they came from 2004...

today i'm showing some cards that were released in 2004.  the first few don't look like cards from 2004, however.  like this 2004 fleer platinum edwin jackson card

that was modeled after 1984 fleer cards.

and then there is this 2004 fleer tradition card

that brings to mind the 1990 fleer design although the banner here has more flow to it.

this 2004 topps all-time fan favorites brett butler card

uses the 1991 topps design.  unfortunately, topps kept the orange frame design of the giants cards. 1991 was butler's first year with the dodgers, and he led the league in runs scored and walks.  he was featured in the flagship set as a giant, receiving a dodger card (with the proper blue frame) in the traded set.

finally, there is this 2004 topps cracker jack card of adrian beltre

that is a play on the 1915 cracker jack design

don't worry - there were some original designs used in 2004 - like the design of the 2004 upper deck flagship set.  here's juan encarnacion's card from that set

i like the 2004 upper deck set because of the inset photo behind the players' names.  that's a dodger stadium scene, in case you can't tell (the same scene - differently cropped - that's on the back of dodger cards in the 2004 upper deck legends timeless teams set).  unfortunately, upper deck did not apply the photo consistently to cards in the set

it may just be that the horizontal cards in the set didn't get the inset photo, i don't know.  here are some landscape oriented cards for you to ponder - shawn green

is in pittsburgh, i believe

hideo nomo

is in the dodger stadium dugout

and robin ventura

is on the road somewhere - maybe san francisco - as that's where jeff weaver is on his card

which is vertical and features the stadium inset photo.

there's not much of a discernible background photo at all on this 2004 topps clubhouse collection eric gagne relic card

but i guess we are supposed to be focusing on the fabric and not the photo.

it would be interesting to know what sort of designs fleer and upper deck would have these days.  i am sure, like topps (heritage, archives, gypsy queen, allen & ginter), they would issue sets that incorporate some older set designs, but there would be some unique designs, too.

at least i hope there would be.

the evolution of the right fielder, part 3

we pick up with the departure of raul mondesi and the arrival of shawn green

shawn green (2000-2003)

green had put up big numbers for the blue jays in 1999 (42/123/.309) so i was a bit disappointed when he played in all 162 games for the dodgers in 2000, but did just 24/99/.269.  it reminded me of darryl strawberry's first (and, as it turned out, only decent year in la), but i shouldn't have worried.  green posted back-to-back years of over 40 home runs in 2001 and 2002.  his power numbers were down in 2003 - i believe he had injured his shoulder - but he still played in 160 games. take that, mike marshall!  i should mention that green and i have something in common - we both were in attendance at game 1 of the 1988 world series, but, unlike him, i didn't leave early.

the dodgers moved greenie to first base in 2004 and juan encarnacion turned up in right.

juan encarnacion (2004)

encarnacion was acquired by the dodgers via a trade with the marlins in december of 2003.  he started 77 games for the dodgers in right before he was traded back to the marlins in july of 2004.  that was the deal that jim tracy openly lamented, as the dodgers gave up encarnacion, guillermo mota, and paul lo duca for brad penny and hee-seop choi.  encarnacion was hitting only .235 at the time with 13 home runs, so i think tracy was more upset at losing his starting catcher.

drew (2005-2006)

encarnacion's departure and the failure of any interim right fielder to claim the job opened up the spot for free agent jd drew.  drew came aboard after a lone season in atlanta in which he finished 6th in the mvp voting.  his first year in la was forgettable as he played in only 72 games for the blue, and hit only 15 home runs.  manager jim tracy deployed his crew of 'ja(y)sons' (repko, werth, and grabowski) to fill in for the missing drew.  jd rebounded nicely in 2006, playing in 146 games, hitting 20 home runs, and driving in 100 for the only time in his career.  he also hit one of the back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs in that late season game against the padres.  of course, scott boras had negotiated an out clause in his contract after two years, and drew took it and headed to the red sox.

andre ethier (2007-2011)

with drew gone, the dodgers simply moved andre ethier over from left field, and he's been there ever since.  in his 5 years as the dodgers' rightfielder, ethier has averaged 146 games, 35 doubles, 20 home runs, and .288 at the plate.  his home run numbers are lower than expected over that span because of his 2011 season when injury hampered his power.

so, there you have it.  in three parts, the dodger rightfielder has evolved from carl furillo to andre ethier.  here's hoping it doesn't evolve any further for a while.