Card Show Fun Time

I strolled home a couple of hours ago after a long day working a table at a card show.  The show was held in Culver City, CA and had an old school card show feel.  The show had an eclectic mix of dealers and a steady stream of customers.  It was also held in an auditorium that probably hasn't been remodeled in a few decades.  The setting was perfect for a card show.  Good deals were to be had and it reminded me of card shows that I used to attend as a kid when events like this were a little more common.

It was certainly a buyers market.  Prices for tables were reasonable, which is why my buddy and I jumped at the opportunity to get a spot at the show.  The reasonable table prices probably kept prices low for the consumer.  Even though, I was a vendor at this show, it was good to see collectors happy at the deals that they were finding throughout the auditorium.  The show was old school and had positive vibes.

The show also was a sort of Dodger blogger gathering as well.  It is always a grand time when Dodger bloggers get together to talk some cards and some baseball.  It's also nice to get a chance to chat with some of the members of the blogging community and helps you put a face and personality to the words that you read daily.  I got to meet Ernest from Dodgers Blue Heaven and he made an awesome purchase which I won't spoil in case he wants the honor of showing it off on his blog.  Jesse from Los Angeles Inspiration was also in the house having a good time and buying some really nice looking cardboard.  Those were a couple of my fellow bloggers that I got to spend time with this afternoon.

Culver City's favorite son, Zakwin was also in attendance at the card show.  Zakwin runs the famous, Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle blog and he brought me some presents.  Woo!

I had given Zakwin a baseball at the Dodgers Fan Fest earlier this year so,he could get it signed by rookie of the year candidate, Hyun-Jin Ryu.  I told him to just get me back later the next time we met up.  He came through big time today.

He handed me this sweet looking Ichiro bobble head that comes with a baseball card.  I am so tempted to just pop this sucker out of the plastic and display it in my room.  The card itself will also fit nicely into my Ichiro binder which has soared to almost 250 cards.

Not only was the Ichiro bobble given to me but, Zakwin also handed me a stack of baseball cards.  One of the cards that was in the team bag was this Dee Gordon card with a piece of his minor league jersey in it.  I have the Jerry Sands version from this set and am happy to now have the Gordon to go along with it.

A fourth Doyer blogger that I got to chill with today was Oscar from All Trade Bait, All The Time and he brought some cards for me as well.  Double woo!

Oscar and I had agreed upon a trade after he posted up some old Montreal Expo cards on his blog.  He had a couple cards that interested me and a swap was established.  I set aside some Dodgers and hall of famers for him.

The Expos uniform has to be one of the best of all time.  The hat was awesome and the red, white and blue color scheme always looks spiffy.  Montreal deserves to have a team again just so these uniforms can come back and grace the front of some nice cardboard.

A vendor at the show was practically giving away high end mid 90s packs.  The vendor was selling some Upper Deck SP, Topps Finest and Topps Laser.  I was very tempted to buy a bag full which some other folks at the show had done.  I show restraint at this show and only spent a dollar on a card.  My goal was to keep money and not spend it on more baseball cards.

My restraint paid off as I left the show with a pocket full of cash and Oscar had included this Topps Laser Rauul Mondesi in my trade stack.  Getting this card was just a little extra icing on a fun day.  I had made my money back plus some and got some items from members of the blogging community that fit into my collection.

It was a great time seeing some of my blogger buddies.  I look forward to the next show or game where we get to hang out again.

Unnamed Sources

During the MLB winter meetings, numerous rumors are floated around to the media.  The writers, bloggers and tweeters of the sports world discuss these rumors to the mass public.  Almost all the people that read about various rumored free agent signings and trades have no idea where these ideas came from or how factual the reporting really is.

This time of year baseball fans are yearning for some games to be played and passing the time gossiping about the latest hot stove news.  

Dodger fans have been hearing a lot of different scenarios involving additions and subtractions from their team.  Some may have some truth to them and some may be flat out false.  I have a few rumors to spread of my own that came from sources with no name.

An unnamed source told me that Matt Kemp is about to sign a contract extension with the Dodgers.  This deal is worth a reported $245 million dollars spread out over 10 years.  This new extension will make Kemp a Dodger until the year 2029.  This deal allows the Dodgers to buy out Kemp's retirement years.

Another source of mine, that will go nameless, has confirmed to me that the contract also includes a Hollywood nightclub.  Kemp will become the sole owner of a flashy nightspot.  His club, which is also currently unnamed, will also have an upstairs loft that will serve as Kemp's home away from home.

Dodger non-prospect, Pratt Maynard, is going to be traded just before opening day according to some dude that seeks minor league autographs in Ogden, Utah.  This source claims that Maynard and his .670 OPS in Single-A last year will be shipped off to the New York Mets for third baseman David Wright.  This trade will take place just before opening day after the Wilpons will have conned enough New Yorkers into buying season tickets and will then dump the huge salary of Wright to the Dodgers for a scrub minor league catcher.

Unnamed sources have given me information about possible trade rumors involving Dee Gordon.  This information was told to me by a guy who's name I have forgotten and he claims to have read these reports in an actual newspaper delivered to his home.

This source claims that Gordon may be shipped off to another team for a third baseman or a relief pitcher or maybe even a starter.  Gordon may also be just a small piece in a bigger trade involving more than 5 players.

Oh wait, this last one about Gordon may be true.  At least some parts of what I wrote may actually happen.

These cards were sent to me by the Wax Captain and he is a Rangers collector.  The Wax Captian's Dugout is a somewhat newer blog and you guys should check it out.  

Wax Captian, thanks for the cards and I will let you know soon when I am mailing out a return package.

Highly Collectible

Since this is the collecting off season, it gives me a chance to look back on some of the cards that have entered my collection.  Today, I was able to flip through my binder of current Dodgers and appreciate the cards that were added this past season.  Topps seemed to do a pretty good job capturing great photos of Dodger players in 2012.

I decided to pick some 2012 Dodger cards out that I think non-Dodger collectors will eventually pick up and add to their collection.

I skimmed through some of my non-Dodger binders to look for cards of players that I don't collect but, I still kept around because the card looked cool.  Some of the 2012 Dodgers that I picked out fit in the "look cool" category.  Bloggers tend to save cards that they enjoy just for the appearance of the photo on the cardboard.

This is the only David Wright card that I have in my National League binder.  I have kept it due to its awesome, leaping action shot.  Their are probably some other bloggers out there that have also held on to the beauty from 2010 even though they don't collect cards of New York Mets.

I am not a Tony Phillips collector but, this is the type of card that I must keep.  I believe I found this in a dime box at a card shop.

This card is great on so many different levels.  I should probably list them to make this an easier and more pleasant read.

1.  Phillips looks slightly confused and dumbfounded that his picture is being taken at a baseball stadium while he is in uniform to play a baseball game.  This should be the place that Tony Phillips would most expect to get his photo taken by complete strangers.

2.  His mustache/'fro combo.  Makes for a good baseball card all the time.

3.  The beer league quality of the Oakland A's uniform in the mid-80s.  The Oakland franchise was on the verge of some glory years with Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.  I hope by then that they were able to buy jerseys in some place different than a back alley in China Town.

4.  Phillips is signing a baseball for a fan.  I love seeing athletes do this when I am at the ballpark and seeing it captured on a baseball card is sweet as well.

The photography in the 1971 Topps set is superb.  This Art Shamsky card is one of my favorite cards that I own from the 70s.  Shamsky appears to be flinching at a pitch coming towards the plate.  I love the angle that the photographer captured this image from.

I maybe own only one other Shamsky card.  This card still found a way into my binder because it is a classic card featuring a ballplayer that I know little about.

So, what Dodger cards from 2012 will be kept by non-Dodger collectors because they look cool?  This Dee Gordon caught my eye as a candidate.  Chipper Jones makes a cameo on his way to being a part of a double play.  Chipper will be remembered years from now, so future collectors will find it neat that he showed up in a card of some dude named Dee Gordon.

This is one of my Dodger cards from this year.  I wish Gordon will have some success at the big league level just so, Topps can keep making fantastic baseball cards of him.  Oh yeah, and his success will help the Dodgers win baseball games.

Hate the player, don't hate the card.  That is what I always say on daily basis.  Ask anyone who knows me.

Adam Kennedy is a bum.  Every Dodger fan agrees with that statement.  Kennedy had a decent career but, his 2012 Dodger season was pathetic and he actually got 201 plate appearances for the team.

This card is great though.  It perfectly captures day time baseball in LA.  The sun is warm, palm trees are seen beyond the outfield walls and Adam Kennedy is playing for the Dodgers.

This card is probably already collected by non-Dodger fans.  I could see some bloggers holding on to this A.J. Ellis card.  Nick from the famous Dime Boxes blog probably has several different versions of this card.  Dee Gordon with A.J. Ellis in a headlock is almost a must for any baseball card collector.

I believe this card has the best chance out of 2012 Dodgers to be collected in the future because it captures a great celebratory walk-off win.  This card will also probably be blogged about 20 years from now by some kid that can write circles around the lot of us.

Deeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have finally acquired my first Dee Gordon autograph.  I may be the last Dodger collector to achieve this feet.  The prices for Gordon's auto have been dropping this off season.  His rookie autos last year were going for a decent amount.  Certainly too much for me to pay.  Since, the card companies have been pumping Dee Gordon autographed cards into many products, this has helped the price lower.

Lower prices work better for me.

   Bam!  This is a sweet 2011 Topps Tier One Dee Gordon Auto #ed/999.  Tier One is a product that I probably won't open a box of in my lifetime.  The set is too high end for me.  But, I will be able to get some singles of the players I collect.

I expect big things from Gordon this coming baseball season.  He will steal a ton of bases.  I predict getting a 100 steals this year.  Gordon will be a modern day Maury Wills.  Gordon is the fastest ball player I have ever seen play.  He is a sprinter out there.

This is what Dee Gordon is faster than:

Dee Gordon is faster than Kenny Lofton

Dee Gordon is faster than Shane Victorino

Dee Gordon is faster than James Loney's Maserati

Dee Gordon is faster than a Clayton Kershaw fastball

Dee Gordon is faster than Juan Uribe's weight gain

I could go on forever.  I think the point is that Dee Gordon is faster than anything on planet Earth.

Also, I would like to plug a contest being held at The Diamond King.