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.

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! 

When Soviets Hack The Election, Dimebox Sends Cards to You

Aloha, everybody, 

As Dimebox Nick so accurately put in his note to me, it's been way too long since we last exchanged cardboard. 

2017 is starting off differently, and I'm sure that we won't be waiting until the calendar clicks off another year before we swap again. In celebration of this new attitude, let's take a look at the fistful of Dodgers cardboard that ol' Nick sent over to me...

Pay-droh Goo-rare-ooooh figured prominently in a recent Twitter conversation between myself, Sir Night Owl and Zippy Zappy, so he gets lead off privileges. 

This Guerrero Diamond King is new for my collection. I love the World Series-inspired bunting. Perfect for a WS MVP. As for those storm clouds brewing behind him - that's what the Yankees saw whenever Pedro stepped to the plate. 

In fact, all of the Dodgers cards that Nick sent were new to me. How about one of Pedro's teammates...

You want more tribute? Coming right up...

I can read that headline ALL DAY LONG. 

A wonderful card. Jackie broke into the NL, Larry Doby did the same in the AL a few months behind Robinson. Unlike Robinson, who put in a year in the Dodgers' AAA minor league, Doby went directly to the majors from the Negro League. 

From the underrated Ted Williams release...

Jim Gilliam, like Doby, joined the Dodgers' big club straight outta the Negro Leagues. 

In this fantastic action shot, Gilliam is stealing home, as evidenced by the Dodgers batter beside the catcher, who's lost sight of the ball, which is flying above the batter's head. 

Nick included present-day Boys in Blue. Here's ROY Corey Seager in ugly San Diego colors, but his card is adorned with Home Run Derby and RC shields. 

These snowflake cards have been all over the blogosphere, but until now, I didn't own any. 

Trayce was starting out fairly well in his inaugural big league season, but he suffered an unfortunate leg injury. We'll have to see how well he can bounce back in 2017. 

Montas was traded to the Dodgers along with Trayce Thompson in 2015, but like TT, he was also hit by the injury bug. After being mostly on the DL, he was shipped off to Oakland for SP Rich Hill and master con man, Josh Reddick. 

Finally, one more most excellent Dodger rookie, Senor Urias...

All of these cool cards (and more) are welcome additions to the binders. THANKS so much, Nick! 

Aloha! 

Rediscovered Vintage Dodger Goodness

Hey everybody,

I was recently sorting through my collection - for reasons that I think you will appreciate soon enough - when I came upon a shoebox that I hadn't opened in quite a while.  While it wasn't chock full of big money cards that I forgot I had, it did contain a fistful of almost forgotten cardboard, priceless to me.

I bought all of these back in the early 90's, the days that I first got seriously into collecting.  I picked them up from various dealers at various shows, although most were probably had from the famous Frank & Son's shows out here.  In those days my collecting goals were "always pay the lowest price for the best condition possible". 

Let's open with the oldest cards, from 1955 Topps, the year the Dodgers won their first, and Brooklyn's only, World Championship...
 

When people write about Dee Gordon, they never refer back to Jim Gilliam, the brilliant second bagsman for the Brooklyn squad.   

Gilliam also batted leadoff and led the league in triples once, and won the N.L. Rookie of the Year award. Gotta love the fashionable Dodger blue turtleneck - Dodger gear the team dropped after moving to sunny LA.

Podres, my favorite pitcher from Brooklyn.  He was the MVP of the 1955 World Series and shut out the Yankees in Game 7.  

If you've seen the Ken Burns documentary, BASEBALL, then you've seen one of my all time favorite sports clips.  It's in the "7th Inning - The Capital Of Baseball", which is a great stand alone segment from the series.  

The Brooklyn Dodgers had been to the Fall Classic numerous times, only to lose and crush the dreams of their devoted fans time and time again.  Podres and the Dodgers finally won in '55, and in a post game clip a reporter asks Podres if he was nervous during that final 7th game.  

Podres immediately responded, with his ever-present grin which we see on the card above, "Nervous? Nah. I was a real pro out there today." I just love Dodger southpaws.

Finally, from '55 is Joe Black. Joe was the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series game, back in '52.

Next up is my lone 1956 Topps Dodger. I only have the one, but it's not too shabby...

Furillo got a great PATP card.  

When we think about Dodger right fielders with rifle arms, we usually think of Puig or Raul Mondesi.  
Move over boys - Mr. Furillo's nickname was "The Reading Rifle".  

He led the league with assists from RF twice, and had double digit assists for nine straight seasons. 

Now the "newer" cards from 1957...

Erskine pitched a Dodgers no-hitter and struck out 14 in the '53 World Series. 

I wonder who's lurking on the mound back there? 

Finally today, a classic card from a classic Dodger.  Topps has used this shot countless times over the years, but at least, this is the first time it was put on cardboard. 

Not only was Hodges one of Brooklyn's big boppers, he was a heckuva first baseman.  When they invented the Golden Glove awards, Hodges won the first three.  

Next up: The Rediscovered LA Dodgers

Dodgers All-Stars in World Championship Years Part 2 1959

Welcome Readers and Trade Partners,

Here's the Dodgers that were selected to the two - yes, TWO - All Star games that were played in 1959.

They actually played two A.S. games during the years 1959 to 1962.  Why two?  The long story can be found in an article here.  The short answer is, they did it for money.

It seems the players felt they weren't being paid enough to play in an exhibition game, so in order to increase revenues, MLB established a second game, with part of the proceeds going toward the player's pension fund.  After a few years of that experiment, they decided to return to just playing one game and simply paying the players more in the first place. 

In the first year of double dipper All-Stars, Game 2 was played at the L.A. Coliseum. Here are the Dodgers who made the grade...

1959 

GAME 1 -  In the first of 8 trips to the All Star game, "Knock 'Em Down" Drysdale dominated.  He was the starting pitcher, throwing three no-hit innings, while striking out four.  He struck out Nellie Fox, Al Kaline, Rocky Calavito and Early Wynn.  He was the winning pitcher.

GAME 2 - Drysdale had mixed results in the second game.  He pitched 3 innings, striking out 5.  However, he was also lit up for 2 home runs (Frank Malzone and Yogi Berra) and gave up 3 earned runs.  This time he was tagged with the loss.

For an added bonus, our Wally Moon card is brought to us courtesy of my latest trade with today's birthday boy, Mr. Night Owl.

GAME 1 - Wally Moon started in LF.  He had a walk and struck out twice, once looking. 

GAME 2- Moon again started in LF.  He walked twice, flied out and hit into a double play.

GAME 2 - Charlie Neal had one AB and he grounded out.  But as you can see in the card above, Neal followed through on that '59 season to become a World Series hero for the Blue.

GAME 2 - Gilliam had a good game considering he didn't even start.  He had 2 ABs with one solo home run and one walk. 


Next Post: 1963. Welcome to the All Stars, Mr. Koufax.