A Penny Sleeve Can't Hold Back This Cardboard's Coolness

Aloha, everybody, 

I recently received a package from Jon, my friend and the man behind A Penny Sleeve for Your Thoughts. 

I love reading Jon's blog posts. Everyone in our community has a different writing style, and I just happen to connect with how Jon writes. The bonus is our occasional blind trades. Nothing set up formally, just a fistful of cards flying from one collector to another. That's simple cardboard goodness, and this batch did not disappoint. 

First up is an interesting specimen that has me scratching my head.
Take a look and see if you notice anything different about this card... 

The card itself is of a highly diggable nature. What's not to love? Steve Garvey, rare fielding photo, and a jersey patch. All cherished checkmarks. 

But...did you notice the swatch? It's black. The Dodgers don't have any black in their uniforms, so why is the swatch black? The back of the card doesn't give me any hints, but closer inspection of the photo gives me a very big clue. 

Garvey is wearing a black tribute patch to number 19, Brooklyn Dodgers great, Jim Gilliam. The texture of the swatch itself feels a bit rough, like a patch might. Is this a swatch from Garvey's sleeve patch ?!?!?!?!? Dare I believe so???? What do you guys think? Any ideas from GCRL or Sir Night Owl?  

Moving on. Some of you may know Al Downing as the guy who gave up home run 715 to Hank Aaron. In fact, that's what the Memorable Moment for this card is...

Jon dropped a few 2017 Topps Archives on me. Cool! 

Here's a nice surprise. Jon knocked a solid base hit with this Larry Doby inclusion...

How many times have I said it? Gimme all your Piazzas. Please. 
High tops alert...

I don't know how many times I've had this card and traded it away or sold it. It's returned to me once again. Must be fate. I think I'll keep this one. 

Don't you love when trade partners remember who you collect, or check your wish lists to ensure they include some stuff right in your collecting wheelhouse? Jon does this...

I collect defunct teams, and one of my favorites is the Washington Senators. This Gil Coan card is a beauty. A bit flawed because of the fold crease, but otherwise, a beauty. What a photo! Plenty of the classic checkmarks found in 50's cardboard. 

Flip it over and there's even more goodness. It seems Coan had such a terrible 1952 campaign (the Topps writers called it a "slump year") that they totally ignored '52 and reminded us 1950 and '51 were much better for ol' Gil. 

Finally, Jon dropped in a couple of sweet items for my Raiders collection. Biletnikoff!!

Shiny Archives and below, numbered 1090 of 1099. The next best to the first ten numbers, is within the last ten. Cool! 

THANKS for the great cards, Jon. Your pile is almost ready to send out from here. 

Aloaha! 

Former Red Cardboard Finds A Dodger Blue Home

Hey everybody,

It's been way too long since I've had a trade to post about (hint, hint, all y'all out there), but just this afternoon I got a PWE in the mail.

The second nice thing about today was, this trade was the FIRST between Matt from Red Cardboard, and me.  Cool, huh?

Of course, the name of Matt's blog is a dead giveaway to the team he collects.  It was either a tribute to the sheer massiveness of his collection of Reds, or a painful exposure of my lack of Reds trade bait to offer, but it took a while for me to dig up some Red cardboard he didn't already have.  I finally dug up some trade bait for him to bite on, and we settled on a deal.  I mean, it was a fantastic deal.

Let's begin with a cool RC of our cool Korean rookie pitcher.  Being a southpaw myself, I have an extra penchant toward collecting cards of  Dodger left-handers.

I dig the casualness of this photo.  Since it comes from 2013 Topps Archives,  I like the way it has that throwback feel to the old days when players had their photos taken at whatever high school baseball field they were holding practice at.  This card also looks tailor made to be autographed.

 Bison?  Slice him, dice him, and DL him - because there's a new gun in town.  And this guy's bat barrel is red hot.  I don't watch ESPN much, but I'm curious if that east coast biased network has even mentioned the way Hanley here has resurrected his career in a very serious way.

This card design is right on for the photo and the feeling of excitement that Ramirez is bringing to Dodger fans.


Speaking of my penchant for collecting Dodger southpaws...

The 'K' Kids.  'Nuff said.

Now you know a trade aint a trade without some vintage.  So Matt and I rolled it like that.  Check it out...

Al Downing surrounded by some pretty decent company.  Wanna know the answer to a trivia question - What pitcher gave up number 715 to Hammerin' Hank Aaron?  Look at the Dodger on the card.


Finally, a little beat up, a bit chewy, and still rockin...

Sal "The Barber" Maglie from 1957 Topps.   As Mick Jagger once said, "A little worse for wear and tear...", but definitely the ace of the trade for me.

Thanks, Matt, for a great trade.  Lookin' forward to the next one.