Not too long ago I wrote about Spiegel, my old collecting friend who was getting back into the trading game after retiring his own Dodgers blog a couple of years ago.
Just as you might suspect, Spiegel isn't the only ex-Dodger blogger who was away for a while and is now back in. GCRL Jim is another. Jim and I recently turned the U.S. mails blue when we swapped fistfuls of Dodgers cardboard.
We Dodgers collectors are blessed, as our team has historically had plenty of representation in card companies' checklists. That means no matter how large our collections are, and however much we swap among each other, the chances of receiving plenty of new (for us) product in our mailboxes are pretty good.
Take for example, these 2007 SP Legendary Cuts cards of Roy Campanella and Maury Wills.
I've loved these black n' red beauties ever since I saw a dealer selling a large stack of them a couple of years ago. He wanted fifty cents a piece for them, and I wasn't convinced they were worth that, so I walked away and never had a chance to pick through that set again.
Speaking of beautiful cardboard...
Just lookit that. I don't need a card to be selling for $100 on ebay for me to appreciate it. A grand design and good photography goes a long way with me.
Sure I've got 2009 Dodgers, but I didn't have O-Pee-Chee versions until GCRL hit me with them.
Sir Night Owl wrote about receiving a team set Dodger card tonight, and just like the team bag says, these are a bunch of 2012 team set Dodgers...
Just enough to make me need to complete the set. Ha!
Here's an interesting pair, both from 2005. Playoff Prestige and Throwback Threads both used the same photo of the Penguin. The Prestige card was even lazier in its use of the same photo on the back.
GCRL set me up with a whole lotta cards that were brothers in sets that I've never seen. Like these...
And the hits just kept on coming. Here's a string of Dodgers batsmen...
Except Manny's bat is nowhere to be seen.
And here's some pitching.
Another set with amazing photography and design....
Finally, one more photographic work of art on a little slice of cardboard...
Dig that sly smile on Jackie. It's the same look Dodgers collectors have when we open packages from each other.
THANKS for all the great cards, Jim!
Aloha!
