swing and a win

i posted earlier today about a trade that i made with bert at swing and a pop up.  i was also fortunate enough to win a contest that netted me a value box of 2013 topps update from the man.  i chose the walmart version, hoping for some blue-bordered dodger goodness, and i got some.

it's nick punto turning two at dodger stadium

this would be my favorite card from update this year if it weren't for puig's presence in the set.  no puigs in this box, however.

but, there was another blue-bordered double play turn thanks to ryan roberts of the rays

plus a didi gregorious turn

although not of the blue-bordered variety.

now for the inserts.  my 1971 topps mini was troy tulowitzki

and the chasing history insert was miguel cabrera

the emerald parallel was bryce harper

here's the making their mark insert - the cardinals' carlos martinez

and the postseason heroes card was none other than mariano rivera

bonus insert!  a camo parallel of jim henderson of the brewers.

this is the first non-dodger camo parallel i have owned, and the first one i have pulled from a pack.

bert also sent a few dodgers along for the ride, like this 1996 bowman onan masaoka

i believe masaoka was the fourth hawaiian born pitcher to play for the dodgers.  the others were carlos diaz, sid fernandez, and of course charlie hough.  it's too bad he couldn't stick in the majors long enough to establish loogy status.

last but not least, here's a 2007 topps card of jason schmidt celebrating his transformation from hated rival to cheered starter

schmidt won his dodger debut, but the team lost the other 5 games in which he pitched in 2007.  he worked hard to get back to the team, but made only a few more starts in 2009 before hanging 'em up.

bert - thanks again for the contest and the extra cards!

you want a night card? i got a night card.

check out the shiznit that is this 2003 topps stadium club 'stadium shots' insert featuring shawn green and dodger stadium in its nocturnal glory.

awesome, isn't it?  i think it would pull in some votes in one of night owl's night card polls, don't you?  well, before anyone worries that i am taunting mr. owl, be assured that i am including this card in a box of dodger goodies that will be on its way to new york very soon.  in fact, there are some cards that the night owl sent me a while back that i have been meaning to show off, so here goes.

1966 topps bob miller

miller was a big part of the dodgers' bullpen in the mid-1960's, posting a sub-3.00 era from 1963-1966.  he had an off year in 1967 and was sent to the twinkies in the perranoski/roseboro for versailles/mudcat deal.

2009 topps chrome kenley jansen

i believe jansen was still a catcher when this card was issued.  now he's giving baby brox a run for his money at the back end of the bullpen.  27 innings, 41 strikeouts and an era of 0.67.  plus, he has a lifetime obp of 1.000 (a walk and a single in his only two at bats).

1998 bowman onan masaoka

i scanned this card because hawaii is seen in the background.  i guess you'll have to trust me.  what's with the dodgers and leftys from hawaii? masaoka, sid fernandez, carlos diaz.  ok, charlie hough wasn't left-handed, but still.  after pitching for the dodgers in 1999 and 2000, masaoka was traded to the white sox and was never heard from again.

2000 bowman jason repko

repko used to be a shortstop?  i suppose he switched to the outfield so that he would have more chances to collide into walls or other players.

1985 donruss highlights keith hernandez

hello, chavez ravine.  unlike the night owl, i am not a keith hernandez fan.  dodger stadium in the background makes it ok to show this card, though.

2001 upper deck legends of new york jackie robinson

fuzzy cards are nice.  i'm still waiting for upper deck to put out a legends of la set.  i'll be waiting quite a bit longer, even if upper deck were still in the baseball card business.

2010 topps allen & ginter tdih manny ramirez

2010 was a train wreck for manny, so noting a car accident on this card is a reasonable tie-in.

2010 topps 1951 topps jackie robinson inserts

more jackie.  a triple and a stolen base (home, of course) and the dodgers lead 1-0.

thanks greg.  be on the lookout for some stuff very shortly.