Social Distancing Diary with Baseball Cards #7

Aloha, everybody,

Today we check out non-Dodgers rookie cards and game-used relics.

Enjoy and 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! 

Angels in Order Has Ordered Number 4

Aloha, everybody, 

Whew! This game is going like a whirlwind. If I wasn't away for a few hours, I feel like it would have ended in one day. It's all good. I just hope everyone is enjoying a fun game. 

Here's a note on the Bonus prizes. As I said before, everyone, including Numbers 14-20 is eligible. However, I'm going to modify the Bonus just a bit. From here on, you may not comment for a Bonus Prize if you just won a prize, or if you're the next one up to pick. For example, Angels in Order (just won) and Bo (up next) may not comment for the next Bonus. If one is offered in this post.


AiO won the first Bonus fair and square by commenting last time, but I'm modifying things because I just want to spread the prizes out a bit more and give more people chances to win. Cool? 

The Lost Collector took a shot at the previous Bonus in case I was being tricky and wanted a direct quote. I like the effort, so I'm dropping a Bonus into your package because hustle. Here's your Bonus Prize...

How's that? 

AiO chose Number 4. It's the Buncha Cards From 3 Guys Prize...

You also won a Bonus Prize...

It's Halo Magazine and scorecard with ticket stub back when Cal Ripken was close to breaking Lou Gherig's record. 

Next up is Bo. You can steal any prize or choose from 1, 3, 5, 8-13. 
Good Luck! Aloha! 

Rockin' my Fridge with Vintage Custom Magnets

Aloha, everybody, 

I was one of the lucky Christmas recipients of a custom mini-magnet from Baseball Card Breakdown. Here's the magnet Gavin created...

That Jackie Robinson has joined the other custom magnets on my fridge, and I thought it would be cool to show off the rest of my now vintage, magnet collection. 

Back in the early 90's I was a regular at the Frank and Sons card show, which is where I ran into a vendor who created custom magnets. I figured if my boys' macaroni artwork could grace the door of the refrigerator, so could the legends of baseball.  

Back in those days, before chasing prospects and rookies was a thing, Mickey Mantle was the king of cardboard. 

Mantle cards were the holy grail. I wanted them, the magnet guy made a lot of them, and that was about the only way I was going to see Mantle in my collection, so I bought a few. 

Unfortunately, time has faded the colors, and some of the edges have been bent, but that's what happens to our cards over time as well. 

Here's one of my favorite Babe Ruth tribute cards on a magnet...

Of course, these aren't actual cards. The guy told me he cut pictures out of Beckett magazine to use as his images. 

Here's the Mick with friends...

They weren't all Mantles...

Finally, the biggest rookie card of the day...

Enough time has passed that these custom magnets can now be considered vintage. The macaroni art is gone, but my magnet collection is still going strong. Thanks to Gavin, it just grew by one more. 

Aloha! 

All Things Come to an End

Aloha, everybody, 

One of the biggest lessons that I took to heart while studying Buddhism (on the way to a Masters in Buddhist Psych) is that everything is constantly changing. Thus, everything comes to an end.  

Case in point...

The voice of every past summer of my life has retired and gone quiet.

Long before I came along, Vin Scully was bringing the Dodgers to life for fans over the radio. He was there when, as a young boy, I committed myself to love the Dodgers forever. He was there all summer long as I grew up, became a man, and raised a family. 

But everything changes, and I'll never hear Vinny call a (live) game again. 

Perhaps no other sports fans know the lesson of all things coming to an end (or felt it deeper) than the heartbroken fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers. 

For generations the Dodgers were the beloved team - the fricken' identity - of the borough. And then Walter O' Malley uprooted the club and moved it to sunny Los Angeles. 

What was tragedy for those east coast fans was welcomed on the west coast. Nothing would be the same again. 

It once seemed the Iron Horse's record of most consecutive games played would never be broken. Then the Iron Man came along and he played every game too, for even longer. 

Until one day, he wasn't in the starting lineup, and his run ended. 

Everything changes. Circumstances that we take for granted will be the same tomorrow can change without a moment's warning. 

When I was putting together my list for Operation PWE, I was surprised (and saddened) to discover the passing of several blogs that had been part of our community long before my humble little blog came along. 

I visited blogs of past trading partners to check on wantlists, and instead I found messages of goodbye and farewell. Bloggers I considered friends, and a couple I was barely acquainted with, had hung up their keyboards - and I never knew. 

I get it. Collecting and trading is fun and easy - consistently scanning and writing, not so much. 

Those blogs went dark without my knowledge because I was missing in action from the blogosphere for a good part of the year myself. The joy of blogging can become a slog sometimes. New circumstances in life arise, and suddenly there's no time for a hobby. Everything changes. 

On the other hand, not every change of circumstances is tragic...

As the old saying goes, "When a door closes, a window opens". Bloggers retire and move on, just like legendary sportscasters. New ones will take their places. 

I bid aloha to my old comrades who closed up shop in 2016. I'll miss your posts, but I look forward to what 2017's bloggers will bring. 

Live Blogging Blaster Pack 3

Note 1. Josh D. asked a great question which gave me a great idea.  He asked if I was blasting this live on video.  Unfortunately, I'm not, but that's a great idea for next time. 

Note 2. I forgot to add one of the cards from the last pack. Here it comes first...

3D Ichiro! Can't leave that one out.

 Now on to pack 3...

 I'm currently in the midst of trade talks with a Fisk collector, so naturally the Fisk mojo is in the air.  BTW - I don't think I'm spoiling a secret by telling everyone the person I'm talking about is our community's brand new doctor.  Congratulations, Dr. Hoffman !!  :D

The Hawk is strictly business here.

This card is absolutely beautiful!

Whitey Ford was the third part of the 60's party trio along with Billy Martin and Mickey Mantle.

RC's galore in this blaster.

Closing the pack with bad-ass forever, Ty Cobb. 

ATBATT'S All-Time All-Stars 1st Base

Hey everybody,

In my previous post I began the line-up of my All-Time All-Stars.  Today's post presents my choice for the best first baseman to play the game. 

I gotta tell ya, it was a tough decision.  Twins fans, I gave close consideration to Harmon Killebrew - and he almost won just because his name has "brew" in it - but I hadda go with Gehrig for a few extra reasons...

 First and foremost, he's "The Iron Horse".  Gehrig held what was once considered to be an unbreakable record of playing in 2,130 straight games.  You would be hard pressed to find somebody else as dependable as rock-solid Lou.  Actually, the only other guy in MLB history is Cal Ripken Jr., and sorry Cal, but I've already selected someone else at shortstop.

Gehrig is number one in baseball history with 23 grand slams.  Yes, A-PED is tied with him, but I'm personally refusing to acknowledge his phony drug enhanced numbers.  Who's the next closest to Lou? That would be Manny Ramirez with 21.  Did somebody just say 'drug enhanced numbers'?

Here's an intangible for you: Gehrig hit BEHIND Ruth.  One thing that helped the Babe get at least a few of his big bombs was the fact that pitchers noticed Gehrig over there on deck, and they couldn't simply pitch around the Bambino.  Now THAT'S respect. 

He averaged 139 runs and 148 RBI's for 13 friggin' seasons!

His teams won the Fall Classic six times.  Not too shabby.

86 Sportsflics Decade Greats Lou Gehrig

THANKS for reading everybody!

Next post: I made an impulse buy of a few packs at wallyworld today. Maybe I'll have some new trade bait for y'all!