Saturday, September 30, 2017

Well, It's Been a Long Time...

Aloha, everybody, 

My friend and long-tiime trading partner, Gavin, from the fantastic blog Baseball Card Breakdown, and I had a potential trade percolating. It was just waiting for the right final pieces to fall into place. 

That happened when I won a bronze replica of Roberto Alomar's RC. It's a cool enough piece, but it fit better into Gavin's collection than mine, so a trade was born. 

Let's check out what Gav sent over to me. Leading off are a cool couple of customs from Gavin's workshop: 


 Of course, blame my lousy scanning skills for the cut off card. Than ignore that, and revel in the goodness that is two of the game's young superstars together on one card. Bonus: reading left to right, Bellinger is first! :) 


Next up is Belli going solo in old school Upper Deck style: 



Well-chosen photos of Cody adorn both sides of the card. I love seeing hard-luck story, Andrew Toles there in the dugout. Injury ruined Tolesy's 2017 season before it could begin, but I'm looking forward to him returning in 2018. 

Great customs! Here come the cards the original trade was built around. Vintage is the watchword here. 



My first RC from the famed Dodgers infield of the 70's. Welcome, Mr. Lopes. It seems I have a new project. Now I have to rope in 1970 Bill Russell, 1971 Steve Garvey and the Penguin's RC from '72 Topps.  

At least I can be satisfied for now with this 1971 Lou Brock...



...and a foldable 1971 Richie Allen with a vintage Dodger Stadium backdrop...



Sweet stuff from down south Gavin. THANKS for the trade, buddy! BTW, I noticed you put up some trade bait from the Legends of New York set. I'm down for those. If nobody has claimed them yet, set them aside for lil' ol' me, and let's get our next trade piles started! 

I have an honorable mention: Recently, mi hermano Wes, sent a surprise package out to me. Trouble is, I sorted those cards into my general card population before I scanned them. Thought I scanned 'em, but I didn't. 

Unfortunately, it's going to take some detective (and de-sorting) work before I can figure out what all cards came from where. So I just want to send a shout out to Wes and say THANKS!, but it may take a while before that post can go up. My bad - and I feel appropriately bad. 

Life goes on. Aloha! 

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Been a While Since I was in a Group Break. How'd I do?

Aloha, everybody, 

A few weeks ago Colbey from Cardboard Collections ran an affordable group break. I used to jump into these all the time, but I've been away from that game for a couple of years. 

I noticed Colbey's break really was affordable - just $12 got you two teams, one you chose and one random, plus postage. He was cracking two boxes - 2004 Fleer Focus Jersey Edition and 2005 Fleer Showcase. I didn't have any Dodgers from those products, so I checked, and the Dodgers slot was still open. BANG! I was in. 

My original random team was the Indians, but you random teams were open for trading. I noticed the Brewers were being dangled for a trade, and hadn't sent anything out to my buddy Tony for a while, so I made the swap, the Tribe for the Brew Crew. Let's check out the cards I caught. 

We'll start off with the big card, at least in terms of not being base.


It's still not so rare of an insert, just a 1:5 pull. That said, it's Adrian Beltre, so that's good in my book. 

I caught another couple of base cards to go along with that one. 


I wish I hit more than two, because I like the looks of this base product. 

No inserts from Fleer Focus, but I got more base cards....

 Not loving this design, though. I prefer less lines running around the sides. With that much linear distraction, why add to things with a giant product logo eating right in the already compromised photo? 



Another question is - why the radioactive glow coming off the player? Are these those "aura" photos? 


My favorite of this bunch is Paulie LoDuca blowing a bubble as he trots off (or on?) the field. 



On to Tony's loot...








Nothing too special in that batch, Tony, but we nabbed a few for you. 

Colbey dropped in another couple of extras to sweeten the pot...


That chrome Puig is very attractive. Digging it mucho! 


I just might try another group break soon. 

Aloha! 

Sunday, September 3, 2017

The Dodgers' Season may be Cracked, but Julie is a Solid Trader

Aloha, everybody, 

Back when the baseball season opened, I sent out packages and PWEs to my blogger and collector buddies. I sent some stuff out to Julie from A Cracked Bat, and she recently sent a lot more than "some stuff" to me. 


As you can see, she packed the cards with the intent that I open the packets in a particular order. I anticipated a build up from "ordinary" cards to a big payoff at the end, but I gotta say, there was so much good stuff in here, hardly anything was ordinary to me. 

I present Exhibit A: 


This was the first card from packet #1, but this is definitely a goodie. Let me count the ways: 

Post oddball
Young EK
Tight baseball pants with stirrups era 
Bonus: Houston Astros in background sporting the tequila sunrise stripes. I'm guessing on that one. Looking for confirmation or correction. 

Here's something I never thought I would see...


Very cool! This schedule is from the Dodgers' AAA team in OKC. Checking the promotions, I see they had a bobblehead giveaway night. Who was it? Clayton Kershaw. 

No logos? No problem. I dig this Puig!


Here's a Bazooka Butler in what looks like a spring training game...

 Julie knows, Gimme some Podres! All new, all beautiful. 


This Spectrum has a magnificent shiny sheen as you tilt it side to side. 


Bonus: Numbered 91/150! 


Here's a new Lasorda card, with a Tim Crews death patch on his sleeve. 


I'm trying, but I can't place those faces behind Tommy. Is it someone I should know? Is it that bum, Frank McCourt? Coach Al Davis? Heck if I know. 

I always vote yes on a card with a cute Korean girl...


A pair of very nice Maedas...



More shiny beauty. This time from Brooklyn...


Julie included a few groups of cards from the same sets. Here's one example from the golden 1952 World Series reprints...


That might have been enough for some traders, but not for Julie. Nope, she went the extra 60 feet, six inches...


More Lasorda goodness, and for the grande finale, a numbered 69/125 auto...


Man, what a package that was! THANKS, Julie. My collection just jumped up a notch. Whew! 

Aloaha! 

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!