I've Been Jenga'd - Wrigley Roster Jenga That Is

Aloha, everybody, 

Don'tcha just love it when you get home and there's a PWE or a package waiting for you - and you just know it's chock full of baseball cards??!!! 

It's one of my favorite things in the world. 

My youngest son is usually in charge of grabbing the day's mail, and if I receive anything card-related, he tosses it right onto my favorite relaxin' chair. On one hand, he's assuring I'll see those cards pretty quickly, and on the other hand, he's gambling I'll see the envelope before I plop down and crush all of the cardboard goodness within. So far, my cardboard senses haven't failed me, and I haven't sat on a PWE yet! 

The other day I received a fistful of cards from Tony B, who hails from the great Wrigley Roster Jenga. Tony led off the envelope by trying to unload some of that Chicago snow on me...

That snow stretched from the friendly confines to Chavez Ravine...

Reason number 2,000 our blogger community rocks: Just a few weeks ago I had no snowflaked cards, and now I'm covered in a blue flurry! 

Tony knows I dig the old-time Dodgers just as much as the new kids, so he dropped some cardboard history on me...

Get a load of this beautiful shot...

This was a cool surprise, from a set that I'm not familiar with at all...

Here's the back...

Tony (or anyone else out there), what can you tell me about where this card comes from? 

Just today, the venerable Night Owl asked us of we would rather receive random cards or specific ones from our wantlists?  Tony decided to send me the best of both worlds. 

That Jack Armstrong Wheaties card was a beautiful random, right? Tony also checked a couple off of my Dodgers team set wantlists...

The Albuquerque Dukes were the Dodgers' AAA club years ago. They're long gone now, but this card will serve as a visual reminder from those days. 

Yeahhh, Gibby. One of those guys that always looked like he could take a big bite out of a bat - and love it. 

We'll close out with a couple of young Dodgers stars...

 Despite the smoky edges and his closed eyes, young Joc makes the catch! 

Finally, one of next season's youngest starting pitchers - for any team - Julio Urias. I just cannot have too many cards from this kid...

THANKS for an awesome fistful of cards, Tony! 

Aloha! 

A Wonderful Oddball From Out of Left Field

Aloha, everybody, 

My son recently handed a flipbook to me, asking if I wanted it. Boy, did I ever! 

I couldn't find much info on this little flipbook, but it looks like it was produced by L.A. County government to celebrate the Dodgers' 50th season in Los Angeles, an to encourage voting in the 2008 Presedential election. 

Of course, it commemorates Kirk Gibson's legendary World Series home run.

Here's a peek inside. I've opened the front cover and the first image is visible... 

Later in the sequence, Gibby and Dennis Eckersley watch the flight of the ball on it's way into the L.A. night sky...

How about some fist-pump action...

The sequence actually plays out very well when you flip through it. Kudos to the county government for getting something right. 

Finally, a look at the back cover...

I never get tired of watching replays of Gibby's home run, or of the various TV and radio calls from that magic night. Now I have a flipbook to view it in an entirely new way. 

Aloha! 

This Is Why Baseball Is The Greatest Game Ever

Aloha everybody, 
 

We're less than one hour away from Game 5 of the Dodgers vs Mets, and I'm so excited, I'm gonna tap out a quick post just to bleed off some energy. 

Today is the 27th anniversary of Kirk Gibson's legendary World Series home run. What an awesome event it was for me as a Dodger fan. 

I was at home, watching the game alone, on TV. When Gibson hit that home run, I jumped up and just about bounced off the ceiling. 

Just about everyone has seen the iconic TV broadcast with Vin Scully or Jack Buck's calls, but I wonder how many of you have ever heard the late Don Drysdale's call for the radio? 

It's just as powerful, and you don't have to be a Dodger fan to feel the electricity that was running through Chavez Ravine that night. 

Go ahead, give a listen and you'll hear why nothing can match the drama that is baseball...

Aloha and Go Dodgers! 
 

Grand Salami Of Trade Bait: Dee-Troit Tigers

Happy Sunday everybody,

Time for some Tiger Town trade bait...

Die-Cut Verlander

Thanks for looking, everybody.

Yet Even More Ticket Stub Nostaslgia

Hey everybody,

Hope you all had a great Fourth.  In yesterday's Fourth of July post, I featured a couple of 1995 ticket stubs that featured a series titled  "Great Moments"  from the Dodger's history.

There are 11 moments in the series.  Yesterday showed numbers 5 and 8.  Let's see how many others I have...

1. Missing ?

2. Missing

3. Sandy Koufax hurls 4th no-hitter and the only perfect game of his career as the Dodgers defeat the Cubs. 

4.  This one would have been appropriate for yesterday also.  Rick Monday snatches an American flag from two would-be flag-burners.

5. Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Dusty Baker and Ron Cey become the only foursome to hit 30 or more runs in a  season.

6. Bob Welch strikes out Yankee slugger Reggie Jackson in the 9th with 2 men on to win Game 2 of the '78 World Series.  AWESOME !

7. Manny Mota sets the major league record with his 145th career pinch hit. AWESOME!

8.  Fernando Valenzuela beats the Astros, 2-0, on Opening Day to start "Fernandomania".

9. Missing

10. Missing

11. Missing? 

The final stub doesn't have a Great Moments number, so I'm not sure if it's number 11 or number 1.  However, since this moment was so incredible, I'm tempted to think this was number ONE....

Kirk Gibson's two-out, ninth inning home run beats Oakland in Game One of the 1988 World Series.
But of course, AWESOMENESS PERSONIFIED! 

Thanks for reading, everybody!

The PWE Epidemic Reaches Little Ol' Me

Hey everybody,

Before you read any further, quick - run over to ESPN Classic.  They're showing Game One of the 1988 World Series.  Dodger Fans, Oakland fans, you know what game I'm talkin' about.

You certainly don't have to be a Dodger or an A's fan to appreciate this historical classic game.  Do you like great baseball broadcasting?  This game featured the golden voiced Vin Scully in his prime and that most excellent color man, Joe Garigiola.  I really enjoyed when they teamed up to call games back in the day.

With all the talk about the new renovations at Dodger Stadium, it's also cool to see old Dodger Stadium, and of course, the old Dodger players featured in that game.

I've been reading around about one of our latest blogger innovation -fad - events, the PWE Bomb.  Wes, the great and generous blogger from the awesome blog, Jaybarkerfan's Junk is perhaps, King of all PWE bombers, and it was my pleasure to receieve one of his cardboard bombs myself.

 I said it once, but I'll say it again. I can't have enough Mike Piazza cards.  This newest addition to my Piazza collection commemorates THE SINGLE MOST SHOCKING EVENT in all my time as a Dodger fan - the trading away of Mike Piazza.  This card mentions he was traded to the Mets. Apparently Pinnacle is ignoring he was sent to the Marlins first.

Here's another card of one of my past faves - Pedro "1981 World Series Co-MVP" Guerrero.   Who did he share the MVP award with?  None other than Night Owl's and my favorite Dodger, Ron Cey, and Boomer Steve Yeager.

Ugh! I hated Juan Pierre as a Dodger.  For some reason, when he got to Dodger Stadium, he forgot the type of hitter he was, and thought he was a home run hitter.  The inevitable result?  Multiple weak fly outs that made him a real hole in the lineup - as a leadoff batter, no less.

He partially redeemed himself when Manny Ramirez was serving a 50-game suspension.  He played like we always hoped he would and actually kept the Dodgers in contention while Ramirez was out.   He was a major reason we made the playoffs that season.

I gotta admit, Pierre or not, this is a great looking card.  

How about Jerry Reuss and his 70's TV detective mustache?

Another great Dodger.  I still miss our former 3rd baseman.

Closing out with a great looking sticker featuring Mariano playing at home.  Nice!

Thanks for the Bomb, Wes.  I really appreciate your generosity. you sent me some great cards, and all of them new for my collection!

 I'll be passing it forward to other bloggers as the days pass.  :)

THANKS for reading everybody.  Now I'm back to ESPN classic. It's the 6th inning....