My Cardboard Lawyer Sent me Cards, but I Wish He'd Sent Advice

Aloha, everybody, 

Indulge me, please, while I cover two subjects in one post, and ask a "What would you do?" question at the end. 

First up, my cardboard lawyer, Tony from Off Hiatus, sent a fistful of 2018 Topps Dodgers to me. He's been sending team cards to a lot of us, and I'm lucky enough to have been included in his generosity. 

We'll check out my favorite cards individually, while I tell you about the collecting conundrum I found myself in at the card show yesterday. 

So I was perusing a box of cards at my favorite dealer's table yesterday, while a guy flipped through a binder beside me. He slelected his cards and asked about a Cal Ripken Jr. RC that was also in the binder. My ears perked up. A Ripken rookie card was one of the holy grails when I first got into the game, and I still don't have one. 

Joc Pederson hit a grand slam on Opening Day 2017, setting the pace for one of the greatest Dodgers seasons I've ever experienced. So glad they made that moment Joc's card. From the look on Joc's face, he was as surprised as any of us! 

So the dealer wanted $8 for the Ripken. I didn't get a close look at condition, but it looked pretty good from my spot. They both looked at it, and commented it was in pretty good shape. Another dealer who was there took a look and said it had a small crease, but it wasn't easy to see. 

I also dig this shot of my favorite Dodgers southpaw, Rich Hill. This shot really captured Hill's unique "leg sweep" finish. 

The guy was hem-hawing about the price, so the dealer dropped it to $6. Now I was definitely interested. The guy kept going back and forth, agonizing over buying the card. I told myself I wanted it if he walked away, but he wasn't exactly walking away. 

It took all my discipline to not butt into the conversation. I also didn't want to let on that I was interested, lest that drive the guy to buy it. 

The guy put the card back into the binder. I thought about jumping in, but some kinda cardboard etiquette kept me from bulling in. 

The guy took out his wallet. He counted his money and sloooowly put the money and wallet away. Again I wondered if I should jump in. I didn't. 

Love this awesome Alex Wood throwback card. 

The guy finally walked away. I thought, "Here I go." No more than three steps away, the guy turned back to the table and the binder. Should I have jumped in and said something? 

Here are some horizontals...

The guy looked at the card and his money again. Finally he committed and took the card. 

The dealer later told me I should have jumped in when he first put it down, and maybe I should have - but I just didn't feel right crashing in while the guy obviously wanted the card and he was there first. 

For all I know, I would have inspected the card and scoffed at the price myself, which was another reason I didn't just jump and say "I'll take it!" 

That said, it seemed like a good price for a card that I see from time to time and is almost always overpriced for the condition. So I kinda feel like this was the Ripken RC that got away. 

What would you all have done? (Thanks for the great team cards, Tony. I needed you at my side to advise me on that situation) 

Aloha! 

How to Destroy Wishlists - Part Two

Aloha, everybody, 

In my last post I showed off the utter carpet bombing that Tony from Off Hiatus Baseball Cards laid upon my cardboard wishlists.  

1958 Topps Boss and Power - Nuff said.

 See that cardboard work of art there? That was the totally unexpected, atomic-powered, surprise that Tony dropped in my package along with everything else. 

Lots of times I would have held the blockbuster card until later in the post, but this one is just too good on several levels. 

First of all, Jedi Master and eagle-eye, Jeff from 2x3 Heroes immediately spotted it and mentioned it in the comments for Part One. Jeff got me to thinking it's simply too good a card to hold off on until later. 

Something I figure the Supertraders will be focused on is the latest, limited edition, autographed on card, hits that are out there. Nothing wrong with that. I dig that stuff too. 

But a hefty portion of my collecting heart loves vintage. Needs vintage. I gotta have that vintage. 

I've seen and coveted that Boss and Power card since my earliest days of crawling the card shows; it's price always a bit out of reach (or overvalued, IMO). 

And then Tony dropped that elusive, vintage, white whale into my package as an extra. KA-BLAMMO! I won't forget it, and I'm going to make it a point to do just like that in future packages for others whenever I can. 

I know, that was a lot of words for one card, but vintage Dodgers are always worth it. Here are some other favorites from that package...

Night Owl recently showed off a spittoon-full of chaw chewin' ballplayers. It appears Mr. Weiss has a jawful himself. Or early mumps? He also appears to be sporting the same ridiculous eyeglass frames I wore in high school. 

Come on, who don't like cards of Tommy laying down the law?  
 

 Boomer's big swing...

No logo? No problem. Murray's no-nonsense mustache is the logo here...
 

I never even knew this card of future World Series hero, Mickey Hatcher existed. He looks like a young Danny Aiello here. This was a very cool surprise. 
 

A beautiful card of Scioscia in action. Note the "Yeager-protector" dangling off the mask. All catchers wore that following a near-tragic accident when a broken, jagged bat slashed Boomer Yeager's throat. 

How about a card featuring two heroes from the 1981 World Series? 
 

Tony's Wantlist Crushing Machine also attacked PC Ron Cey wishlists...

"Oscar Gamble who?"

  
More excellent surprises in the form of Fernando cards...

Three years after the World Series and Pedro was still tearing it up...
 

 Thanks again for that wonderful package, Tony. My collection just took a big step forward. 

Aloha!

You Don't Need a Patch on Your Arm to be a #Supertrader

Aloha, everybody, 

The venerable Night Owl mused yesterday about the weekend being a deadzone for the blogosphere.  

He said, "People don't read blogs much on the weekend, and on Sundays during football, it's almost pointless to put something up..."

I always figured there was a  steady group of readers who hit the blogs with a brew on casual Saturday nights or with pancakes and coffee on lazy Sunday mornings, and those would be busy times.  

But then again, I don't analyze my blog traffic as much as I should.

Night Owl is usually right when it comes to the tools of the blogging trade, so perhaps he's right once again. 

All of that said, I'm certainly hoping there will be a healthy audience for this post, because the blogger who made it possible, Tony L from Off Hiatus Baseball Cards deserves everybody to hear the trumpets blare for the outstanding package fulla Dodgers cardboard that he sent to me this week. 

 Tony is a member of the Supertraders group, but the twist in the story here is I am not. 

One would think Tony's hands are full supertrading with the big boys, but he's such a Super-Duper, Kick-Ass trader that he also found the time and energy to put together an awesome stack of cardboard for little ol' me. 

You see, a couple of weeks ago, I set new collecting goals and posted wantlists for Dodger teamsets. Tony took note, reached for his "Wantlist Crushing Machine" and went to work. The results were cardboard shock and awe.

1978 Topps: Wantlist slashed in half with one stroke! 

1979 Topps: Crushed! Only 3 left. 
 

 1980 Topps: Wantlist decimated!! Only one card left to go.

1981 Fleer: Wantlist ninja'd in half!

 1982 Topps: Wantlist COMPLETED!  Absolutely destroyed! I can't scan all these. This stack's volume would blow my scanner's circuits.

1983 Topps: Tommy sez, "This wantlist is wiped out like I used ta wipe out postgame buffets." (Only two left) 

 1984 Topps: Wantlist sledgehammered! COMPLETED!

I would be doing all of this primo Dodgers cardboard a disservice if I didn't single out a few favorites to show you all. So tune in tomorrow and check out Part Two to see those. 

However, before we do that, here's a little something for those of you who caught what this post's title alludes to. It comes from a line in one of my all-time favorite movie endings...

That scene always, always hits me - just like Tony hit those wantlists.

Ten-Hut! There's a Supertrader on the blogs! 

Aloha! 

I'm Off Hiatus Long Enough To Post Some Vintage Dodgers

Aloha everybody,

Tony from Off Hiatus Baseball Cards recently sent an AWESOME package of vintage Dodgers to me - which combined with the other cards in my collection, brought me very close to completing the team set from the 1977 Dodgers. 

He sent so many Dodgers, I can fan 'em out like a winning poker hand...

Here are a few of my individual favorites from the bunch. Let's lead off with a couple of the Dodger aces from that squad...
 

"Hi everybody. They named a surgery after me."

 

 Lopes was the team's base-stealing specialist. In '75 he stole a career high 77 bases. In 1977 he stole 47, with an 80% success rate. 

Today Lopes is the Dodgers' first base coach. I'm sure he wonders daily where the Dodgers' running game ran off to. 

 Speaking of specialists, Manny Mota was the greatest pinch-hitter I ever saw; he might be the best ever, for any team. 

 Good ol' Boomer - one of the friendliest guys on the post-career appearance and autograph circuit. Yeager is genuinely friendly and a pleasure to speak with. 

How about this great old-time "in action" shot?  Check out the scoreboard in the background: It looks like the Giants have double digit hits, but Wills is stealing bases and getting the Dodgers rally going! 

Below is another fistful of cards that were in the package...

But Tony wasn't satisfied to just send me team cards; He also included this vintage, oddball gem...

I always think of Roebuck as a Brooklyn Dodger, so it was a nice surprise to get something from him when he was an LA Dodger. 

As I mentioned earlier, Tony got me within four cards of completion for the '77 team set. If anyone out there can help me complete it, here are the four I need: 

 Stan Wall #88
John Hale #253
Kevin Palsey #470
Steve Garvey #400

 THANKS for the great cards, Tony!
Aloha! 

ATBATT's Blog Recommendation Of The Day

And now fellow bloggers and beloved readers, it's time to add a GREAT NEW FEATURE to this humble little blog.

Presented for your enjoyment,

The Blog Recommendation Of The Day 

Of course I'm not going to read every blog on my Righteous Roll every day and then make some kind of critical and educated choice.  I probably read the blogs much like you do - I read a few because they're my favorites, and I read others based on topic, introductory photo or catchy title.  Unfortunately, how much free time I have available that day influences my choices way too much. 

Even though Sir Night Owl and Prince Nick of Dime Boxes are among our greatest writers, some days my window for online fun is limited and I just don't have the time to read all that wonderful cardboard-inspired prose.  Heck, sometimes I barely have time to check on my team's standings and whether or not I snagged anything from the Pack A Daily Circus .

All of that said, the Recommendation Of The Day will be picked from whatever blogs I happened to read on said day.  

Criteria: It's the most enlightening, intriguing and/or witty post I've come across that day.  In other words, I've found a post so cool, it should be shared with others whom I trust will be equally entertained as I was.  

The First Ever 

Blog Recommendation Of The Day:

The Chronicles Of Fuji

Chosen for three reasons. Master Collector Fuji reveals he is truly beyond redemption as a committed collector, he offers up a question that's intriguing, and it gives you an opportunity for entry into his contest. 

Honorable Mention 

(won't be a regular feature, but works today):

Off Hiatus Baseball Cards

Before clicking on that, you gotta ask yourself one question...

How often do you hear Clint Eastwood singin' a barn door git to drinkin' song? 

Well, is it often, punk?

I'm Always Off Hiatus When It Comes To Great Trades

Hey Everybody,

As a result of the Grand Salami Of Trade Bait series, I was able to connect with Tony L. and his very cool blog, Off Hiatus Baseball Cards.  Tony bit on some Ryan Braun trade bait and the rest is cardboard history.  Tony's a Brewers fan and a fantastic trade partner, so be sure to shoot some Younts, Molitors and vintage Brewers over his way.

BTW - Tony wrote a great post with the cards I sent his way, weaving a mash up of cardboard and music from my rock n' roll tastes.  Tony, you've inspired me to riff off of your post and there'll be a mash up of my own coming soon.

Before that, let's get to these newest additions to my collection.  Apparently Tony and I both had a similar influence in our card-collecting educations; the importance of "Condition, condition, condition" was evident as I opened the trade package he sent...

These 3-D stars are great minis, but I rarely see any in as great a condition as this Dusty Baker.  It looks like it came out of the box yesterday. 

Speaking of miiiiiinnnnnniiiiiiis, here's a mini Goudey.  I'm not usually a collector of minis, but I'm a sucker for numbered and limited editions.  This one is 18/34.  SWEET!

You can never go wrong with shooting me a card of the Garv. Never mind the chop job on the bottom, that was my faulty scanning.  Once again, this 82 Fleer sings the praises of condition.  The surface and gloss are fantastic. 
Hey Nick, how about that great bat barrel shot?  Hey GCRL, how about that arm patch?

As much as I adhere to the Dodgers-Giants rivalry, on occasion, I have to rewire my thinking when ex-Giants switch sides and don the Dodger Blue.  It's certainly easier to do when the player contributes and makes it easy to be a fan. 

It's easy with Juan Uribe, in the past it was easy with Jeff Kent, and before him, it was easy with Brett Butler.  Butler was a pretty good lead off batter and base stealer for the Dodgers. That said, this card shows Butler learned his trade from the Giants and not the Dodgers.  Maury Wills teaches any lead off the base that does not require you to dive back, isn't really a lead at all.  

Did I mention I appreciate vintage that is in good condition?  (Never mind those little splotchy marks on Alston's uni - it's just time to clean the scanner).  Actually, this Walter Alston card is much closer to Ex-Mt condition.  Very nice, indeed. 

Enough with the non-players.  Here's Kenley Jansen, who's discovered the mix of off-speed pitches and 98 mph fastballs makes him a force to contend with in the 9th inning.

While we're on the subject of pitchers to contend with, I'll close out with the greatest pitcher the Dodgers ever had, and just maybe, the best pitcher the game ever saw...

Nuff said.

Thanks for an awesome trade, Tony.  Looking forward to the next one.