Sometimes Little Things Bring Big Joy

Aloha, everybody, 

While I was going through my trade bait box and putting together goodies for Operation PWE, I came across a few cards that I found a new appreciation for. As a result, these cards are going into my binders as new additions to my PC. How did I miss these the first time I saw them? 

Leading off is Jose Lima as a DonRuss Rated Rookie...

If Lima was pitching against your team, you probably hated his on-field celebrations. I get that, but I'll gladly take a pitcher who jumps for joy over a job well done over one who scowls and curses at batters who hit home runs off of him. You know, like that bum from San Francisco. 

Lima Time came to Los Angeles in 2004 and he quickly became a fan favorite. He earned a spot in my Dodger Blue heart in Game 3 of the NLDS, when the cheatin' St. Louis Cardinals were looking like they could sweep the Dodgers. 

Lima pitched a shutout against the Cards and briefly returned hope to the Dodgers faithful. I still remember that game clearly. 

Next up is a damn Yankee...

It's a great shot of Doc Gooden being carried on the shoulders of his teammates after pitching his only no-hitter. 

Bonus: Mariano Rivera photobombing. 

How about some vintage? Check!
From a defunct team? Check!
From a bullpen coach sportin' an old-time catchers glove? Check! 
With ever-lovin' baby blues? Double check! 

I passed this next one off as junk cardboard featuring scrubs...until I looked closer and noticed young Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas as teammates! 

Bonus: Lurking Comiskey Park! 

A Hall of Fame southpaw on Conlon cardboard...

The last card up comes with a bit of a disclaimer. This one isn't actually the card I found in the trade bait box, that one went into my binder as an upgrade. This one is now taking its place, and it's a sweet classic...

Unfortunately this card is stained from scotch tape. On the bright side it features a couple of legends, Don "World Series Perfect Game" Larsen and The Perfessor. 

The simple act of going through cards from a shoebox yielded some great little surprises. Aint that what our hobby is all about? 

Aloha! 

Grand Salami Of Trade Bait - White Sox

You know the drill by now...

Grand Salami Of Trade Bait - Oakland Athletics Edition

Jumping back up to the bay area....

Who remembers The Big Hurt as an 'A'?

Who remembers when Manny was an 'A'?

Thanks for checking these out!

Binder Page Heroes - The Big Hurt

Greetings, dear readers and trade partners.  It's been a while since I posted, and it's been a really long while since I posted something from my binders.

I have two personal binders of cards that are near and dear to me.  Binder No.1 is all Dodgers, and No.2 is comprised of everyone else.  As new cards come to me through purchases or trades, they're added to the pages.  The binders have now grown so full, that I know the next step will be to add Binder No. 3, which of course, won't be a bad thing at all.

The other day Nick, from that awesome blog, Dime Boxes, posted about finding a great looking Frank Thomas card at the National.  Seeing as how that particular card has always been a fave of mine, I'm using it as the inspiration for tonight's post.

Frank Thomas, aka The Big Hurt - next to Mickey Mantle - was the biggest name in baseball cards when I first started getting deep into the collecting game.  Thomas was a heck of a player besides, so I actively sought out his cards, and to this day I still love to add great looking Big Hurt cardboard to my binders whenever I can.

Frank looks kinda sweaty in this photo.  I wonder how comfortable it was to smile after a brisk workout?  But he manages to make it all look natural and genuine. Whataguy!

Here's a curious card.  I like the action shot and the little tag mentioning his status as a Number One Draft pick.  The photo feels kinda offbeat though, as Big Frank seems troubled about something.  And who is that running?  Is that Dee Gordon? 

Love this one. Dime box pick up. 

This one is a great example of 90's shininess. As Nick would agree, Pinnacle at that time was at the top of the cardboard game.

I was always disappointed that the final year number is blocked out on this one.  : (

Some of you out there have mentioned not liking this Leaf design, but I think it perfectly fits the photo and the White Sox team colors.

As usual with scanning photos, subtleties are lost once again.  This is from Upper Deck's Electric Diamonds, in which the lettering shimmers with a diamond effect.  Quite nice.  The card also seems to be from a Battle of Chicago Sox and Cubs matchup at Wrigley.

 Another card whose beauty is lost in the scan.  This is a Fleer 2001 Future Characteristics insert.  I dig the kanji characters, but I have no idea why they exist.  ???

 This is the card that Nick picked up at the National.  It looks like Frank's about to crush those guys at first base.

Thanks for reading!