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! 

There's No Football Cards Like Old School Football Cards

Aloha, everybody,

It's Super Bowl eve, so it's the right time to bust out my humble, but awesome football card collection. 

I don't have many cards, but the ones I do have resonate deeply in the football part of my soul. 

However, some corners in my soul are dark and ironic...

 Sure, I love baseball, but football's past heroes were the ones I grew up watching on Sunday TV and the early years of Monday Night Football..

For several years Super Sunday was a wonderful thing because my favorite team and favorite Purple People Eater - were in the bowl...

Alas, all of those bright Super Bowl afternoons ended in dashed, melancholy nights because of my team's ill-fated quarterback...

 For example, one year, it was Tark's bad luck to run into this QB's team of destiny...

Then teenaged me grew up and transferred allegiance to a new team. Rough and tough, with the added grit of knowing how to win the Super Bowl...

If you're going to have a punter in your collection, make sure he's bad-ass...

 When the Raiders moved to L.A., that sealed the deal for me. 

Back in those days, having the Raiders in my back yard was great for getting in-person autos...

Past players were often available at fanfests...

Here's one for you Chicago readers and bloggers. The other day I was out walking my dog and came upon someone else in the hood who feels big time football love. Check out this custom paint job from a couple of streets over...

Let's close with one more from Johnny U...

  ...and my favorite pep talk ever. Spoiler, it aint about the Gipper...

Aloha!