Aloha, everybody, Here are three PWEs I received from Johnny's Trading Spot. Sorry to say, I received these a few months ago, and I'm just now getting around to making a video about them. Sorry for the delay, John. The video may have been a long time coming, but It doesn't take anything away from the PWE contents. Let's check out the cardboard goodness within. Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, Yup, it's been a long time since I posted here. That wasn't exactly by choice, as my health took a hit and I was taken away from my online activities by more pressing matters. Anyway, I'm recovered enough to return to the Blogosphere, and thankfully, well enough to travel to Chicago for the National (and out to Wrigley Field for a game). Boy, that was a fantastic trip. Here's a video that I uploaded showing off my Brooklyn Dodgers loot from The National. Enjoy! Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, If you're not followingA Penny Sleeve for Your Thoughts, well, you just aint doin' it right. Jon runs one of my favorite blogs. Quality writing, insight, and a good variety of cards and genres (unlike those of us who tend to blog about the same team 95% of the time). Jon and I don't make specific trades, we just gather cards and send when it seems there are enough. Lately, we've begun corresponding with each other about things large and small beyond the cardboard. I told Jon that I feel like the old days when authors, artists and friends would write long letters to each other. I really love it. Anyways, you're here for the cards, right? Let's check 'em out...
Some of you might be saying to yourselves, "Hey, my browser just switched over to Bob Walk the Plank. Nope you're still in ATBATT. Jon remembered I collect Hall of Famers, and he dropped this Honus Wagner with its marvelous photo on me. Besides, I dig these Fleer Greats sets as well. Something else I chase are defunct teams like the Senators...
I have mixed feelings about Roger Craig because he later managed the hated Giants - seemingly forever. I never knew him as a Dodger, so even though he wears the Brooklyn flannels, my brain still registers him as the leader of the bad guys.
More Killer cardboard, sir? Yes, please. Mucho more...
And gimme those career stats...
Good ol' Ossie here spent his entire career with the Senators, from player to All-Star to World Series champ to coach to manager.
Did someone say I like baseball legends on cardboard? This'll do...
Now for some Dodgers. We'll go from a gorgeous old set...
...to a beautiful modern, acetate of The Tornado...
World Series Hero Mickey Hatcher! Awesome
Here come some more Konerkos. Some will say this card design is over the top, but I think it's just right. Even his cleats are getting in on the act.
Did Konerko put his jersey on upside down?
There we go, right side up again.
Speaking of ballplayers destined to be great - for another team!! Nonetheless, this card will look great in my binder.
Finally, Jon drops the extra spicy dose with some Kershaw swag! Nice!
What a great batch of cards. THANKS, Jon. I really appreciate them. Shotouts to P-Town Tom and Tom Tessier for cards recently arrived. I'll get some posts up for you soon! THANKS :) Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, Yesterday we saw the first part of highlights from the cardboard pummeling I received from good ol' Wes. We now commence with Part 2 - RELICS, SWATCHES and AUTOGRAPHS... First up is a beautiful patch card numbered 1379/1430 (14-30?). I love everything about this card, including the no-name scrub who lends his likeness to it.
This is because our scrub pitcher bookends two big trades that I remember as a Dodgers fan. First, he came to the Dodgers (along with Brian Jordan) in the trade that sent Gary Sheffield to the Braves. Second, he was quickly shipped off to Oakland for Milton Bradley. Speaking of ex-Dodgers who've been shipped off to obscurity...
Here's a very low edition, low numbered (7/36), well-designed, Triple Threads...
In a bizarro reverse situation, here comes Carl Crawford, who came to LA, and THEN found obscurity...
And now, the big boys... My first swatch from Yasiel Puig, and it's super low numbered 3/99...
I showed this one off on Twitter earlier. Number 52/99, World Series relief pitching hero, Kenta Maeda...
I absolutely love this next one. Gonzo's career may or not be over, and the haters are biting around the edges, still claiming his arrival from the Red Sox paid no dividends. Philistines! A-Gon was the iron man, with ironclad offensive numbers throughout most of his Dodgers career.
Good stuff from Wes, and we're a long ways from done. Next time: Autographs. Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, I know it's tough to watch a World Series when your team isn't involved, but if you haven't been watching, you've been missing a doozy. This one is a real dogfight - both on and off the field. There's plenty of drama. Almost too much drama for me, as the series has been a real emotional roller coaster, and after all of that, the series is right back to even at two games apiece. It's now a best two out of three series. Whew! Most of you know I love cards of World Series Heroes, and last night, in Game 4 of the Series, there arose a couple of new ones. Alex Wood, who pitched brilliantly (a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings) and Joc Pederson, who sealed the deal for the Dodgers by clubbing a 3-run home run in the ninth inning. Joc was always known for his power bat. He earned Minor League Player of the Year when he played for the Quakes.
Rookie Diamond King...
Joc hit a grand slam on Opening Day this year. Hopes were high for him to have a break out season, but as the summer opened up, Joc's season took several turns for the worse.
Since coming up from the minors two years ago, Joc was the Dodgers' center fielder. He flashed speed and a great glove in the OF, but his power numbers and BA steadily dropped. Despite that Opening Day grand slam, Joc looked lost at the plate. His playing time started to shrink.
Eventually, the Dodgers sent Joc back down to the minors and traded for Curtis Granderson. The season turned dark.
To Joc's credit, he never complained or sulked. He just put in the work and finally got called back up in September when rosters expanded. He still didn't play much. Granderson stayed in the lineup despite sucking, and Pederson stayed upbeat. If you watch Dodger games, you'll see he's a big cheerleader for the team, even as he rides the bench.
Joc was left off the NLDS roster, but Granderson's suckage increased to monumental levels, so Joc got his chance in the NLCS against the Cubs.
He got playing time and a few hits, but nothing earth-shattering. Still, it was enough for him to be included on the World Series roster.
Dave Roberts chose Pederson to be the DH over veteran Andre Ethier because he figured Joc could catch up to fastballs that Andre would miss.
How's Joc doing in his first World Series? As DH he went 3 for 9 with a double, two homers, four RBIs, and one huge deathblow that he laid on the Astros last night. Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, Welcome to another installment of Binder Page Heroes, the ATBATT series where I pull a random page from the binders to share with you. Today it's a Vintage Edition. Leading off is 1954 Bowman...
I chose "The Barber" to lead off in honor of Arpsmith. I just sent a PWE to his California address, but it turns out he's moved to Kansas. I'm hoping he'll see this Giants card, click on my post, and read this note: Keep an eye out for a forwarded PWE, and send me your new address! What am I gonna do with all my unwanted Giants cards? Back to The Barber. Maglie earned his nickname from his brush back pitches which were close enough to give you a shave. He's the only pitcher to have played for all three of the golden age New York clubs (Yankees, Giants and Dodgers). As a Dodger he pitched a no-hitter at Ebbits Field and was the Dodgers' pitcher when Don Larsen pitched his perfect game in the World Series. Bonus: Maglie has a stadium in Niagara Falls, NY named after him! Enough with the Giants. Moving on to 1952 Bowman...
Great art and the cardboard's in great shape. Yes, I still love you when you're 64. (There's a Beatles reference for Defgav.) Here's a '62 Topps that shows those Angels have been claiming LA for a long, long time...
I keep this '65 Topps card around because of the large Senators pennant. Gotta have at least one of these in my collection. I just wish I had one from a better Senators player. How about a Cub who went on to be a World Series Hero for the Dodgers, and then returned to the Cubs...
Johnson, an ex-Kansas City Monarch, hit two home runs in Game 7 of the 1965 World Series to clinch the championship for the Dodgers over the Twins. Topps gave him his own card for this feat, which is also in my collection. Sweet Lou is still around and frequently participates in pre-game ceremonies at Dodger Stadium with former players. I saw him once in the stands and he signed a baseball for me. He even signed "Sweet Lou Johnson". 1957 Topps...
7x All-Star and 2x AL Batting champ, but he's a Red Sox. Here's another Washington Senator, this time on 1959 Topps...
Since Fidel's been in the news lately, it's worth a mention that Pedro hailed from Cuba. Here's card #1 from 1960 Topps...
One of the great AL pitchers in the 50's, Wynn is another ex-Senator. Last up is a card from the Milwaukee Braves.
From the back of the card: Red won the 1950 All-Star game with a home run in the 14th inning. It seems collecting cards from defunct teams is another facet of my collecting that I never properly realized until this post. I've happily just added hundreds more cards to my collecting goals. Aloha!
Aloha, everybody, Not only is it Saturday (TODAY!)...it's also the 45th birthday of one of my favorite albums of all time.
So let's celebrate this legendary album's cuts, and check out some cool cardboard that I've curated to match...
BROWN SUGAR
Brown Sugar goes out to the man who if ever a man would be named Brown Sugar, this guy could pull it off.
Mr. World Series Hero, the man who brought the big blasts...
SWAY
Sway gets a double shot of the Tornado's famous twist...
WILD HORSES
Wild Horses goes to Yasiel Puig, who was nicknamed the Wild Horse by the venerable Vin Scully.
CAN'T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING
This one goes out to a couple of the Dodgers' prized farm hands who are knocking on the door to the bigs...
YOU GOTTA MOVE
This one is for the middle infielders who gotta move to stay alive...
BITCH
Love is a bitch. So's loving a player who despite coming up through the ranks and embarking on a Hall of Fame career with your favorite team, later goes on to badmouth and disown that team and its fans.
I GOT THE BLUES
The blues are all about losing things. I will forever have the blues over losing these two players who went on to have solid careers - just not in L.A. - where they started.
SISTER MORPHINE
The tragedy of waking up in a hospital bed unfortunately belongs to the one and only Campy...
DEAD FLOWERS
Dodger fans and his former teammates will never forget the greatness that big Don Drysdale brought to the club.
MOONLIGHT MILE
Sure, Wally Moon is an easy choice for Moonlight Mile, but then again, however else will his baseball cards remain alive on the blogosphere?
