Who Wants a Free Stocking Stuffer?

Aloha, everybody, 

It's time for an ATBATT free giveaway! Here's an early Christmas gift for yourself (or for you to put under the tree for someone else). 
ATBATT is here to help you with your early Christmas shopping. 

Here's what I'm giving away:

I'm pleased to pass on a brand new, straight from the publisher's printing presses, very enjoyable book that tells the stories of six unexpected heroes from the 1947 World Series. 

I've been reading this book, and believe me, it's a compelling read. It's chock full of great stories about these hard-scrabble players who came up in the 20's and 30's, and became unlikely World Series heroes. 

Here's what the liner notes say: 

There are plenty of photos too! 

If you want to know more about the book, you can check out my YouTube video where I show off a few more photos, and also review EEtah IPA from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. 

Now that I've got you hooked on wanting this book, here's the good news: This early stocking stuffer is free, free, free, and will be delivered to your door, courtesy of the publisher. I've only got a few copies to give away, so let's get started on giving one copy away right here. 

All you have to do is be the first to comment "I want that book" down below, and it's all yours. I'll send you the email of my contact person at the publisher, and all you have to do is send your name and address, and it will come right to your door. 

If there's someone out there who wants a copy, but somebody else already commented here, you can go to the YouTube video and be the first to comment there. That copy is still available. 

Grab it for yourself or as a gift for someone else! 

Aloha! 

Contest Winner! And Heartfelt Thanks

Aloha, everybody, 

Juuuuuuust a bit late, but here comes the winner of  ATBATT's 100,000 Views Contest. 

I dropped the 15 contestants names into the ol' randomizer, in the order you all entered, and it looked like this..

 Also on the list, but below the window sit: The Dutch Card Guy, Tony L., Adam K., and gcrl. Better late than never, boys. Welcome to the contest. 

I randomized three times, and here was the final screen, with our winner...

 Congrats go out to Al Kawamoto!Ypu'll find my email in my profile here. Just shoot me an email and let me know what teams and players you collect. I think you're a hockey collector, right? 

I planned to stop by the weekly Frank and Son's card show and pick up a couple of things for the winner, so I hope you can be patient with me Al, as I'll get there as soon as things normalize with mom's condition, and I can escape on a Saturday to the card show. 

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. Lot's of players doesn't help your chances to win, I know, but it makes the contest a bit more fun with more contestants. 

Humble - but large - THANKS to everyone who sent your sincere thoughts and prayers out to mom and I. She's bouncing back slow but steady, and the plan is she will leave the hospital later today. She'll then go to a nursing home for about a week, where she will receive physical and speech therapy. After that, it should be her homecoming. 

As I said, a million thanks to you all, because your wishes and thoughts really boosted me up at a time that I needed it. Our cardboard community is generous with much more than cards and such - good thoughts and good friends are the most valuable collectables I've ever received from all of you. Thanks again. 
Aloha! 

ATBATT Gets 100,000 Views And You All Get A Contest

Aloha, everybody,

The Dodgers are starting off the season strong, with two shutouts against the San Diego Padres. Hope your team is doing great - unless of course (sorry, Arpsmith), it's the Giants. 

As noted in my previous post, my humble little blog has passed the magic number of 100,000 views. I suppose that number means little in these days of million-view sites, but it sure is big to me. 

I started ATBATT in September, 2011, with the hopes of drumming up a few trades across the country. Little did I know I would help the USPS, and the US economy in general, by eventually shipping and receiving more cardboard than I can count, and making gen-yoo-ine friends along the way. 

For you nostalgia nuts, here are the first words I wrote as a rookie blogger:

"I'm gonna post cards here with no presumption that i'm a witty writer like all you other guys. i love baseball and baseball cards, but i cant even compete with the bloggers who know what year the 'c' on the cubbies caps was changed."

And here's the first baseball card I posted...

I wrote, "Is it me, or do the fireworks look like an asterisk?" 

In honor of many great trades, being welcomed into our wonderful cardboard community, and meeting so many cool people, I'm putting on a humble little contest. 

It's not terribly complicated to enter, but you will have to do a bit more than click below and say "Hello". 

I figure since I did some lifting to get to 100,000 - entrants for this contest should put forth a bit of effort and mention an ATBATT first in your comment below. For example, the first person to ever comment on ATBATT, the first card shown for a particular team, and so on. Any first will do, the only requirement is you cannot repeat what someone else already mentioned. 

I'll take all the comments and randomize them to get a winner; you know the drill. The prize will be a fistful of cardboard and some other collecting goodies to make your research worthwhile. I'll keep the contest open until Friday of this week, midnight PST. 

Well, what'r you waitin' for? Get to enterin'. Aloha!
  

 

Contest Winnings From An East Coast Owl

Aloha everybody,

(Although I don't plan to trot out the "aloha" greeting for too much longer, I certainly intend to use it for as long as I remain under that sweet Hawaiian spell. Might it last forever?)

A while back I won a contest from Big Daddy Night Owl, in which he was awarding a group of cards that long held a framed and celebrated place on his wall. It was time for N.O. to replace those cards with a new framed set, so he held a contest. The card and randomizer gods were kind enough to smile upon me, and I came away the winner. 

Of course, Night Owl included a fistful of Dodger cards to go along with my winnings.  All of which are much appreciated, by the way.  Let's check out (in no particular order) my favorites.

Leading off is a former skipper whom I long respected as an opposing field general, and I would not have objected to if he had ever been selected to manage the Dodgers...

Did anybody have more cards than Nomo back in the day?  I remember it was hard as heck to pull a Nomo back then, but now it seems there were thousands out there...

Don't get me wrong. I wanted all the Nomo cards back then, and I still want them. 

Before there was the Garv, there was groovy Wes Parker, my first-ever favorite Dodger...

Extra bonus - Lurking old time Dodger Stadium

Coming up, my favorite Dodger after Wes Parker. One of the greatest Dodger third baggers ever....

N.O. tossed in this very cool oddball, which is now my first of a new collecting angle...

The card above is great on so many levels. Aesthetically, the design and color choices are superb. It's limited to just under 2000, and we get the great comparison of two third basemen who gave it their all in those classic World Series contests.  

I STILL hate friggin' Nettles for single-handedly killing almost every Dodger rally with his impeccable play on the hot corner. 
 

Here's a great shot of Andre Dawson in all his glory, most likely watching one go all the way out....

Here's one that's a classic - at least amongst ourselves in the blogosphere.  Thanks to N.O., I now have my own copy...

Speaking of classics, it's another first. My first card of the greatest baseball broadcaster ever...

Yeah Bootsie, you go with those star shades. Mr. Norris here can hold his own in the funk zone...
 

How about a pomegranate Ryu? Yes, please...

"Anybody can buy their funk at the sunglass hut. I wear my funk on my face."

How about some cardboard action from the Dodgers sparkplug...

Or cardboard from eccentric legends...

Or cardboard from an ongoing legend...

Sir Night Owl outdid himslef with this package. The cardboard awesomeness just kept on rolling out....

Night Owl seems to always know which cards I still need.

And out some more....

And out yet even more....

Finally today, a fantastic card from the man who woulda done exactly what Clayton Kershaw did after the Cardinals beaned Hanley Ramirez (repeatedly!)and Yasiel Puig...

Maybe not exactly - I think Mr. Drysdale would have buzzed one into the Cardinals dugout as well.

Thanks for the great cards, Night Owl. What a grand prize package it was!

Aloha, everybody. 

Football, Shmootball...Who Won The Super Easy Contest?

How about that Super Bowl?  As a Raider fan, it's always a joy to see the Broncos get thumped, but I was certainly hoping for closer competition than that.  At least my Super Bowl super burgers rocked the BBQ.  

 And on to the contest.  Thanks to all y'all who commented and joined in on the fun. I entered everyone's names over at Random.org, in the order that you commented:

 Comataoad and Greg Z are listed below there as numbers 12 and 13.  Per custom around here, I randomized it three times, and here are the final results:

CONGRATS to Zippy Zappy!  Unless you've changed your collecting habits, ZZ, I have an idea of what you like to collect.  I'll be sending you some Yankees and some assorted other goodies that I hope you'll enjoy.  Roger, you'll be getting a package soon as well. 

Thanks again for joining the contest everybody.