Dodgers Announce "Fernando Valenzuela Fix" - What a Crock

The Dodgers announced the "Legends of Dodgers Baseball", a way of recognizing great past Dodgers with plaques honoring their contributions to the team through its storied past. The inaugural class is Fernando Valenzuela, Steve Garvey and Don Newcombe.

Folks ranging from the Dodgers' beat reporters to anyone with a Twitter account were praising this "solution to the Fernando Valenzuela retired number problem". I'm calling this a complete crock and an empty way of avoiding the true recognition that Fernando deserves from the organization - the retiring of Number 34.

Opening a PWE from Cardboard Clubhouse

Aloha, everybody,

Here comes a PWE blast of Dodgers greats of the past from Adam, over at Cardboard Clubhouse. THANKS Adam, these guys are much appreciated.

Aloha!

ICYMI: My Youtube Video Making the Case for the Dodgers to Retire Fernando's Number

Aloha, everybody, 

Tonight the Dodgers made franchise history by pitching a combined no-hitter behind young Walker Buehler and three other bullpen pitchers. 

The game was played against the San Diego Padres in Monterey, Mexico through five innings of an absolute downpour. It was amazing to watch. Fernando Valenzuela threw out the first pitch, and the Dodgers touted their former phenom for all he was worth. 

The event prompted me to make a video calling for the team to finally retire his number. I made the vid yesterday, and there's an included beer review for what it's worth. 

I hope you'll give a watch and hope further that you'll enjoy!

Aloha!  

All the Way from P-Town to D-Town

Aloha, everybody, 

It's warm out here in Dodger town today. I sure hope the rest of you all are thawing into enjoyable levels of snow ("enjoyable" being a relative term, I'm sure). 

I received a happy little PWE the other day from P-Town Tom, who runs the blog, Waiting till Next Year. Let's check out what he sent way out west.

Leading off is my favorite slug - not slugging - just slug shortstop, Jose Offerman...

On good days, we referred to him as Jose Awfulman. 

That said, no matter Jose 0-for-man's shortcomings, he was no match for the utter uselessness of this guy. 

Hamilton was a classic smoke and mirrors player who would suck for a few weeks and then have a good few games, fooling everyone into thinking he was a legit major leaguer. Then he would repeat the cycle. 

Aha, here we go. A real player. Fernando, sporting a rarely seen on cardboard, mustache and five-o-clock shadow...

Speaking of rarely-seen mustaches, I present Jim Neidlinger, who was up for less than a cup of coffee. It was more like a shot of espresso. 

Neidlinger appeared in only 12 games, but he left the majors with a decent record of 5-3, and 3.23 ERA. They must have snapped this pic on the day he realized his career was over...way too soon. 

Next up, Tom's eagle eye spotted a current Dodger in his college days. O'Brien was picked up from the Rangers and he's currently in AA ball. We'll see what 2017 holds in store...

Finally, an autograph. Most times I get an autos just like the kind you get, I'm sure. You know, a star or prospect, or the kid who never made it. That would have been easy. This time good ol' P-Town sent me the first auto of this type for my collection. 

This is an autograph from one of the most infamous Dodgers ever, who threw one of the most infamous pitches ever, as the result of one of Tommy Lasorda's most infamous decisions ever...

Oh brother, that was a doozy. I still get the heebie-jeebies from that one. And now I've got this...

All-Time Fan Favorites? All-time favorite of who's fans - Jack Clark's? Ha! That said, it's kind of a cool auto to add to the collection. 

Not every player is a hero. Not every game ends in victory for the good guys. Like it or not, Niedenfuer is part of Dodgers postseason lore. Even if it was a painful loss that resonates to this day. Tom, I'm actually glad you included this card. It's history. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to drop this into a binder and not think about it again for a very long time. 

Aloha! 

Finally Getting my Trade Posts In Order

Aloha, everybody, 

This post will finally get me all caught up on cards that came to me way back in 2017. I've received some new 2018 goodies in the mail, and I'll be getting those up soon. Although, tonight is poker night, so there's a good chance I won't be posting anything tomorrow, as I'll be sleeping in. 

That said, let's get to checking out this nice little batch of cards that came to me from Tom and The Angels in Order. 

Tom sent some mini stamps/stickers that I've never seen before. I really dig this one with Fernando and ?? The back is completely blank, so I can't identify it. 

I'm familiar with Fernando's cardmate here; I know the face, but the name is escaping me. It'll take about 30 seconds for you all to ID the man, so I would appreciate the help. 

Another from the same set - of course, I'm definitely able to identify Tommy. 

Shelby was an unsung Dodger, and a former favorite of mine...

 Andy Messersmith paired up with Don Sutton to form a lethal one-two pitching punch back when I was a kid. 

Here's Davey Lopes slapping out a single on a sunny day, before a shirt sleeve crowd. 

Bill Buckner in the happier times - before the words "little nubber" would haunt him in the middle of the night...

These Dodgers happily chipped away at my team set needs. 

Finally, a much-needed Penguin to round out the package. 

THANKS for the great additions, Tom. Much appreciated! 

Aloha! 

One More Batch of Cardboard TTM

Aloha, everybody, 

Welcome to ATBATT 2018. I'm lucky and blessed enough to open the year's posts with a small backlog of trade packages to present. 

Right before the close of the year, I featured a bunch of cards that came to me from Paul's TTM Autograph Blog. Paul, being a generous man, actually sent two separate packages to me. Today, we'll be checking out that second batch. 

The first couple of cards represent a side story for Dodger fans. It's "the changing of the guard". One big reason the boys in blue made it to the Fall Classic was the fact the Dodgers got younger. 

This card marks the power-hitting duo (from a few years back) of young Joc Pederson and Adrian Gonzalez. It's a good representation of the Dodgers turning a page on aging veterans, and moving toward a younger core. 

Andre Ethier, the longest tenured Dodger, will be probabbly moving on as well. I've long been a fan of Captain Clutch, so this blue-bordered beauty is very welcome. 

Manager Dave Roberts blew World Series opportunities when he kept Ethier mostly on the bench against the Astros, despite Ethier almost always getting a hit (including a PH home run) whenever he got a chance. 

Paul also dropped some new Nomos into my lap...

I love these cards that show Nomo just peeking over the top...

 Here's another angle...

Press Proof alert! These always take me back to my early collecting days. I was always ripping packs with the hope of catching one of these.

And now, World Series pitching hero, Kenta Maeda about to be sucked down into shiny, colorful quicksand...

Any and all Kenley Jansens happily accepted...

Closing out this pitching-heavy package is one of my favorite Dodger southpaws, on All-Star cardboard. I'm thinking that's Wrigley ivy behind him...

THANKS for the two great packages, Paul! I'm lucky the dealers around you are stocking a whole lotta Dodgers these days, and I'm very happy that you thought of sharing that with me. 

Aloha! 

Deck the Halls With Cards from TTM

Aloha, everybody, 

It's the most wonderful time of the year. 
Secret Santa gifts are dropping all around the blogosphere. 
Aint nothing in the world like cardboard cheer. 

Oh look! What have we here? 

Not quite a new car, but it sure beats socks. 
It's a Tommy Lasorda card. 
Here's Clayton Kershaw and Greg Brock. 

I'm wishing all of my readers, traders and friends,
A Merry, Merry Christmas
May all of your 2018 cards arrive without bends. 

Ha! How's that for a Christmas poem? If that didn't get things going, maybe these great cards that I received from one of the greatest traders out there, Paul, from Paul's TTM Autograph Blog. 

Paul hit me with a couple of fantastic batches of cards last month. Here's a quick recap from one of them:

Let's begin with a very cool die-cut featuring World Series hero. Joc Pederson, when he first broke into the bigs...

Paul also brought the vintage and chipped at my team set needs...

Here's one that Zippy Zappy might like as well...

A beautiful Nomo...

More vintage and team set needs...

Add caption

 I NEVER see these '59 WS cards at the show. Good ol' Paul came through big time with this one for my WS checklist...

Paul also included a sombrero full of Fernandos! 

These next couple are very simple cards, and simply beautiful...

A classic shot of the Bulldog peering in to get the sign...

Sure, everybody raves about Kershaw, but these two southpaws kept the Dodgers chugging through the season when Kersh was out with an injury, and they did not fold up in the World Series. 

Dave Roberts' ridiculous robotic reliance on the stats that insisted on pulling pitchers after going twice through the opposing lineup cost the Dodgers dearly - and fatally - when he pulled them despite their mowing down the Astros. *sigh*  

Here are a few more multiples of my favorite past Dodgers...

We'll close out with this ice-blue beauty. Pee Wee Reese, Topps Sterling, numbered 90/250...

Hearty THANKS for the awesome cards, my friend!  My humble collection is in a better place because of your generosity. 

Merry Aloha Christmas, everybody! 

You Can't Have Too Many Good Trades

Aloha, everybody, 

Dennis from Too Many Verlanders sent a fistful of cards to me a few weeks ago, and boy, it was a doozy. Let's not waste any time with blah-blahs and instead, get right down to checkin' out some righteous cardboard.

Leading off is my favorite Dodgers catcher...

Note Piazza wearing the Tim Crews death patch on his sleeve...

I tell ya, this package from Dennis was chock-a-block stuffed with shiny goodness from the heyday of shiny cards. Awesome.


Chan Ho Park. Upper Deck Black Diamond Numbered 1500

These cards are so shiny n' glossy that they register the opposite on my scanner. 

Here's an early Joc Pederson card notching him as a future member of the 500 HR Club. While I doubt that, Joc is definitely heating up right now, and I hope heading for a 20 HR season.

This guy is mashing pretty good right now also...

Here's one of my favorite home run hitters from the day...

I've got the swatch version of this moonshots card. Now they can sit side by side in the ol' binder. 

Dennis also included this beauty. A new relic card for my Green PC. This one is extra cool because it identifies the day he wore this jersey. It was Opening Day 2002 vs the Giants. This was back when I never missed Opening Day, so I was most likely at this game. 

A quick search tells me Green went 1 for 4 that day, with a single. Awesome card. 

How about some Opening Day pitchers? Starting with Kershaw....

This ones a little weird. Looks like Kersh was pulling noodles, but they snapped on him...

I'm becoming a big believer in Diamond Kings...

Before Kershaw ruled the mound at Chavez Ravine, there was Fernando...

Fernando Gypsy Queen mini, numbered to 199. Sweet! 

Before there was Fernando, Dodger Stadium's mound was graced by this man...

Here's the third baseman who got away...

Todd Hollandsworth was one of those ROYs who only lived up to his potential on cardboard. This card is a beautiful diamond finish in hand. 

Finally, a tribute card to a member of the legendary Infield that GCRL Jim named a blog after...

 Check out this card back. You just don't see that time with one team anymore...

Whew! That was a whole lotta cards. And there's a whole bunch more I didn't show. What a package. 

THANKS for the awesome cards, Dennis. These are gonna be fun to fit into the binders. 

Aloha!