Social Distancing Diary with Baseball Cards #7

Aloha, everybody,

Today we check out non-Dodgers rookie cards and game-used relics.

Enjoy and aloha!

This Dodgers-Giants Connection Almost Made My Head Explode

Aloha everybody,

I learned something today while watching the Dodgers and Braves game. 

Dodgers broadcaster Charlie Steiner dropped a piece of Clayton Kershaw trivia that I never before knew.

 See that number on Kid K's back? Number 22.  

Most hard-core Dodger fans know Kershaw's number without being shown a baseball card, but how many people know the connection between that 22 on his back and the hated Giants?

He wears it because of this man...

That's right. Kershaw wears the same number worn by Will Clark, because Clark was his favorite player growing up. That's gotta partially explain why Kershaw is a pretty good hitter.

Ordinarily I would have dropped my drink upon hearing the best player on the Dodgers wears his number to honor a hated Giant, but in a deep rivalry that sometimes goes beyond the lines of sports and crosses into tragedy, I was pleased to know the Dodgers and Giants have this positive connection. 

Besides, I can't fault Kershaw for choosing to honor the man who was my favorite player on that team of rivals as well.

At least, I can thank the Big Dodger in the Sky that being a pitcher, Kershaw didn't choose to wear this guy's number..

Trade Me (Almost) Anything For These: Giants (Booooooooo!)

Hey everybody,

Happy weekend!  Here comes another new feature for ATBATT - it's the "Trade Me (Almost) Anything" post. 

************************************************************************************************************************************************
Here's how it works:  In each post I'll offer cards from one particular ballclub.  I'm starting the offer at 9 cards, since 9 is what fits onto my scanner plate, and I can comfortably shoot 9 cards to you in a PWE. 

What do I want in return?  I'll accept whatever and however many cards you want to shoot back. It doesn't have to be 9 cards in return and they don't have to be all Dodgers.  My only request is you check out my "What I collect" or "Sets I'm chasing" pages here and use them as guides.

Once again, you don't have to match me for numbers of cards or perceived monetary value.  Say I send you 9 cards and you send me 1insert or vintage card.  Cool!

The intent here is simply to  TRADE, BABY, TRADE!
************************************************************************************************************************************************

Simple, right?  Since the Dodgers are currently playing the evil giants - and currently tied 9-9 in the 9th inning - here comes the first 9 cards.  As Vinny might well say, "Nines are wild!"

This one is from the Cards Your Mother Threw Out set.  It's not the original back.

THANKS for reading, everybody!

Binder Page Heroes Rookie Cards(Not) Part 3

Welcome to the third and final installment for this edition of my binder page filled with early cards from some of my favorite players who are not Dodgers.  I've got another binder page full of early issues from different players, but I think I'll hold off on posting that one for a while.  I'm feeling like I want to change things up a bit, and riff on a different topic next.

It so happened to work out that these final three players are all featured on other California teams, two being Western division rivals.  And away we go...

Leading off is Reggie, and his third-year card.  His RC is in '69 topps, and I just haven't had a chance to find it available (i.e., affordable, but not mangled).

with apologies to Nick, from Dime Boxes, who just posted that every scan on his blog must pass the 'perfect' test (a scanning quirk).  My scan here is kinda blurry, but I'm moving onward.  Perhaps my quirk is accepting mediocre scans. 

 I mentioned that Reggie's RC has been unavailable up to this point, but his second year card isn't even on my radar screen.  That's because it sits within '70 topps, which I consider one of the ugliest, yet simultaneously boring releases of all time.  I have no desire to chase cards with those dulled-out grey borders.

Check out the beauty above.  I dig this card for so many reasons.  First of all,  '71 topps is a great set, sporting those black borders.  Here we get Reggie kneeling on deck, holding two bats.  Just as Phil Bechtel pointed out with the Molitor card in Part 2,  Reggie looks like a freakin' kid.   And how can you not love that sweeping arm on his middle initial 'M'?

Next up is Tony Gwynn.  I wish I had his RC, but haven't been able to nail one down yet.  Till then, his second-year issue will do...

Tony poses here showing all the confidence of a guy who just knows what a cool baseball career  lies ahead of him.  It might also be the satisfaction of polishing off the last slice of a double dish, Chicago style pizza.

As we get a gander at the final Hero, I need to say two things first.  It's a finally a rookie card! and...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!

Will the Thrill.  Sure, he played for the hated ones, but he was always one of the respected ones.  I loved having Will Clark as an opponent.   He played a helluva game, swung a fearsome bat, and despite a smile that only a mother could love on the RC above, Will always wore badass eye black on the field to go along with his equally badass scowl.

Will Clark will forever remind me of the no holds barred, baseball wars of the Dodgers vs the enemy at candlestick park.  Good times. 

THANKS for reading, everybody!