Wednesday, November 30, 2016

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...Operation PWE Begins

Aloha, everybody, 

I'm happy to announce ATBATT's 3rd Annual Operation PWE is now underway. 

I've got just about everything enveloped and packaged up. Boy, that was an adventure. Take a look...



And that's just the PWE's.  

I went through my roster of past trade partners to choose who would be included in this year's offerings. I added a few new bloggers to the OPWE list, so check your emails for my request for your mailing address. I sent those requests today, so you only have to check for one day. 

I scoured your wantlists and tried very hard to only include cards you're actively seeking. I did my best to not blast anyone with a handful of commons that you neither need nor want. 

This year there are more than just PWE's. Some of you will be receiving humble packages as well...



I won't keep you all in suspense about who's on the list, and besides that, I need new addresses in case you moved since our last trade. So here's the list of recipients for this year's Operation PWE...

Baseball Card Breakdown
Dime Boxes
Torren' Up Cards
Bob Walk the Plank
Night Owl Cards
Remember the Astrodome
Wrigley Roster Jenga
My Sports Obsession
Jay Barker Fan's Junk
$30 a Week Habit
The Angels in Order
I Love the Smell of Cardboard in the Morning
Play at the Plate
Cardboard Clubhouse
Cards on Cards
Arpsmith's Sportscard Obsession
My Cardboard Mistress
Too Many Verlanders
Tenets of Wilson 
This Way to the Clubhouse
Royals and Randoms
Cardboard History
Infield Fly Rule
Cardboard Clubhouse
Wish They Still Came With Bubblegum 
Off Hiatus Cards 
and readers Roger M and Chris W. 

Whew! 

Remember, if you've moved since our last trade, or you just want to be sure, shoot an email to me. My email address is omsports42 at g mail dot you know. 

If I didn't include you, and we've traded before, there are a few reasons for that. One is your blog has been inactive (for at least the past six months), or you retired from blogging/trading and you let us know (more on that in another post). 

The other reason goes back to what I said about trying to be respectful of your wantlists. Unfortunately, there were a few of you whom I just didn't seem to have anything that you were seeking. 

Also, the grim reality of low finances is currently over my head, so I needed to keep shipping costs as low as possible. My old lady would still probably kill me if she saw the total shipping bill, but that's our secret. 

All of that said, I've still got a few cards available for trade, as in this entire box.


 I've got cards for every team, and I just might have what you need.  If we haven't traded before, reach out and let's get started. 2017 is just around the corner. 

(I expect the first batch of goods to go out within a week or so.) 

Aloha! 

Friday, November 25, 2016

It's Dodger Blue Friday: Vintage Cardboard of a Vintage Manager

Aloha, everybody, 

One more Thanksgiving has come and gone, with one more celebration of the family traditions. Continuity finds its spots throughout our lives, including within our favorite sports franchises. 

When I was growing up, one aspect of Dodgers familiarity was having the same manager year after year. Although the Dodgers had a long tradition of only offering one-year contracts to their manager, it was understood the gig was practically a lifetime appointment. 

The first Dodgers skipper I ever knew was Walter Alston. He managed the club from 1954 to 1976. Today is the 63rd anniversary of his hiring to lead the team. Here's my small collection of Alston cardboard.

Leading off is 1958 Topps and one of my favorite vintage Dodgers cards, Boss and Power. 




1960 Topps. The Dodgers had moved to Los Angeles, but were still playing in the LA Coliseum.  They wouldn't play their first game in Dodger Stadium until 1962. 


Backside...


1961 Topps


1963 Topps. The Dodgers are now in their new stadium at Chavez Ravine. You can tell it's new by the state of the art rotary dial phone in the corner...




 1969 Topps. The world seemed to be topsy-turvy with hot and cold wars, revolutions, and protests everywhere. Among all the chaos there was one certainty, the Dodgers' skipper remained the same. 


Here's the backside cartoon....





1971 Topps. I was just discovering my lifelong love of baseball and all things Dodgers. 



Alston would manage until 1976, a 22-year run. Tommy Lasorda was named his successor, and he ran the club for the next 20 years. 

Continuity certainly has its place. Aloha! 

Friday, November 18, 2016

Today's a Sad Sandy Koufax Day in Dodgers History

Aloha, everybody, 

Do you know what today is in Dodgerdom? It's the 50th anniversary of the retirement of the greatest pitcher the Dodgers have ever known. 



Let's celebrate the memory of one of the greatest pitchers to EVER grace the diamond, with some of my favorite Koufax cardboard. 

Until I can afford a real Koufax RC, this Rookie Patch card will do. It's a real beauty. 

Below he looks great on this Topps Lineage stand up...



The Dodgers have had plenty of good pitchers over the years, some of the best the game ever saw, and Koufax leads them all. 

Sure he laid down the big stats with 4 no-hitters and a perfect game, but more importantly (from a team-standpoint) he dominated when it came to the World Series. 

Against the Minnesota Twins, Koufax pitched two shutouts, with 10 Ks in each. 



He struck out 15 against the Yankees in Game 1 of the WS, and then returned to complete the sweep a few days later. 






Below is one of my favorite post-career Koufax cards, a see-through, limited ed. 27/75...



Here's Sandy on multi-player cardboard, with some guys named Podres and Drysdale...




I could never afford a Koufax auto, so I had to rely on a pull. That came to me in a lucky box break from Community Gum. It's one of my favorite cards in my collection, Topps Archives Fan Favorites autograph... 



Fifty years ago, today...




Aloha! 

Today's a Sad Sandy Koufax Day in Dodgers History

Aloha, everybody, 

Do you know what today is in Dodgerdom? It's the 50th anniversary of the retirement of the greatest pitcher the Dodgers have ever known. 



Let's celebrate the memory of one of the greatest pitchers to EVER grace the diamond, with some of my favorite Koufax cardboard. 

Until I can afford a real Koufax RC, this Rookie Patch card will do. It's a real beauty. 

Below he looks great on this Topps Lineage stand up...



The Dodgers have had plenty of good pitchers over the years, some of the best the game ever saw, and Koufax leads them all. 

Sure he laid down the big stats with 4 no-hitters and a perfect game, but more importantly (from a team-standpoint) he dominated when it came to the World Series. 

Against the Minnesota Twins, Koufax pitched two shutouts, with 10 Ks in each. 



He struck out 15 against the Yankees in Game 1 of the WS, and then returned to complete the sweep a few days later. 






Below is one of my favorite post-career Koufax cards, a see-through limited 27/75...



Here's Sandy on multi-player cardboard, with some guys named Podres and Drysdale...




I could never afford a Koufax auto, so I had to rely on a pull. That came to me in a lucky box break from Community Gum. It's one of my favorite cards in my collection, Topps Archives Fan Favorites autograph... 



Fifty years ago, today...




Aloha! 

Today's a Sad Sandy Koufax Day in Dodgers History

Aloha, everybody, 

Do you know what today is in Dodgerdom? It's the 50th anniversary of the retirement of the greatest pitcher the Dodgers have ever known. 



Let's celebrate the memory of one of the greatest pitchers to EVER grace the diamond, with some of my favorite Koufax cardboard. 

Until I can afford a real Koufax RC, this Rookie Patch card will do. It's a real beauty. Below he looks great on this Topps Lineage stand up...



The Dodgers have had plenty of good pitchers over the years, some of the best ever, and Koufax leads them all. 

Sure he laid down the big stats with 4 no-hitters and a perfect game, but more importantly (from a team-standpoint) he dominated when it came to the World Series. 

Against the Minnesota Twins, Koufax pitched two shutouts, with 10 Ks in each. 



He struck out 15 against the Yankees in Game 1 of the WS, and then returned to complete the sweep a few days later. 






Below is one of my favorite post-career Koufax cards, a see-through limited 27/75...



Here's Sandy on multi-player cardboard, with some guys named Podres and Drysdale...




I could never afford a Koufax auto, so I had to rely on a pull. That came to me in a lucky box break from Community Gum. It's one of my favorite cards in my collection, Topps Archives Fan Favorites autograph... 



Fifty years ago, today...




Aloha! 

Today's a Sad Sandy Koufax Day in Dodgers History

Aloha, everybody, 

Do you know today is in Dodgerdom? It's the 50th anniversary of the retirement of the greatest pitcher the Dodgers have ever known. 



Let's celebrate the memory of one of the greatest pitchers to EVER grace the diamond, with some of my favorite Koufax cardboard. 

Until I can afford a real Koufax RC, this Rookie Patch card will do. It's a real beauty. Below he looks great on this Topps Lineage stand up...



The Dodgers have had plenty of good pitchers over the years, some of the best ever, and Koufax leads them all. 

Sure he laid down the big stats with 4 no-hitters and a perfect game, but more importantly (from a team-standpoint) he dominated when it came to the World Series. 

Against the Minnesota Twins, Koufax pitched two shutouts, with 10 Ks in each. 



He struck out 15 against the Yankees in Game 1 of the WS, and then returned to complete the sweep a few days later. 






Below is one of my favorite post-career Koufax cards, a see-through limited 27/75...



Here's Sandy on multi-player cardboard, with some guys named Podres and Drysdale...




I could never afford a Koufax auto, so I had to rely on a pull. That came to me in a lucky box break from Community Gum. It's one of my favorite cards in my collection, Topps Archives Fan Favorites autograph... 



Fifty years ago, today...




Aloha!