Aloha, everybody, It's warm out here in Dodger town today. I sure hope the rest of you all are thawing into enjoyable levels of snow ("enjoyable" being a relative term, I'm sure). I received a happy little PWE the other day from P-Town Tom, who runs the blog,Waiting till Next Year. Let's check out what he sent way out west. Leading off is my favorite slug - not slugging - just slug shortstop, Jose Offerman...
On good days, we referred to him as Jose Awfulman. That said, no matter Jose 0-for-man's shortcomings, he was no match for the utter uselessness of this guy.
Hamilton was a classic smoke and mirrors player who would suck for a few weeks and then have a good few games, fooling everyone into thinking he was a legit major leaguer. Then he would repeat the cycle. Aha, here we go. A real player. Fernando, sporting a rarely seen on cardboard, mustache and five-o-clock shadow...
Speaking of rarely-seen mustaches, I present Jim Neidlinger, who was up for less than a cup of coffee. It was more like a shot of espresso.
Neidlinger appeared in only 12 games, but he left the majors with a decent record of 5-3, and 3.23 ERA. They must have snapped this pic on the day he realized his career was over...way too soon. Next up, Tom's eagle eye spotted a current Dodger in his college days. O'Brien was picked up from the Rangers and he's currently in AA ball. We'll see what 2017 holds in store...
Finally, an autograph. Most times I get an autos just like the kind you get, I'm sure. You know, a star or prospect, or the kid who never made it. That would have been easy. This time good ol' P-Town sent me the first auto of this type for my collection. This is an autograph from one of the most infamous Dodgers ever, who threw one of the most infamous pitches ever, as the result of one of Tommy Lasorda's most infamous decisions ever...
Oh brother, that was a doozy. I still get the heebie-jeebies from that one. And now I've got this...
All-Time Fan Favorites? All-time favorite of who's fans - Jack Clark's? Ha! That said, it's kind of a cool auto to add to the collection. Not every player is a hero. Not every game ends in victory for the good guys. Like it or not, Niedenfuer is part of Dodgers postseason lore. Even if it was a painful loss that resonates to this day. Tom, I'm actually glad you included this card. It's history. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to drop this into a binder and not think about it again for a very long time. Aloha!
Good ol' P-Town Tom, he of the blog I can't pronounce, Eamus Catuli!, knows how to stuff a PWE - just fill it with Dodgers pitching. Check out this great card with great Japanese pitchers. I never thought I could appreciate a card with a Giant on it as much as this beauty...
Clayton Kershaw aside, here's my favorite Dodger southpaw with an interesting photo. Poor Fernando looks like those huevos rancheros he had for breakfast are acting up...
This is more like it...
Note to envelope stuffers...a quality PWE always contains a little bitta Brooklyn...
Thanks to Tom, I now own Chase Utley's final Dodgers (flagship) card. Next year he'll probably close out his career as a Padre...
Todd Hollandsworth was one of those Rookies of the Year who never did much afterward.
At least he got a cool baseball card, and that's not a small accomplishment - just like knowing how to stuff a PWE. THANKS for the great cards, Tom! Aloha!
I recently showed off some new trade bait, and ol' P-Town Tom jumped quick on a purple-framed Rizzo card.
A few days ago I received a package with some Dodgers goodies inside.
Shawn Green is on a lot of these cards with a floating body but no real background. He's also on a lot of those see-through cards.
Pinnacle had some nice sets featuring some of the best card photography in the industry back in the 90's. Here's a great shot of Nomo bringin' it.
Speaking of attractive sets from the 90's,1993 Flair is still one of my favorites.
Another favorite from the 90's, Mr. Piazza. I think that forlorn look on his face is because he doesn't like wearing the LA cap. Right, Michael?
Piazza's buddy from those Dodger years was Eric Karros. The card below is from Ultra-PRO. I think it's one of those that would have come inside a new binder.
This card is priceless because of Eric's ever-lovin', "Look mom, I'm lifting weights in a polo shirt" smile.
Did I say "priceless"? Apparently, this card was valued at $10. Or perhaps not. Lots of times I've slipped a card into a penny sleeve with a price tag on it, and the new card wasn't worth anything close to that price tag.
But one look at that shot of Karros with his James Bond tux has me convinced this IS the original $10 card.
They weren't all big names on the cards Tom sent me. He included a few young players as well...
I remember wanting Garcia to do well, but...he never really did.
Todd Hollandsworth was another one of the Rookies of the Year that LA pumped out year after year, but like so many ROY, nothing much happened after that initial splash. Bonus: Lurking Keith Olbermann.
Finally, how about an autograph?
Josh came up through the Dodgers farm system and earned his first big league win with the club, but LA quickly shipped him out. He went on to play for a number of teams in both leagues, and is now pitching for the Lotte Giants in south Korea. If nothing else, baseball has given him the opportunity to travel. Thanks for the fun cards, Tom. I have your Rizzo and some other cards put aside for you. I've been putting together a few trade packages, and I expect to send them out some time next week. Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, I know all of you in the states with real winter weather will probably snort and chuckle at this - but dang, it's cold here in LA tonight. As I type this, it's 48 degrees and dropping. Brrrrr! Well, if there's one thing that's guaranteed to warm up a chilly blogger's scanner, it's a PWE filled with Christmas greetings of cardboard, and one just arrived at ATBATT headquarters from P-Town Tom, the man behindWaiting 'Til Next Year. Let's see what Tom sent out to the freezing west coast from balmy Illinois...
Leading off are a couple of Dodgers from the last LA squad to win all the marbles. The card above featuring a young Bulldog and the one below with Gibby, the MVP, are from a 44-card set that Fleer put out in 1989.
This League Leaders set has an impressive checklist that already boasts 8 Hall of Famers, with more to join, I'm sure.
What a great shot of Gibson in mid-bat swirl as he sizes up the opposing pitcher. The mighty Casey, indeed. Next up is one of my favorite present-day Boys in Blue...
However, this time A-Gon is pictured wearing the red,white and green of Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
This card is a beauty, with a simple design that manages to deliver all of the relevant information on the card front without those details becoming distractions from the great player photography. This is instantly one of my favorite Gonzalez cards.
Speaking of current Dodgers, P-Town dropped in an Opening Day card of the kid who came on the scene like dynamite, only to fizzle out in the second half like a dud.
While his bat went cold like it is outside (it's now 46), his most excellent fielding speed and skills with the leather kept him in the starting lineup. Here's hoping young Joc can re-light the fuse for 2016.
Closing things out is one of my favorite mercenaries to pass through Chavez Ravine...
I can't get enough Rickey cards, especially when he's wearing a Dodgers uniform. That said, this card design leaves me a bit cold - like it is tonight!
While I like the stadium pennants running along the top, overall, the card looks like they cut and pasted Rickey onto the flag of Finland - or at least what I imagine the Finnish flag looks like. Nevertheless, it's a brand new Rickey card for my collection, and for that, I'm thankful. Besides, when we flip the card over we discover something that makes this card very appropriate for this PWE. Can you spot what it is?
Check out Rickey's birthday. That's right, it's Christmas day. Cardboard Santa strikes again! THANKS for the great cards, Tom. They're truly a great batch of winter warmers. Aloha!
This week we met quite the milestone in my home, as my youngest son graduated from high school. That's not such a big deal for many of us, but as a couple of you out there already know, my son's graduation is a true miracle, as he barely survived his own birth. So Hurrah!!! for Michael, and his super accomplishment!
Whomever first said, "Good things come in small packages", must have received a PWE from Tom (Waiting 'til Next Year) , because that small envelope was packed with cardboard goodness - of the Dodgers variety.
Let's have a look at what Tom sent my way. First up are Brooklyn Dodgers cards from1990 Pacific Baseball Legends. This is the final set that Pacific released.
Never mind Erskine's card being cut off on the left side; that's just my bad scanning. Actually, these cards are so clean and sharp, they look like they came out of packs just yesterday.
Receiving cards with these two great Brooklyn Dodgers pitchers is absolutely fantastic. Tom really nailed it with these.
Coming up next, we jump to 2014 Classics, but sticking with the Brooklyn squad, the Duke of Flatbush...
Just like an artsy movie that jumps its timeline back and forth, we leap back to the past with 1990 Swell...
I love when I get a new Steve Garvey card for my collection - as a matter of fact, all of these PWE cards are welcome new additions.
More Brooklyn Dodgers with great photos...
Let's leap back to the future with new Dodger, Jimmy Rollins...
It seems Philly got rid of Rollins just in time, as he seems to have brought everything to the Dodgers but his bat. Poor Rollins has become an automatic out and a real hole in the Dodgers' batting order.
Speaking of getting rid of guys just in time....
A ride to the 90's brings one of the great Dodgers of that era, the all-time LA Dodgers home run leader...
And Red Turn Two Turner. This is my first Turner card and it's a good 'un...
The PWE had a fantastic closer....
Vintage, well-loved Maury Wills. Nice!
The Dodgers' sports channel has a great commercial featuring Maury telling the story of how the crowds at Dodger Stadium were so loud when he was on first base, chanting, "Steal, Steal, Steal!", they could be heard in downtown LA.
The legend is folks would hear the chant and know Wills was on first. I get Dodgers goose bumps every time I hear him tell that story.
And I got baseball card goose bumps from this great PWE, Tom. THANKS a bunch!
