Card Show Haul

Aloha, everybody, 

Everyone loves personal time. Personal time plus spending money is even better. When this combination falls my way, I love to hop in the car and drive out to the Saturday card show. I was lucky enough to do that a couple of times last month, and I'd like to show some of the cards I came upon while I was out. 

Leading off is a quick pick up of my favorite dual sport athlete. Step aside, Tim Tebow...

 Back in the 90s, when Donruss used to be able to show logos, they were my favorite brand. One reason was their inserts. I loved chasing - and catching those inserts. One of my favorites was Press Proofs. 

While browsing the dealer boxes I came upon this Press Proof, numbered 64/199. I picked it up with Matt in mind, but if Matt doesn't want/need it, I'll be happy to pass it on to someone else, or add it to my (very small) press proof collection...

Here's a new addition to my defunct teams collection. This comes from a 1962 oddball release...

I tried to come up with a "shadow shot" interpretation for the card, but I only drew a blank. I suppose I would fail a psychiatrist's ink blot test as well. 

Coming up is one that I've seen around and been chasing for a while. Finally, I've got my own copy of the Flying Spikes card...

These next two will notch two more off my vintage Dodgers team sets. First up from 1958 Topps is Don Bessent. I can't believe I'm down to 11 needed for this year...

I've still got a long way to go for 1959, but Mr. Kipp chips one more away. 

Check out his signature. It reminds me of my father's autograph. My father was a southpaw that the army forced to be a right-hander. He always signed like that afterward...

I don't usually pick up Fleer from this era, but I hadda have this one for a lotta reasons...

Sure, it's a little chewy, but what vintage lover would not love this Zinzinatti vintage? From 1960 Topps...

 Here are a couple more Dodgers for the team sets...

These are for my World Series subsets, and I'm now just two cards shy of completion for the 1971 WS...

Finally, this guy...

I couldn't resist those glasses, and he fits right into my Defunct Teams collection, so I snatched it up. 

I also picked up some surprises for a couple of my trade partners, but they're surprises, so you won't see them today. 

Enjoy your weekends, everybody, wherever you may be. 

Aloha! 

Without Communication, Who Are We?

Aloha, everybody, 

I've spent today in an email chain trying to solve a puzzle. Different people (who could be referred to as teammates of mine) are giving me contradictory answers to the same seemingly simple question. 

On top of all that, I'm trying to get to the bottom of this in a way that won't offend anybody, all the while knowing some fundamental communication between us teammates would have prevented this in the first place. *sigh*

Of all sports, baseball seems to be the most reliant upon communication between teammates. It takes place on a number of levels, mid-game and even mid-play, using words and coded body language. Nowhere is this more evident than the constant non-verbal communications between a pitcher and his catcher. 

I dug into my binders today and pulled out a few random pitchers, curious about who they spent their time communicating with. The results surprised me. 

 Hall of Famer Jim Palmer pitched for the Orioles for 19 years, and won more games than anyone else through the 70's. In checking on his past battery mates I discovered a former Dodger, Rick Dempsey. 

 Dempsey was behind the plate for eight of Palmer's shutouts. That's certainly some top-notch communicating. 

Note Dempsey sporting a 40th anniversary Vero Beach (Spring Training) patch. 

The next pitcher I pulled from my binder was Phil "Knuckleballer" Niekro. 

 Niekro also threw to a former Dodgers catcher, Johnny Oates. 

More great communicating took place, as Oates caught two of Niekro's shutouts. Although I suspect Johnny simply held up the "knuckleball" sign 90% of the time. 

Here comes another great pitcher from the past (with a lurking Mets coach, who was probably communicating with the batter)...

I was amused by this Carlton being caught by a different Carlton - Fisk. 

Amazingly (?), Steve Carlton also was caught by Oates and Dempsey. 

I then pulled Eck...

 Who did he communicate with? Steve Carlton's battery mate, Carlton Fisk - for four shutouts. 

Eckersly was the only one of these pitchers who did not have a Dodger for a catcher, but the final pitcher of the post...

...returns us a battery mate who, you know it, also caught for the Dodgers...

From team to team, across divisions and seasons, they communicated with wig-wagging fingers, and now we honor them with our fingers wig-wagging across keyboards. 

Aloha!

Grand Salami Of Trade Bait: Fistful of Philidelphia Phillies

Hey everybody,

Here come the fightin' Phillies...

Did somebody order up some grit?

Did somebody order up some glitter?

All-Star Rookie Cup

How about Kruky VS Gibby !

Did somebody order up some PEDs?

Did somebody order up some swag?

Anybody order vintage?

Thanks for stopping by!

My Contest Win Is Your Trade Bait Win

Hey everybody,

I'm happy to report that I recently won a contest from Chunter, that cool cat over at Chipp 'n' Dale.  Actually, I didn't win-win, as Tenets of Wilson took first place and I hit third.  However, my prize package was chock full of sweet trade bait, which included one extra sweet hit - which you'll soon see. 

The prize was a bundle of various inserts. I kept a couple of the cards for myself (a Babe Ruth and Carl Yaztremski), but otherwise, all the rest are up for grabs in trade.  They should appeal to subset chasers as well as collectors of individual players.  Let's check 'em out.

Starting off with Gold Futures...

American League hopefuls from the Least Coast and the Best Coast

Here come some Golden Moments inserts...

Keeping with the gold theme, next up are some shiny golden parallels..

My Man Inside Dodger Stadium dropped a very interesting Brandon League story on me over the weekend, which unfortunately I can't repeat here.  Suffice it to say, I won't look at him the same way again.

What's that you say? You want yet even more gold?  Sure thing, readers and trade partners.  I bring you..

But collectors can't survive on gold alone.  We also need....miiiiiiiinnnnnniiiiiiiis!!!

Anybody out there chasing every Yu Darvish card produced?

And finally, the last card I saw when I opened my package.  The card that earns Chunter the moniker of "One Cool Cat".

When I first spied this card, I was tempted to keep it for myself, but I got to thinking perhaps there's someone out there who will appreciate this card even more than me.

Presenting my awesome prize topper....

BLAMMO !!

There you have it. Some great trade bait from a great contest.  Thanks, Chunter!

Thanks for reading, everybody.