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! 

Bad Camera Productions Presents: A Winter's Trip To Dodger Stadium

Aloha, everybody, 

Dodger Stadium was holding a special Winter Holiday sale at their Top of the Park giftshop, and they were were tossing in the promise of Dodgers autographs and the chance to check out the 1981 World Series trophy. That was enough for me, so I headed off to the stadium. 

It was a Saturday afternoon, but LA traffic is plenty thick no matter the day or time. 

Rats, a detour! Being Saturday, it turned out there was some kind of parade right on the street I needed access to. They closed off Broadway, which meant I couldn't get to Vin Scully Avenue. I had to reroute around the maze of tiny hilltop streets that surround the stadium. 

I eventually made it, and the Dodger signing autographs in the giftshop was Derrel Thomas, a member of the 1981 World Series championship team. 

Thomas played for a number of organizations, including perhaps the entire NL West. He also holds the distinction of playing every position on the field, except for pitching. 

Derrel beamed a great smile and was very friendly. He was gracious enough to sign two cards for me today - as I classified them to him, "one with your ever-lovin' smile, and one with you in action." 

As you can see above, Thomas is listed as playing outfield (I suppose this refers to all fields) and second base. 

It looks like Thomas adds a little arrowhead at the end of his signature. Is it something pointing upward, or perhaps a playful devil's tail? I wish I'd noticed at the time and asked him about it. 

I also had the thrill of seeing the 1981 World Series trophy up close, with no glass between us. 

I also bought myself something from the giftshop, but that will go under the Christmas tree, not to be opened until the 25th. 

I was done baseball shopping, so I popped outside to get a peek at the hallowed field. On one of the walls, I noticed this plaque, honoring Hammerin' Hank Aaron. 

It says Aaron hit his last home run (number 676) at Dodger Stadium on April 15, 1973. It's amazing that Hank ended with 755 homers, but he never hit another at Chavez Ravine. BTW, the Dodgers won that game 6-2. 

Out on the field, there were some youth baseball teams having practice. What a thrill to be a kid and practice at Dodger Stadium. I wondered if there were former Dodgers down there giving tips. 

Time to leave the magic of Dodger Stadium and head back into the reality of the city...but first, fish tacos on the way home! 

Aloha! 

Grand Salami of Trade Bait - Atlanta Braves

Hey there, tomahawk choppers...

Never mind the cavalry - Here come the Braves!

Bonus Vladdy !

Chippah!

The REAL Home Run King

Sample oddball

Now for something completely different - crooked scans!

Ending with a great card featuring two young stars.

Thanks for looking!

"O" No, It's A Quickie With A Bird Blog!

Hey everybody,

Here's a quick and easy trade with Ryan, over at "O" No, It's Another Orioles Blog.  

Ryan's got a great list of cards over at his blog for trade. I highly recommend stopping by to see what catches your eye.  That's what I did, and I found a cool coupla cards to add to my collection. 

First up is a 2013 Bowman reprint of Hank Aaron's RC.  I saw a couple of folks comment at the "O" No blog that the blue borders are unattractive.  True, that blue border isn't really my cup of cardboard tea, but it's Hank Aaron's RC!  I know it's a reprint, but it's Hank Aaron's RC!  I hadda have it!

The other card I hadda have is this very cool "Dealing Aces" issue, featuring Mr. Kershaw...

I'd seen this Kershaw card floating around the blogs, and I was getting the feeling that I was the only Dodger blogger in town without this one.  Thanks to Ryan, that's no longer the case.


What good is a quickie without a little something to remember it by?   Ryan included this little gem...

Nice touch, buddy.  Thanks for the trade! 

Trade Me (Almost) Anything: Atlanta Braves

Hey everybody,

The Dodgers begin a road trip today out east and kick it off with 3 games against the Braves. 

Those of you who have been following this series of trade bait know that I've been offering up blocks of cards grouped by teams expecting to ship off the whole enchilada to anyone who wants them.

However, after reading Bert's review from a Swing And A Pop Up , I got to thinking, while this concept might be a pretty good treat for team collectors, I didn't really consider set or player collectors might not want ALL those cards.

So I just want to let everyone know that if you want only one or two cards from the post, simply mention it and I'll be happy to send out singles. Speaking of cards, here come the Braves...

How about a Glavine RC?

Here's a blue mirror Lineage parallel.

The real Home Run King.

Hey old time Braves fans.  Remember this guy?

A couple of great youngsters on this one.

Yet even more good early stuff. 

THANKS for reading everybody!

ATBATT's All-Time All-Stars Right Field

Hey everybody,

when we last visited the All-Timers, we completed the infield and one outfield position. Here's the line up to this point:

C: Johnny Bench
1st: Lou Gerhig
2nd: Jackie Robinson
SS: Ozzie Smith
3rd: Brooks Robinson
LF: Rickey Henderson

This time we get my pick for the best right fielder of all time - with the opportunity to check out a few cool baseball cards.  Not bad for some free Saturday evening entertainment. 

Several of the positions for my all-stars have been difficult choices, and this one was pretty tough as well.  There are several first-ballot players.

I, for one, would usually take Reggie's 563 homers and ability to come up big in the Fall Classic.

While Reggie's a solid choice...what about Roberto Clemente?  He only had 3,000 hits, 12 all-star games, and was regularly bringing fear to N.L. base runners with his cannon for an arm before his life and career were tragically cut short.

Clemente was actually my first choice, but then I remembered this guy...
 

Sure, Hammerin' Hank would be the natural first choice choice for lots of us.  That is, until we remember this next ballplayer, who held down right field before any of 'em.  There's just no way I choose somebody else before I choose this guy.

This is the man that caused the building of the original Yankee Stadium (RIP).  They called it "the house that Ruth built" for good reason.  He led the Yankees to 7 A.L. pennants, 4 World Series championships and rewrote Yankee and baseball record books along the way.

 I once read somewhere that foul poles were invented because the Bambino regularly hit the ball so far the umpires needed help.

Of course I'm gonna pick the guy who practically played with a hot dog in one pocket and a beer in the other, all the while hitting the ball out of the park.  The best part of all, he did it steroid free.

THANKS for reading, everybody.  Time for me to go back to watching the Dodger game.