A Scribbled Sunday Night Post

Aloha, everybody, 

I recently received a very nice surprise package from Scribbled Ink. Paul sent over an assortment of past Dodgers and a very cool tchotske that I absolutely love. 

Let's start out with a couple of oddball Orels...

Huge bread conglomerate, Wonder Bread, had to airbrush the LA on Bulldog's cap, but not regional Revco, who apparently paid for the blessings of Topps. 

Here's another oddball that I've never seen before...

World Series co-MVP, Paaaayyyyydroooooo...

Eric Karros on a police issue, wearing the Tim Crews death patch...

After enjoying this card for a bit, I'll probably send this casual-looking Strawberry off to my friend, Peter...

And now a break for a couple of BOOOOOOOOS...

Lousy manager BOOOOOOOO!! (But I like the schedule)

Ex-Giant BOOOOOOO!!! (But I like these Electric Diamond cards)

I loved Nomah in his short stint as a Dodger. I haven't heard him on any of the Dodgers Spring Training broadcasts. I wonder if they dumped him as a color man? 

I liked his insights as an expert batter, and he has genuine personality behind the mike. The Dodgers didn't seem to know how to use him. They even tried some horrible segments last season with Nomar bouncing around Dodger Stadium sampling different food and drinks. It was ridiculous. I miss you, Nomar! 

Finishing out the cardboard portion of the package are these two little beauties, which celebrate the Boys of Summer winning it all back in 1955.

In this one we can see Jim Gilliam, a young Sandy Koufax, Campy, Jackie and Gil Hodges. 

Here's Duke Snider being met at home by Pee Wee Reese and Jimmy Gilliam. I'm not sure who the guy on the right is. 

And finally, that tchotchke I talked about at the top of the post. How sweet is this mini Eric Gagne? 

Gagne looks more like he's wearing a bandit mask than his trademark goggles, but I'm not going to nitpick this puppy. 

The base makes me think it's some kind of game piece, but I don't have a clue about its true context. 

No matter, this piece is very cool. THANKS, Paul. Great stuff! 

Aloha! 

This Was Not a Pedestrian Trade

Aloha, everybody, 

Have you seen Boston and the Red Sox getting all that negative press over the racist taunts that were thrown at Adam Jones from the Orioles? 

Regardless of whatever a few idiots at Fenway feel toward others, I'm here to say I had a very pleasant encounter of the trading kind with one Red Sox fan - Chris, the Pedestrian Collector. 

The Dude abides new coast-to-coast trade partnerships! 

Just the other day there was a "name someone you don't remember playing for your team" theme running on Twitter. Someone mentioned Jim Thome and the Dodgers. Here's proof that actually happened...

Marc from Remember the Astrodome sent a couple of MLB debut cards (Duke Snider and Piazza) to me, and this Koufax makes three...

Now I need Kershaw, Jackie and Fernando to complete the Dodgers part of the set. 

I know Nomar first made his mark playing in Boston, but he's a Dodger to me. I'm kinda hoping Chris is a purist who only wants cards of Nomar as a Red Sox, and all his Dodgers cards will find their way to Los Angeles and my humble collection...

Flair made some of the most beautiful cards to come out of the early 90s, and here's one of 'em...

Would you like another Fernando card, sir? Yes, please. 

Pitcher hitting alert! Bonus: Lurking friendly confines. 

With these stacks, one year's team set is complete...

And another is kicked off with a starter set...

It's been said that every grand trade, at least with a Dodgers fan, should include a little bitta Brooklyn. Let's add to that - every grand trade in general should include something you didn't know you wanted, until you received it. 

Exhibit A:

Very simple and not the real deal, but these ticket stub reproductions just work. First up is one for Game 7 from the 1952 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers. 

This one completes the connection between Boston and Brooklyn fans. It commemorates August 22, 1948, the date behind one of Jackie Robinson's signature stealing home plays...

Here's the play...



I'm sure Jackie heard some crap language coming from the stands when the Dodgers played the Boston Braves, just as Adam Jones experienced last night, over 50 years after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier. 

The cynic in me says we'll always have to contend with the ignorant and hateful, even 100 years from now. 

But my inner optimist keeps me hopeful because we'll always have cool and open-minded folks like Chris bringing us together through common interests and shared experiences. It's simple, but grand. 

Just like stealing home. Just like trading amongst friends. 

PS: Here's my latest LA Dodger Report video, with a beer review for Dayslayer from Stone Brewing...

Aloha! 

1997 UD Jewels Part 2

Aloha, everybody, 

In the last post I said we would be taking a look at the inserts from this set, but I over-spoke, because I don't really have many inserts from the set. Certainly not the big-time inserts. 

Back then - just as now - it was hard as heck for me to pull the huge names and the big money inserts out of packs. 

What I do have to show are some of the base subsets and a few inserts. So those will have to do for our purposes. Let's get started with some of the tribute cards from the base set.

Subsets from this era, like Defensive Gems, rock because the checklists are full of HOFers.  

The drawback for our blogpost is the mirrored finishes that were popular back in the day don't reproduce very well on our scanners. 

On the other hand, those reflective and shiny cards still look beautiful in my hands 20 years later. 

For fans of the Wizard of Oz, here's one more. This one is from the Final Tribute subset...

The caption says this is 6/19/96, when Ozzie announced his retirement. 

Here comes more shiny in real life, but dark on the blog. This is from the Star Rookies inserts. Back then foil was used by almost every set. The foil shield here reads Major League Debut. 

Here's the back. How about Nomah with a single line of stats? They're his rookie year totals. 

Another Major League Debut card. I like Erstad, and dig this photo contrasted against the mirror finish, so he makes it into the post. 

Highlights was another subset filled with HOFers...

It's dark, but the caption reads " Paul Molitor joins the 3,000 hit club on 9/16/96". 

Here's the back of the Highlights cards. Kenny Lofton was very popular back then. The card honors the day he stole his 300th base... 

We'll close this out quick today because the Dodgers are playing the Yankees now. Time to focus on that. 

Speaking of Dodgers vs Yankees, today's final card will go to one of the biggest figures from the old LAD-NYY rivalry...

 Tommy's sayin', "I'll bet my '35 Seasons of Dodger Stadium' sleeve patch that damn Reggie threw his damn hip into the path of the damned ball!" 

Next time: More subsets

Aloha! 

Zippy Zappings come in Vintage As Well

Aloha, everybody, 

Here's  the final installment of cards that came in the awesome package that Zippy Zappy sent to me.

When ZZ wrote his post about the cards I sent to him, he joked that I probably send him so many cards because I just want to keep him in cardboard debt to me. 

After this Zippy Zapping, I owe ZZ big time!

He chipped off another chunk from my chase for the 1974 Topps Dodgers...

The immortal Tommy John. Sure, half the pitchers on your team have had the surgery named after him, but I was lucky enough to grow up watching him pitch. Ol' TJ was probably my first favorite southpaw pitcher, as Sandy Koufax was before my time. 
 

Here's Billy Buck showing how to NOT field a grounder. Sloppy in Spring Training leads to sloppy in the World Series. Right, Bucky? 
 

I don't remember too much about Ken McMullen. I suspect not too many other people do, as well. 
 

Good ol' Fergie, who I used as a trivia question to stump Stu Nahan in a radio contest and win breakfast at home plate with Tommy Lasorda on Opening Day.
 

 Looks like Joshua is nursing a sore wrist. 

 Loving this Walter Alston card. He was the first Dodger manager in my life, and I can't have too many cards of the skipper. 

Speaking of skippers...

"Look ma, no toothpick."

 Here's one that Matt might appreciate...or dislike???

 I don't know how I missed adding the following card to the previous posts that featured younger players, but luckily I noticed it still sitting in my scans folder, and here it is, better late than never...

 2013 Bowman Sterling Prospect Chris Anderson Auto! 

Anderson is a two million dollar bonus baby, who is now pitching for my local Rancho Cucamonga branch in the Dodgers' minors. 

Finally, a card that traveled - apparently by accident - to ZZ when I put together my previous package for him.

Welcome home, Nomar. 

And THANKS for all these great cards, ZZ. I had a blast opening the package, and adding them to their various new places in binders and team sets. Now I'm in cardboard debt to you.

Aloha!

Grand Blarney Stone Of Trade Bait - Boston Irish Red Sox

Happy St. Party - oops - I mean, Happy St. Patty's day, everybody,

Bringing the Irish vibe is the city of Boston...

Freddy Lynn in the cornah!

PEDRO !!

Rock those front choppahs, Rocket.

The Kid. 'Nuff said. 

Nooooo-Maaahhhhhh !!

Thanks for stopping by!