P-Town Tom Turned ATBATT Into T-Town (Trade Town)

Aloha everybody,

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! 

Aloha! 

Project Cardboard Launches - And A Second Call Out

Aloha everybody, 

Today Wallet Card and I stepped out to the post office and we fired off the opening salvo of Project Cardboard. 

In addition to the zip codes I listed before...these destinations can soon expect a Koufax PWE heater bomb....

10707
60657
70062
72758
48105
63303

And now for the second call out to three blogs for which I have PWE bombs awaitin', but no address to mail them out to...

Battlin' Bucs 
This Way To The Clubhouse and 
$30 A Week Habit

It seems they * shudder * don't read my blog, so they are not seeing my shout-outs. 

If you know these folks and you're in contact with them, help us to make a blogger connection and let them know I'm trying to include them in Project Cardboard.  

The bubble mailer assault awaits....

Aloha! 

Is Your Blog's Name On One Of These PWE's? And More...

Aloha everybody,

Project Cardboard is underway. 

As I mentioned before, I'm getting a stack of PWE and bubble mailers ready for sending out. Although I have some ready to go, I've run into a couple of snags on some others. 

Snag #1: I have 8 envelopes stuffed and ready to go, but they lack home addresses. Check your email inboxes, because I've sent emails out requesting those addresses. 

Snag #2: There were 2 emails that got bounced back to me and one blog that I can't find any email address for. Here are the envelopes for those...

The blogs are:

Battlin' Bucs, 

This Way to the Clubhouse and 

Tenets of Wilson.

If one of those is your blog, all you gotta do is shoot an email to me with a home address, and I'll shoot that envelope out to you. 

Here's the "and more" part...

There are a number of folks whom I did have all the info for, and your PWE's are ready to go out. Here are the zipcodes:

30350

61615

60657

71857

91320

75201

I'll be heading out to the post office Tuesday or Thursday of next week - expect a PWE shortly after that. 

Hopefully those of you whom I sent emails to will have replied, and I'll be adding your PWE's to that batch as well.

I'll be putting together the bubble mailer portion of  Project Cardboard next week.  

Aloha!

Cardboard Diamonds Arrive From The King

Hey everybody,

There were a couple of good things in store for me on Friday.  One was attending my first Dodger game of the year, which I documented with photos in my previous post.   The second pleasant happenstance was receipt of an awesome PWE blaster from The Diamond King.  

 Kevin read my collector's mind when he packed this envelope with these cardboard diamonds...

Above is a great SSPC card of Number 20, out at old Shea Stadium.

Below is a FANTASTIC addition !  I totally dig these vintage subsets commemorating past playoffs and especially World Series'.

Here we see the 1969 Amazin' Mets chugging their way to ultimately becoming World Series Champs.  Ken Boswell crosses the plate as Art Shamsky (24) and big Ed Kranepool (7) ready themselves to give him high fives.

However, I'm not sure a high five would have been the home plate greeting in '69.  While "gimme five" was in use, back then it was usually practiced belt high, not sky high.  I'm also guessing shaking hands at the plate was still in fashion with the majority of ballplayers.

 Lookit this!  It's Richie Hebner vs. Ty Cline in another great black and white action card. It's the 1970 Playoffs between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Zinzinatti Reds.  Awesomeness.

Here's the backside.  I love it when these rosters read like a roll call at the baseball hall of legends. 

How about some more cool Dodger cards...

This is a great new addition to my Manny Mota collection.  Is that Candlestick Park in the background?

I had a lot of favorite Dodgers over the years.  Wes Parker was the first.  Parker once had a cameo on The Brady Bunch.  

I'm digging the old-time Dodger Stadium outfield wall and folks sunburning - errr, sunbathing -  in the pavilion. Those tickets used to be $2 back in the day.  

 Speaking of old-time Dodger Stadium, here's a great shot of the seats in the colors that I grew up with.  We never talked about sitting in Reserved Section or Top Deck.  We spoke in terms of sitting in the blue, red or yellow seats. 

Also included in the shot are a bunch of Dodger greats.  Along with Alston the skipper, the team photo features The Infield (GCLR), Manny Mota, Don Sutton, Willie Crawford, Ferguson and Yeager.  

Great stuff, Kevin !  Thanks so much.  I'll get back at you with some nice stuff once again.

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....