eBay: A Couple of Promotional Photos

Here are a couple of interesting items I ran across on eBay that rarely come around. Fortunately, they are not highly sought after and can be purchased for a good deal. Below are a couple of promotional photos for 2 Dodger players. These photos originally came out in the 50's and ended in the 70's. They typically measure 8" X 10" and were made for players who had contracted with a particular sports equipment company to endorse their product. Usually they were displayed on walls at department stores and sometimes given to customers.

Here, Willie Davis is featured on a Wilson Sporting Goods photo. The great thing about this pic is that he is standing on the field at Wrigley in Chicago before there were noticeable bleachers on the buildings.

eBay Auction Link: Willie Davis Wilson Photo:

Below, Tommy Davis poses for Rawlings Sporting Goods Company. Notice that he is sporting a Rawlings glove in his left hand.

eBay Auction Link: Tommy Davis Rawlings Photo:

Blog Kiosk: 5/31/2009

• Gene at True Blue LA explains how Sandy Koufax saved his family's lives one evening on June 30, 1962.
  
• The Japanese are innovators.

  What is interesting about this new development is that the Shikoku Gakuin Daigaku is adding the major of Baseball Science, which is the first such program in any Japanese university. The main subjects the students will be able to study majoring in Baseball Science will be: History of Japanese Baseball, Baseball Information Analysis, Baseball Methodology, Baseball Management, Health and Sports Nutrition and Introduction of Baseball Communication.

  (Hat Tip: Walk Off Walk)
  
• I would have done almost anything to be sitting at the craps table while this woman was rolling last weekend. A New Jersey Grandmother and novice craps player had 154 consecutive rolls that lasted 4 hours and 18 minutes. The odds of doing that is 1 in 1.56 trillion. When I go to Vegas I always hit the crap tables. It is the bane of my existence and the most frustrating game of luck I've ever played. Still, I always go back.

  The table filled up and a throng of spectators gathered. Demauro rolled double sixes, hard fours, snake eyes, every possible combination of the dice. Some people called out requests and Demauro managed to fulfill them. Players from the nearby blackjack table came over to watch, and then came the casino executives, or as she describes them, "men in dark suits." Demauro and her audience knew they would never witness anything like this again. "There was a woman there, and we happened to catch each other's eyes," Demauro says, "She smiled at me, and I smiled and said, 'I don't know how to play the game.'"

  When someone is rolling hot like that it is the most exciting thing in the world to watch. (Hat Tip: Deadspin)
  
• Why did Cardboard Junkie make a Baseball card for recently nominated Federal Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor? Because she saved Baseball!!! Wiki.
• Broxton Rox of the Can-Am Baseball League hired the first female coach in professional Baseball. Her name is Justine Seigal. This league has been making some news recently. The Quebec Capitales recently inked Eric Gagne to a contract.
• Attack!
  

EMBED-The Kitty Matrix - Watch more free videos

H&S: Brooklyn Portraits

After going through the Huggins & Scott Auction catalog another time I couldn't help but note these (3) 1899-1900 Sporting News Supplements of some Brooklyn players.

Below is William Brickyard Kennedy. He was a very good pitcher for the Superbas in the late 1890's.

Kennedy was a dominant pitcher in his first four seasons with Brooklyn, winning 25 games in 1893 and 24 in 1894. After averaging 17.5 victories in the next four seasons, he rebounded to win 22 in 1899 and 20 a year later. While pitching in 1901, he was bothered by arm problems and finished 3-5 in eight starts. He signed with the New York Giants at the end of the season.

Like any good fighter he shutout his former team in his first game as a Giant, 6 to 0. It sold for $400.00.

Auction Link: William Brickyard Kennedy:

Mike Griffin joined the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1891. By 1897 he served as captain and as an interim manager in 1898. Griffin also became a disgruntled former employee.

After the 1898 season Brooklyn signed him to a $3,500 contract to manage the following season. But before the season started, Brooklyn and Baltimore merged and Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon was named Brooklyn's manager instead. Griffin was offered a $2,800 contract to play by Brooklyn, but he refused to sign. Brooklyn released him to the Cleveland Spiders, who then released him to the St. Louis Perfectos. After failing to receive a contract he felt he was worth from any team, he sued Brooklyn for the salary he believed they owed him from the contract he had signed and won a judgment of $2,300 from the club. He then unofficially retired from major league baseball.

It sold for $400.00.

Auction Link: Michael Griffin:

James Jay Hughes spent only 2 years in Brooklyn. He is notable, though, because he threw a no-hitter on April 22, 1898 which was the same day that Cincinnati's Ted Breitenstein accomplished the same feat. This event was the first time no-hitters were thrown on the same day. Hughes time in the majors was short as he disliked playing on the east coast. He eventually ended his career playing in the Pacific Coast League. It sold for $400.00.

Auction Link: James Jay Hughes:

Videos: Manny, Fireworks and the Italian Connection

Here are some interesting finds on YouTube; including Manny taking some batting practice swings at Dodger Stadium a couple of days ago.

YouTube Link: TitaniumMan00:

How about some fireworks at Dodger Stadium.

YouTube Link: xTakeex:

Part 2 of the fireworks.

YouTube Link: xTAKEEx:

The Dodger Italian connection. This is a fun watch; especially hearing Tommy talk about how he use to sneak out of the house to play ball all day and expecting the "strap" when he came home that evening.

YouTube Link:rpvchannel33:

Huggins & Scott Auctions

Here are some great vintage Dodger related items from Huggins & Scott Auctions.

This is a very rare 1899-1900 Supplement (M101-1) from The Sporting News. Made of glossy paper stock these 10" x 13" vignetted portraits where inserted in weekly issues or could be had in 50 lot portfolios with an annual subscription of $2.00 to the magazine. 62 different sheets complete a set. They were produced by National Copper Plate Co. who also made their own set a year earlier that was bound in a book. Below is Hall of Famer Wilbert Robinson during his playing days with the Baltimore Orioles. He was a catcher and a leader on the team. Robinson once played behind the plate during a triple header in 1896 and then played both ends of a doubleheader the next day.

We Dodger fans may know him as "Uncle Robbie." He was the skipper of the Brooklyn team from 1914 to 1931 and compiled a record of 1375-1341. He was so beloved in the borough they nicknamed the team the "Robins" in his honor. It sold for $1200.00.

Auction Link: Sporting News Wilbert Robinson:

Oftentimes, the best way get a nice group of vintage memorabilia is to chase after lots like the one below. Here is a grouping of 10 Brooklyn Dodger items that sold for $350.00. On the left is a 1963 Hall of Fame bust of Jackie Robinson. They were originally sold at Cooperstown. It is unusual to find it with an original box. The four round portraits on the right are pins produced by Topps in 1956. From left to right: Karl Spooner, Sandy Amoros, Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider. Finally the colored disc directly below the pins are 1955 Armour coins of Gilliam, Reese (2-orange and yellow) and Snider (3-orange and yellow).

Auction Link: Brooklyn Dodger Lot:

I've never seen the movie, but this poster looks great.

What happens when a boy who loves baseball discovers that he has a strange bump on his arm? Simple! The lad takes the world by storm by becoming a "miracle kid with a super ZOOM ball". Such is the plot for the 1954 film Roogie's Bump, an inspirational tale that features cameo appearances from members of the Brooklyn Dodgers. This "Roogie's Bump" one-sheet movie poster is linen backed for easy display. The approximately 28x41 Republic poster features stars such as Campanella, Loes and Erskine.

It sold for $275.00.

Auction Link: Roogies Bump:

¡Viva Baseball!

I'm gonna have to think about heading back out to Cooperstown one of these days.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a permanent exhibit entitled ¡Viva Baseball! on Saturday, May 23 in Cooperstown , NY honoring Latin America ’s impact on baseball. The new permanent exhibit includes several Dodger artifacts while Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jaime Jarrín, now in his 51^st year with the Dodgers, narrates in both English and Spanish the Hall of Fame Museum’s state-of-the-art multimedia presentation “Passion, Joy and Flair” that reflects on nearly 150 years of Latin American baseball history.

¡Viva Baseball! features nearly 150 artifacts and the Jarrín-narrated multi-media presentation celebrates the passion of Latin American baseball. The exhibit focuses on the rich baseball traditions of the major baseball-playing Latin American countries: Cuba , the Dominican Republic , Mexico , Puerto Rico, and Venezuela . In video interviews located throughout the exhibit, Latin American Hall of Famers and Major League All-Stars provide first-hand accounts of playing in their homeland, their journey to the Major Leagues, and insight into what makes Caribbean baseball special.

The Dodgers have several historic artifacts showcased in ¡Viva Baseball!:

• Photo of Ralph Avila with radar gun (1970) - The Cuban-born Dodger Advisor of Latin American Scouting and Player Development is known as the leader in creating the modern academy system in the Dominican Republic
• Booklet about Campo Las Palmas (1988) donated by Milton Jamail - In 1987, the Los Angeles Dodgers opened Campo Las Palmas, the first Dominican baseball academy in MLB
• Photo of Avila knighted in the Dominican Republic – Today, 29 Major League teams have a presence in the Dominican, making baseball second only to tourism as the country’s biggest industry. The Dominican President knighted Avila for his role in advancing Dominican baseball
• Scouting report for Pedro Martínez donated by Avila – The scouting report is filled out by Avila , whose other Major League signees included Pedro’s brother Ramón Martínez, Raul Mondesi, and José Offerman
• Quote from Andrés Reiner – “The academy is where a player goes from zero to almost being a prospect. Most scouts only want to see what they can get today. I’m the opposite. I want to see today what I can get tomorrow”
• “Ole Fernando!” donated by Jeff Gersbacher – Record sold at Dodger Stadium in the 1980s, a musical tribute to Fernando Valenzuela
• Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead donated by Garner Simmons – Bobblehead giveaway from Dodger Stadium in 2001, where Valenzuela is still an icon and currently serves as a broadcaster on the team’s Spanish-language radio broadcasts on KHJ/La Ranchera 930

How cool is that. The famous Ralph Avila with radar gun in tow will forever be enshrined at the Hall. Not only that, did you know he was knighted? I guess we should be calling him Sir Ralph Avila.

Here is a link to a story about the Hall's new exhibit.

Happy Birthday Gibby

Thanks to 30 Year Old Cardboard I am reminded that today is Kirk Gibson's birthday. Gibby is 52 years old. He was the great champion and prime motivator in the Dodgers last World Series Championship. Who can ever forget his battle cry, "the fruits of victory" and "what a team."

Hat Tip: 30 Year Old Cardboard:

This Is More Like It

Check out the newly created Vote for Pierre blog.

Juan Pierre is one of the hardest working players in baseball. He kept his mouth shut when the Dodgers traded for Manny Roidmirez, and now that he got his starting job back, he has been lights out. Juan is deserving of being in the All-Star Game, not Manny.

This will not be easy. Juan isn't even listed on the ballot. You have to write his name in. But if Dodger fans can band together to put guys like Cesar Izturis in the All-Star Game, and rock the vote enough to give Joe Beimel a bobblehead, then anything is possible.

Vote Early, Vote Often

Hat Tip: Diamond Notes:

Good Golly

There is something so wrong about this. Nobody should be voting for Manny to be in the All-Star Game. Unfortunately, he is fourth in overall voting for outfielders. Now, there is a blog promoting his inclusion. Why-O-Why?

The purpose of this blog is to get Manny Ramirez elected as a STARTER to the 2009 All Star Game in St. Louis?

WHY?

To highlight the silliness that are the MLB rules towards PED users as well as their "head in the sand" approach to this situation. Rather than confront it head-on, MLB is choosing to do nothing and simply hope there are three higher vote getters in the NL OF....

...Not to mention all of the other stupid things that now surround the ASG, including the "winner gets HFA in the World Series" rule.

This is just silly. Please stop. Only folks deserving should be in the All-Star Game and, obviously, Manny does not deserve to go. In fact, it would be an embarrassment to the fans, to Baseball and the Dodgers.

Hat Tip: Babes Love Baseball:

ITPC Auctions: Rare Vintage Dodger Statues

Inside The Park Collectibles is known for their expertise in vintage memorabilia. When they hold an auction they usually bring out the good stuff. Their current Spring Auction does not disappoint. They have some great vintage Dodger memorabilia worth sharing. Below is a late 50's 14 inch LA Dodgers mascot statue.

(It) "combines the old-look Brooklyn Dodgers bum with a new California look."

It has a opening bid of $350.00.

Auction Link: Dodger Statue:

Now we get to the really good stuff. Below are two very rare and highly sought after 1960's bobbleheads from the "Weirdo" series. Directly below is the "Screwball." Notice that this angry Dodger (The Dodger emblem on his chest has faded) is holding a Baseball with a screw in it. It has an opening bid of $350.00.

Auction Link: Weirdo Screwball Bobblehead:

This is the goofiest of the "Weirdo" bobbleheads that I've ever seen. Dubbed "The Sweeper" this one toothed smiling fool is ready to clean up the field. It has an opening bid of $350.00.

Auction Link: Weirdo Sweeper Bobblehead:

Video: Baseball Dance Off

This past Thursday during a 5 hour rain delay at a college Baseball game between USF and UCONN ballplayers passed the time by competing in a dance off.

VideoLink:
Hat Tip: Huffington Post:

Card of the Week: Bling, Bling

Wow. Look at all that gold. The strangest thing, though, is seeing Pedro in another uniform. I can only mentally picture him in Blue.

The inaugural Upper Deck set in 1989 was earth shattering. It changed everything about the hobby and cards. For the first time quality cardboard with phenomenal photography ruled the day. Clean simple designs with bleach white boarders on sturdy cardboard showed collectors that we should expect more from the manufacturers.

I remember in 1988 when I was a budding teenage entrepreneur I had set up at a card show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A palpable buzz was in the air. Word had spread that a new player was out and about talking to dealers about a new card company. They were to be called Upper Deck and free sample were made available to dealers.

I remember getting my hands on the design and thinking good things. After all, I had just turned 17 and any notion of the backroom deals that would become commonplace at this new company was the furthest thing from my mind. I just new these cards looked great. Below is what the original design looked like- both front and back. There is another promo card made of Wally Joyner. If I remember right (correct me if I'm wrong), both Buice and Joyner were to be part owners in the new card company, but Baseball had restriction in place about current players being involved in the business like that. Too bad, maybe Upper Deck may not have gone down that slippery slope if they stayed

Blog Kiosk: 5/24/2009

• Check out this YouTube video of a 50's episode of TV's Baseball Hall of Fame as they interview a young Mickey Mantle about the 1952 World Series against the Dodgers and even has some World Series highlights.

• If you missed the sale at Dodger Stadium in 2005 of actual Dodger Stadium seats then have no fear. S&S Seating, who had originally taken out the seats during the stadium renovations, is now going into their warehouse to sell their remaining seats. Go here for more information. (Hat Tip: SCD) Below are the seats I purchased when they originally went on sale in 2005.

  “These seats were professionally removed from Dodger Stadium in Chávez Ravine and have been stored in our warehouse since 2005. The memorabilia seats are in excellent condition and are the perfect gift for any Dodgers fan or baseball memorabilia collector.”

• Zach Hample, the Baseball ballhawk, was at Dodger Stadium on Monday and collected his 4,000th Baseball. I have yet to get one and this schmo has gotten 4,000 of them. Man-O-Live!
• Jo Ann shares some pics from Opening Night.
  
• Home Run Derby ranks the greatest autographed baseball of all-time. Including this ball signed by the entire Red Sox relief staff in appreciation for some nude pics of an ex-wife.
• Jason Schmidt was hit by a batted ball last night in Albuquerque and I Love This Game was there with pics.
• I love this shuttle pic from Boston.com as they head out to repair the Hubble Telescope.
• An Abraham Lincoln card with his autograph and his hair sold last week on eBay for $17,500.00. Wow! (Hat Tip: The Beckett Blog)
• Beatbox, Baby!

YouYube Link:Artist: Julia Dales
Hat Tip: Crooks & Liars:

Freeway Series Starts Tonight

(pic Link: Luscious Liz)

Not much to say other than "Let's Go Blue!"

NL West may have gotten easier

San Diego is headed towards a rebuild.

Jake Peavy, one of the ace pitchers in the NL West, may be heading to the American League. Apparently, the Padres and White Sox have agreed to a trade that involves Peavy moving along in exchange for some prospects. The only thing in the way is approval from Jake to move east.

Peavy has full no-trade power through next season and the trade will be entirely his call. The sides are expecting a fairly quick decision by Peavy. Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, said that Peavy prefers "Middle America,'' so that should work. However, Peavy is also known to like the National League.

The suspected prospect going to the Friars are top pitching prospects Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard.

Sources say the Padres would receive top White Sox pitching prospect Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard (both left-handers). San Diego may have some choices on additional elements of the deal, but Poreda and Richard are seen as the key pieces. The 22-year-old Poreda is currently 3-3 with a 2.54 ERA for the Double-A Birmingham Barons. Richard (4.33 ERA) started the year in Chicago's bullpen, but recently earned a spot in the rotation. In his last start, Richard pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run on three hits. The Padres also need a shortstop, but the White Sox won't part with their top overall prospect, SS Gordon Beckham.

Lima Time in Long Beach

(pic link: LB Armada Blog)

It's near the end of May and a brand new season is about to begin for the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League. Tonight is opening night as the Armada face off against the Calgary Vipers. Yes, they have Baseball in Calgary.

What makes this game so special, you ask? Well, starting for the local team is one of my favorites and probably the most animated pitcher since Mark Fidrych, Jose Lima.

Lima Time!

I love this guy. He's loud and a bit obnoxious, but he exudes passion for the game.

The game starts at 6:05 at Blair Field. If I can get out of work in time to make the commute then I'm there otherwise, maybe, I'll tune in to the live broadcast online here.

Here is a video of Lima pitching during training camp.

YouTube Link:

Here is the team led by Lima in a song.

YouTube Link:

Bloggers in the Press Box

A couple weeks back the Dodgers treated numerous Dodger blogs to a night of revelry and excitement. We had our 2nd Annual Blogger night at Dodger Stadium as they gave us, "pajama wearing geeks," a suite to watch the game and enough Dodger Dogs to feed a family of elephants. Anyway, one of the surprises Dodger VP Josh Rawitch shared was the potential opening up of the Dodger Press Room to us.

Yes, we the uncouth and dishevelled few will get an opportunity to report from the press box, walk around the field during batting practice and go to the clubhouse before and after the game.

As you can imagine I nearly wet my pants.

Well, this recent homestand was the inaugural. Phil with True Blue LA was there on Tuesday and Eric from the same site will be there on Saturday. Brandon from Reflections of Blue will be there Sunday. Chris from Dodgerfan.net will be there Friday. Orel from Sons of Steve Garvey is there today. Check out his live-blogging right here. Hopefully, I will be doing the same soon.

Casey Blake Bobblehead Tonight

For the lucky tens of thousands of fans going to today's game you get a Casey Blake bobblehead.

Box Break: 2009 Goudey

(click to enlarge)

Yesterday I wrote that I had stopped into a Target and left with a blaster box of 2009 Topps Heritage. Well, there is a little more to that story. I actually walked out with 2 blaster boxes. The other being the 2009 Goudey Baseball box by Upper Deck.

I had refrained from mentioning it because, well, I didn't get a whole lot. Although, I did get a bunch of Dodgers. Overall, it was a weak box. Anyway, as you may know, this new set from Upper Deck borrows its design from the 1933 Goudey Gum card set which is famous for having 4 different Babe Ruth cards in it. So, putting together a complete vintage set is very cost prohibitive.

Check out the 6 different Dodgers I pulled in the box above; including cards of Brad Penny and Takashi Saito- both of whom are now with the Red Sox. It's funny that both of those cards actually designate them as Boston players, but keeps their uniforms in Dodger Blue. Nevertheless, since they are still wearing the right colors they go in my collection. Below are the back of the cards.

(click to enlarge)

In addition to the base set show above there are 3 main subset or short printed sets within the set. Below are examples of the 3 sets. On the left is the "4 in 1" insert set of the Rays that take its design from the 1935 Goudey set. Center is Reggie Jackson in the "Heads Up" subset that is fashioned after the 1938 Goudey set. Finally, on the right is Tony Gwynn in the "Sports Royalty" subset. The Gwynn card copies the design of the 1933 Sport Kings Gum set.

Weirdo's Take the Field

Since last nights game was filled with some weirdness I thought it would be appropriate to show this eBay sale of a vintage 1960's Dodgers Weirdo Series bobblehead. This style is very rare as it sold for a lofty $371.00 a couple of days ago.

eBay Auction Link: Weirdo's Dodger Bobblehead:

Box Break: Enjoying Some 2009 Heritage

(click to enlarge)

I've done it again. Can anybody stop me from myself.

I was at Target over the weekend and I had to check out the card aisle. Sitting there was a blaster box of 2009 Topps Heritage that had my name all over it. In fact, as you read below, my name was actually in it.

Anyway, I pulled some great cards including the above 3 Dodgers- Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and a (I think) chrome card of Russell Martin. In addition, I pulled an autographed card of Curt Raydon. He played just one season in the majors in 1958. The card is numbered to 60 copies. I just found an eBay auction for this card that sold for $30.00 this morning. That value is a bit unexpected.
Below is an example of the back of the cards. This is very similar to the style seen in the vintage 1960 set. It even includes a little cartoon.
The card below had me laughing and I'll tell you why. This guy has my name. Well, not exactly my name, but it's pretty damn close.

As a toddler my folks made friends with other young families in an apartment complex in Redondo Beach. This was in the early to mid 70's. These young parents needed to find a way to amuse themselves so they decided to give all the kids nicknames- funny nicknames. So, a friend of mine was given the name of Jong Jong, another young toddler was called Lea (as in Princess Lea), and I was called Jo Jo. Yes, my childhood moniker is Jo Jo Reyes.

Send In the Clowns

What a crazy game last night was. Errors, misplays and bad running did the Mets in.

In honor of last nights debacle I bring you Sinatra's "Send in the Clowns."

YouTube Link: Spectacular1965:

Card of the Week:

Most fans and collectors only look at the front of the cards, then put them in plastic boxes or sleeves only to never be seen again. Not I. I like to inspect cards. I look at the photography and wonder what's going on in the play or what was the guy thinking when he made that face. I flip the card over and review the stats. I go through the description. I used to love the little cartoons once found on nearly every Topps card made. Now, it is a rarity if a card includes such artwork. I do love that many cards now feature photos on the reverse. Which brings up this weeks "Card of the Week."

Above is a 1993 Upper Deck card of former Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina that has a funny photo with 2 other teammates on the reverse. They are wearing t-shirts with the words "Frick... Frack... And Hack..." Unfortunately, I can't figure out who the other 2 players are, so if you know please pass that along.

Blog Kiosk: 5/17/2009

OK. So who jinxed Kershaw?

• Tony Jackson has just joined LA Dodger Talk.
  
• Big Brother in Baseball.

  What few, if any, of them reporting to their training camp in Tampa knew was that the Yankees — and every other major league team — had assigned someone in the organization to monitor them discreetly from the time they were notified of a test until they produced a urine sample, sometimes hours later.

• Jack Kerouac was a Roto-Baseball fanatic.

  He obsessively played a fantasy baseball game of his own invention, charting the exploits of made-up players like Wino Love, Warby Pepper, Heinie Twiett, Phegus Cody and Zagg Parker, who toiled on imaginary teams named either for cars (the Pittsburgh Plymouths and New York Chevvies, for example) or for colors (the Boston Grays and Cincinnati Blacks). He collected their stats, analyzed their performances and, as a teenager, when he played most ardently, wrote about them in homemade newsletters and broadsides. He even covered financial news and imaginary contract disputes.

• I love collectibles like this. This lady has a giant quilt with 135 embroidered autographs; including one from our old skipper Tommy Lasorda.

  “I didn’t go into it with any expectations,” she recalled. “I had no idea it was an impossibility. The ballplayers weren’t charging for their autographs then.”
  Balls and strikes didn’t appeal to Brown, but she didn’t go in with eyes closed. Each note was handwritten specifically to the player or manager, and the message was simple. “I told them I was making a quilt for my son,” Brown said. “I did it on faith.”

  Hat Tip: SCD:
• This video is just awsome and is a must see for the collector in all of us.

Hat Tip: Big League Stew:

A Online Trade with Garvey Cey Russell Lopes

I am rediscovering a joy I last experienced as a child.

Recently, I completed a online trade with the proprietor of the Garvey Cey Russell Lopes Blog. He was working on completing a 1989 Upper Deck set and had a long list of cards needed for completion. Fortunately, I have a giant box filled with commons from that set- easily some 4500 cards total. So, I traded any and all cards I had from his list and he passed along some Dodger cards to add to my collection. As I've written in the past, my current collection consist of mostly older/ vintage Baseball cards, so I have very few modern issued cards of Dodger players.

Below is a sample of the bounty GCRL passed along. Thanks Bro!

BTW, anybody else wanna trade? I have tons of cards, mostly from 1986 to 1993, some much older vintage items, unopened boxes, sets and a bunch of oddball oddities.

(click on the pic to enlarge)

Here are 3 vintage players that were pass along. On the left is a 2001 Upper Deck Cooperstown Collection card of Pee Wee Reese. My favorite, though, is the Carl Erskine in the middle. It's a modern card made after the vintage 1955 Topps set.

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If you are interested in knowing what the 2009 Topps cards look like for this season, well, here they are above. I'm not entirely impressed with the design. On the other hand, the card of Pierre making the diving catch is pretty nice.

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Now that you've had a chance to see this years Topps card, now check out Upper Deck's 2009 Baseball cards above. Here is Jeff Kent's last card, Chin-Lung Hu and a Juan Pierre in a well worn uniform.

(click on the pic to enlarge)

Stadium Club has always been one of my favorite card sets because of their outstanding photography. The Devon White and Kevin Brown 2000 Stadium Club versions do not disappoint.

(click on the pic to enlarge)

Above are 2001 Topps Heritage cards of Darren Dreifort and Chan Ho Park. These cards borrow the vintage design from the 1952 Topps set. Below, the Eric Karros and Todd Hollandsworth cards are from Fleer's 2000 Tradition set that borrow its design from Topps 1954 set.

(click on the pic to enlarge)

Rehashing old designs for modern sets is quite popular. Below is Upper Deck's 2008 Goudey cards of Hu, Chad Billingsley and the outfielder who I refuse to ever think about again. The original Goudey sets were made in the 1930's.

(click on the pic to enlarge)

Below are 2 examples from Topps 2009 Heritage card set that borrow it's design from the Topps 1960 set.

(click on the pic to enlarge)

Last but not least are two cards of Karros and Chan Ho Park from the 2001 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia set. Until recently, I had never heard of this card company.

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