Raidering and Writing a Trade Post

Today was a good day for me.  My day started early by making a drive out to Pasadena to watch the Raiders/Texans game with some friends.  We had the usual fun times with morning beer drinking and shouting.  The Raiders won today in honor of the late Al Davis.  It is weird for me to think that the Raiders won't be run by Al Davis.  I truly believed that Al Davis would out live me.

After watching the Raiders win in dramatic fashion, I made a trek from Pasadena to Tarzana in the valley to stop by the card shop.  I was going there to meet up with Josh from Dodgerbobble.  Normally, a trek like Pasadena to Tarzana is a tough task.  But, today the freeways were clear and the sun was shining.  Well, I live in LA, the sun is always shining.  I made it to the shop very quickly.  I believe that Al Davis cleared the way for me to give thanks for all the times that I have defended him to Raider haters as well as fellow Raider fans.

Before, this starts to sound like my October 9th journal entry, lets get to the trade post.  This package was sent to me by Napkin Doon, who is a great trader and has an awesome blog name. 

I love serial cards from the 90s.  You know, the cards with the extremely high serial number but, was meant to show scarcity.  For some reason, as a kid, I never pulled any cards like this Eric Karros #ed/6000.  I may have been opening up to much Collector's Choice back then.

These were the cards that got my interest when Napkin Doon posted them on his blog.  The Topps Chrome this year looks really nice.  I am glad that Topps had made the proper changes to make up for last year's debacle.

The Ryan Braun card shares the design of 1995 Topps.  I opened up a lot of 1995 Topps packs as a kid.  The design brings me back to my glory days at age 12.

I am not sure if Ivan DeJesus Jr. will ever get a fair shake with the Dodgers.  He had a breakout year in the minors a few years back and then broke his leg.  He has been trying to bounce back and prove his worth to the team.  He didn't do much with only a handful of at-bats at the major league level this year.  Next year may be his last chance to make a strong impression with the Dodgers before they ship him off to Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh is where GM Ned Colletti sends Dodger prospects to disappear.

Minis!  Minis are awesome, especially retro minis.  2 out of 3 of these guys will be in different uniforms by next July.  In my world, Clayton Kershaw is going to be a Dodger lifer.  I hope I am write.  I haven't invested this much love in a player since Mike Piazza.  I don't think I would be able to get over it, if I saw Kershaw in another uniform.

Thanks for the trade,Napkin Doon. 

Some Catching Up To Do At The Platter

I have only been away from Blogger for a few days but, it seems that I have missed a lot.  Some group breaks have been going on and even some contests that I need to sign up for.  It also seems that I have won a contest that I entered a week or so ago.  My trading ways have slowed down a little but they seem to be picking up again.  So, I have to get back at it and show off some goods.

First off is some cards that I got from Jeff, who runs the blog called My Sports and Sports Cards and he is a White Sox collector.  This is the first time that we have traded.  Jeff's blog is fairly new so, I made sure to send him an extra thick bubble mailer.  Some bloggers sent me some extra cards when I joined the blogging ranks so, I wanted to continue the tradition.

Jeff was cool enough to send me some 1976 Topps League Leader cards.  Davey Lopes out stole Joe Morgan and Lou Brock in 1975.  Awesome!  Also, Andy Messersmith had an ERA better than Tom Seaver in 1975.  I like seeing Dodger players out performing some hall of fame players.

Jeff also sent along some modern sweetness.  I love the Gypsy Queen set.  I needed the Rafael Furcal and the Ryan Braun from this set.  The detail on the Furcal card is impeccable.  The wrinkles on his jersey and his muscle tone really stand out.  I think I have seen more Furcal baseball cards this season than actual games that he has played in.  He has done some good things in a Dodger uniform but, I am kind of glad that he is a free agent at the end of the year.  He is just to brittle to be a full time player anymore.

As a player collector, sometimes I forget that I need to pick up a parallel of a base card that I have.  I have had the 2009 Topps 206 Ryan Braun base card for awhile.  I think I got it from a box that I bought months ago.  It took me this long to finally obtain the bronze parallel.  Thanks,Jeff!!!

I also bought some awesome autographs off of ebay recently.  My collection is severely lacking in autos of Brooklyn Dodgers.  Those guys are a huge part of Dodger history.  I have been searching for a nicely priced autograph of Johnny Podres and I finally got one.

Bam!  Here is a killer auto of Mr.Podres.  The 1955 World Series hero and Brooklyn legend.  After 1955, Mr.Podres probably never paid for anything in Brooklyn.  Anything he wanted should have been comped.  Whether it was drinks, food, clothes, cars etc.  He shut down the Yankees in a game 7 to bring Brooklyn its only title.  I feel like I was there in Brooklyn living and dying with Dem Bums.  I have a GU and now an autograph of Mr.Podres.  Next up, is to find a throwback jersey of his.  I'll check with Mitchell and Ness. 

I have also been looking for a Don Newcombe auto on ebay.  I finally found one to my liking.  How did people purchase cards before the internet?  How did people know what fair market value was for there cards?  Anyways, this card is great!  Newcombe is another Brooklyn legend.  He still works for the Dodgers in there community relations department.  He make the rounds in LA signing autographs and doing charity work.

Ok, that was a little bit of catching up.  I am not dead, my blog lives on.  Thanks for the trade, Jeff!  Also, thank you to the ebay sellers for having some autographs of Brooklyn Dodgers for me to purchase.

Ryan Braun Haves List

Of all my non-Dodger player collections, Ryan Braun is the player I'm seeking out the most.  Please look at my list and if a card isnt listed, then I'll be willing to trade for it.

Updated on Dec. 5, 2011

Ryan Braun

2005 Topps Update Gold #313
2007 Allen and Ginter #116
2007 Fleer Ultra Lucky 13 #245
2007 Topps '52 Dynamic Duos DD3

2007 Upper Deck Future Stars T5-GG #'ed/999
2007 Upper Deck Rookie of the Year ROY-NL
2008 Topps #430

2008 Topps TCP8
2008 Topps Chrome Refractor All Rookie Team ARC21

2008 Topps Heritage #390

2008 Topps Opening Day #179

2008 Topps Rookie of the Year #101

2008 Topps Stadium Club #80

2008 Topps Update #245

2008 Upper Deck #551

2008 Upper Deck A Piece of History #53

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes Black #189
2008 Upper Deck Checklist #756
2008 Upper Deck First Edition #393

2008 Upper Deck Goudey #105

2008 Upper Deck OPC-RB

2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic #10

2008 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts #5
2008 Upper Deck SPx #53
2008 Upper Deck Starquest Common SQ-2

2008 Upper Deck Timeline #18
2008 Upper Deck Timeline #135
2008 Upper Deck X #56

2009 Allen and Ginter #205

2009 Goodwin Champions #49

2009 O-Pee-Chee #70

2009 O-Pee-Chee Black Border #70
2009 SP Authentic #8
2009 Sweet Spot #89

2009 Topps #240
2009 Topps 206 #252
2009 Topps 206 Bronze #252
2009 Topps Ticket To Stardom #90
2009 Topps Town TTT30
2009 Topps Update #123

2009 Topps Unique #10
2009 Topps Victory PP25

2009 Upper Deck #214

2009 Upper Deck #732

2009 Upper Deck Goudey #113
2009 Upper Deck Goudey 4 in 1 #35-23
2009 Upper Deck Goudey 4 in 1 #35-31

2009 Upper Deck Goudey Heads Up #284
2009 Upper Deck Icons #89
2009 Upper Deck Spectrum #56
2009 Upper Deck Starquest Emerald Super Rare SQ-23

2009 Upper Deck Starquest Silver Common SQ-23

2009 Upper Deck Stars of the Game GG-RB

2009 Upper Deck Team Leaders #439

2009 Upper Deck X #48

2010 Allen and Ginter #3
2010 Allen and Ginter GU Jersey AGR-RB

2010 Bowman #1

2010 Bowman Chrome #1
2010 Bowman Chrome Refractor #1

2010 Bowman Gold #1

2010 Bowman Platinum #7

2010 National Chicle Chicle Back #95

2010 Topps #331

2010 Topps 206 #153

2010 Topps 206 SP
2010 Topps Attax

2010 Topps Attax

2010 Topps Attax Opening Day Foil
2010 Topps Checklist #237

2010 Topps Checklist #350

2010 Topps Chrome #137

2010 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor #137

2010 Topps Finest #4
2010 Topps Heritage #393

2010 Topps Legendary Lineage LL21

2010 Topps Opening Day #184
2010 Topps Team Card #574

2010 Topps Town TTT24

2010 Topps Triple Threads #8

2010 Upper Deck #291
2010 Upper Deck Checklist #586
2011 Allen and Ginter #300
2011 Bowman's Best BB8
2011 Bowman Platinum #17
2011 Gypsy Queen #37
2011 Topps #1

2011 Topps 60 T60-38

2011 Topps Chrome #54
2011 Topps Diamond Duos DDBD
2011 Topps Diamond Duos DD-6
2011 Topps Diamond Stars DS-24
2011 Topps Heritage #258
2011 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractor C23
2011 Topps Heritage Managers Dream #18
2011 Topps Kimball Mini KC-8
2011 Topps Lineage 3D
2011 Topps Opening Day Stadium Lights UL-10
2011 Topps Target Throwback #1

2011 Topps Town TT-30