when the cards go blue

it's nice when the coloring of a card accentuates elements in the photo, and it is particularly nice when it is dodger blue that is being accentuated.  following up on my recent decision to complete the 2007 topps chrome blue refractor dodger team set (which is not really a recent decision - as a team collector, i had already decided to complete it - it's more like prioritizing), i have picked up a trio of cards.

2007 topps chrome jd drew blue refractor

2007 topps chrome brad penny blue refractor

and 2007 topps chrome juan pierre blue refractor

see what i mean?  jd's helmet, brad's stirrups, and juan's fake blue jersey all look better surrounded by those blue borders.

here are some other blue parallels.

2010 topps finest manny ramirez blue refractor

and 2010 topps opening day manny ramirez toppstown

go ahead. steal the code.

sometimes, the blues don't quite match, which was the case with the walmart parallels that started showing up in 2012.

2012 topps dee gordon walmart blue parallel

2013 topps kenley jansen walmart blue parallel

2014 topps hanley ramirez walmart blue parallel

2014 topps update chone figgins walmart blue parallel

and then there are some blue parallels that sparkle, like this 2013 topps dee gordon silver slate blue sparkle parallel

with dee turning two.

sometimes, the blue is subtle, as is the case with this 2014 panini hall of fame don drysdale blue refractor

numbered 54/75 - one off of his jersey number!  just kidding - that does not excite me, but blue cards featuring the big blue wrecking crew (yes, by that i mean dodgers - not new york football giants) do.

oh my o-pee-chee complete set!

about five years later, i picked up the last few cards i needed to complete the 2009 upper deck o-pee-chee set.  if i recall correctly, this set was supposed to look like the 1977 topps set (just as upper deck had used the 1971 and 1965 and something pretty close to the 1963 topps sets in their 'vintage' releases).  however, upper deck got sued by topps and had to change the design.

although i stopped collecting o-pee-chee sets in the 1980's, you know as a fan of the brand and proprietor of the oh my o-pee-chee blog that i was onboard for this set.  now it is complete.  here are the final half dozen cards that i needed for my set.

jacoby ellsbury

derek jeter

jhonny peralta

i decided early on that i wasn't going to let upper deck's hijinks make me spend more money to complete the set, so my set features a number of black bordered cards for which i did not have the regular base after opening two boxes of product.  the peralta eluded me until i found a black bordered parallel online.

omar vizquel

david wright

and mike pelfrey

the pelfrey was actually a bonus non-dodger card on my nefarious 9 list for awhile, but no one came forward with the card.

i realize that i need to update that list again.

here are a couple of other cards that i came by and picked up - one is a double, but it will go in my lurker collection.  it's wilson betemit's card

with dodger juan pierre making an apperance.

lastly, i found this colorful relic card of joe nathan, joe mauer, and michael cuddyer for cheap

not as nice as my dodger relic from the set, but still good to have.  just like a complete set.

hail the mail!

i enjoy getting mail.  i always have.  over the last few years, i have especially enjoyed seeing self addressed stamped envelopes in the mailbox.  that's because they usually contain autographed cards.  the most recent of these envelopes came from the twins' spring training home thanks to former dodger pitcher ricky nolasco.  i had sent a copy of his 2014 topps card

and his 2013 topps update card

to fort myers in the hopes that he would sign them, and he did!  what's even more awesome about this is that it fills the requirement of my topps dodger autograph project for 2014.  as you might recall, i tried to secure at least one signed dodger card (ideally freely obtained through the mail) for each topps flagship set, starting with the 1951 red/blue backs, without repeating a player.  now, i could count nolasco's 2013 topps update card as part of the project (i don't consider update series official requirements of the project, but note them if i have them), but i don't know if i will send out any other 2014 cards so i will skip the update set for now.

here's the updated tally of the project, by the way.

1951 topps - preacher roe (purchased)

1952 topps - rocky bridges

1953 topps - bobby morgan

1954 topps - billy herman (purchased)

1955 topps - don zimmer (purchased)

1956 topps - randy jackson

1957 topps - carl erskine

1958 topps - joe pignatano

1959 topps - fred kipp

1960 topps - chuck essegian

1961 topps - bob aspromonte

1962 topps - norm sherry

1963 topps - ed roebuck

1964 topps - ken mcmullen

1965 topps - dick tracewski

1966 topps - john kennedy

1967 topps - phil regan

1968 topps - jim campanis

1969 topps - jeff torborg

1970 topps - al mcbean

1971 topps - sandy vance

1972 topps - manny mota

1973 topps - wes parker

1974 topps - claude osteen

1974 topps traded - jim wynn

1975 topps - ron cey

1975 topps mini - joe ferguson

1976 topps - bill russell

1976 topps traded - dusty baker

1977 topps - steve garvey

1978 topps - dave lopes

1979 topps - charlie hough

1980 topps - jerry reuss

1981 topps - doug rau

1981 topps traded - ken landreaux

1982 topps - dave goltz

1982 topps traded - jose morales

1983 topps - ron roenicke

1983 topps traded - rafael landestoy

1984 topps - fernando valenzuela

1984 topps traded - mike vail

1985 topps - burt hooton

1985 topps traded - mariano duncan

1986 topps - enos cabell

1986 topps traded - franklin stubbs

1987 topps - steve sax

1987 topps traded - matt young

1988 topps - len matuszek

1989 topps - mickey hatcher

1990 topps - kal daniels

1990 topps traded - juan samuel

1991 topps - tim belcher

1992 topps - roger mcdowell

1993 topps - dave hansen

1993 topps traded - tim wallach

1994 topps - jody reed

1995 topps - chris gwynn

1996 topps - todd hollandsworth

1997 topps - brett butler

1998 topps - greg gagne

1999 topps - jose vizcaino

2000 topps - jeff shaw

2001 topps - chan ho park

2002 topps - andy ashby

2002 topps traded - joel hanrahan

2003 topps - jim tracy

2003 topps traded - ron coomer

2004 topps - edwin jackson

2004 topps traded - milton bradley

2005 topps - chad billingsley

2005 topps update & highlights - jason phillips

2006 topps - bill mueller

2007 topps - james loney

2007 topps update & highlights - andy laroche

2008 topps - delwyn young

2008 topps update & highlights - casey blake

2009 topps - matt kemp

2009 topps update & highlights - brad ausmus

2010 topps - juan pierre

2010 topps update & highlights - ronnie belliard

2011 topps - hong-chih kuo

2011 topps update & highlights - matt guerrier

2012 topps - nathan eovaldi

2012 topps update & highlights - matt treanor

2013 topps - randy choate

2014 topps - ricky nolasco

there was a similar pwe in my mailbox a few days prior to the nolasco envelope.  it contained a 1964 topps dick calmus card

signed by the former dodger pitcher and returned in just a few days.  unfortunately, there aren't any other topps cards of calmus (he has a card in the 1968 set, but is featured as a cub) so i just sent the one.  

like nolasco, some of the players noted above as part of the topps dodger autograph project signed more than one card, and i realized that i have not shown some of them.

edwin jackson is part of the project thanks to his 2004 topps card, but he also signed a 2005 card for me.

likewise, delwyn young is up there for his 2008 topps card, but he also signed a 2003 topps 206

and a 2007 topps card

as did juan pierre, who made the project thanks to a 2010 topps ttm success.

pierre also signed one of his 2008 upper deck cards

probably my favorite card of his, as well as his 2009 topps card

not all dodger ttm successes made the project, obviously, and here is one that fell short - a 2007 topps luis gonzalez

last, but not least, is a card that is ineligible for the project (it's not a topps card), but is a cool ttm success nonetheless - a 2007 upper deck mike lieberthal card

thanks to all for signing my cards! and thanks also to the mailman for delivering the mail!

yeah, i took his cards. big whoop. wanna fight about it?

here are some cards that i took off of topher's hands, courtesy of the crackin' wax 'take my cards' process.  i made a donation to big brothers, chose some cards, and sent in a sase.  it was just that simple.

i was late to the allen & ginter party, so anything prior to 2008 i am not quite sure what i have in the way of dodgers.  i picked up a rafael furcal

and brad penny

card from the 2007 set.  it kind of looks like furcal is posing in front of a map of yellow eurasia.

here's a 2007 topps chrome juan pierre card

i cringe every time i see a version of this card.  the blue jerseys that were worn in games only during davey johnson's reign.  not good.

speaking of not good, that is how i remember luis gonzalez's time as a dodger.  still, i needed his 2007 topps heritage card for the ol' collection

here's another furky, this one comes from 2010 upper deck

i like recalling how this was 'series 1' as if there was going to be another series after upper deck didn't try so hard to obscure logos.

here's a 1987 donruss opening day steve sax card.

and a 1989 donruss orel hershiser '59 and counting' card

i don't recall requesting orel, but a card featuring a dodger juggler is always welcome.  but please don't start sending me your 1989 donruss cards.  those are cards i won't take.

thanks topher!

it's been everywhere, man

yes, the travelin' box finally made an appearance in the land of 10,000 lakes.  i got skipped in the last go around, but got first dibs on this round along with my normal slot (yet to come).  for those of you who don't know - here is a primer on just what the box is all about.

and, for some perspective, the cards i sent in for my initiation into the rotation were a 1960 topps al kaline, a 1963 topps gaylord perry rookie card, a 1971 topps tom seaver, and a 1973 topps babe ruth/hank aaron/willie mays card.

now that i am trading with the box, i added a card from 1958 topps, a 2002 topps tribute hall of famer bat card, a hall of famer rookie card from 1966 topps, plus a few more cards of the vintage and relic and star variety.

here's what i traded for.

1958 topps eddie mathews all star

i undertook a project back in the early 2000's where i completed a sampler set for all topps releases from 1952 through 1969 (the years i figured i would never complete the full sets).  basically, it was (at least) one card from every team, every subset, every design variant.  i had a 1958 nellie fox all-star, but didn't yet have a national league equivalent.  now i do.

2009 topps juan pierre black parallel

serial numbered pierre.

1996 sportflix mike piazza

thanks to all who put dodgers in the box.

next up are some cards that spoke to me, since i do sort of have a soft spot for the twins.

2005 diamond kings johan santana dual jersey

1967 topps jim kaat

and more impressively, 2000 fleer greats of the game jim kaat autograph

i have given up hope regarding a 1978 topps kaat auto (i don't want to pay $25 for it) so i was happy to see this certified auto in the box.

last, but certainly not least, is this 1999 upper deck century legends epic signatures card of la rams great jack youngblood

i was a huge rams fan from 1977 through 1980 (the super bowl year) and even a little bit after that.  i was upset at the time that they didn't keep vince ferragamo (he went to canada in 1981), and didn't fully get back on the bandwagon when he returned in 1982.  instead i turned my attention to the minnesota vikings.  anyway, my favorite player was jack youngblood.  it started with the name.  youngblood.  the rams also had a jim youngblood on the team, but jack was the better player by far.   plus, he played in the 1979-80 postseason with a broken leg, and even played in the meaningless pro bowl after the super bowl.  i had been looking at his autos off and on over the past few years, but never pulled the trigger.  until now.

i can't wait for the box to make its triumphant return this way.

the topps dodgers autograph project - the end of the road

here is the final installment of the topps dodger autograph project - a project that was completed in a sort of happenstance way.  i sent out a bunch of ttm requests, and eventually got back a card from each year that topps has put out cards, with the exception of just three - 1951, 1954, and 1955.  i don't count traded or update sets, but when i have a card from those sets, i add it to the list.  also, no player appears on the list more than once.

here we go!

2009 topps, matt kemp

this card, you might recall, was the result of a 50/50 ttm trade i made with reader cory.  quite a good haul there.  i have also received signed 2009 topps cards from juan pierre, clayton kershaw (as part of that same 50/50 deal, and joe torre.

2009 topps update & highlights, brad ausmus

this ausmus card is the only card from 2009 update that i have received signed through the mail.  thanks for the awesomeness, mr. ausmus!

2010 topps, juan pierre

i have also received 2010 topps cards signed by dodgers casey blake, carl erskine and rocky bridges (on the franchise history card), jon garland, and george sherrill.

2010 topps update & highlights, ronnie belliard

the only other 2010 update card i have had signed through the mail was courtesy of hong-chih kuo, who actually signed two 2010 topps update cards for me (base and all-star).

2011 topps, hong-chih kuo

speak of the devil.  h-ck is also the only dodger to sign and return a copy of his 2011 topps card.

2011 topps update & highlights, matt guerrier

guerrier was known as a good signer when he was with the twins.  he signed for folks before games quite a bit.  jerry sands has also signed and returned his card from 2011 update for me.

2012 topps, nathan eovaldi

i didn't get this card back until i sent it to eovaldi c/o the marlins.  it was the second attempt i had made, with the first one going to the dodgers early in the season.  i was happy to see it come back (in september, i believe) as it is the only 2012 topps card that i have had successfully had signed.

2012 topps update & highlights, matt treanor

this one came back just the other day, and is also the only example i have of a 2012 topps update signed card.  i am really hoping that adam kennedy gets around to sending his card back to me sometime soon, though.

here is the final tally, at least until the 2013 cards come out.

1951 topps - preacher roe (purchased)

1952 topps - rocky bridges

1953 topps - bobby morgan

1954 topps - billy herman (purchased)

1955 topps - don zimmer (purchased)

1956 topps - randy jackson

1957 topps - carl erskine

1958 topps - joe pignatano

1959 topps - fred kipp

1960 topps - chuck essegian

1961 topps - bob aspromonte

1962 topps - norm sherry

1963 topps - ed roebuck

1964 topps - ken mcmullen

1965 topps - dick tracewski

1966 topps - john kennedy

1967 topps - phil regan

1968 topps - jim campanis

1969 topps - jeff torborg

1970 topps - al mcbean

1971 topps - sandy vance

1972 topps - manny mota

1973 topps - wes parker

1974 topps - claude osteen

1974 topps traded - jim wynn

1975 topps - ron cey

1975 topps mini - joe ferguson

1976 topps - bill russell

1976 topps traded - dusty baker

1977 topps - steve garvey

1978 topps - dave lopes

1979 topps - charlie hough

1980 topps - jerry reuss

1981 topps - doug rau

1981 topps traded - ken landreaux

1982 topps - dave goltz

1982 topps traded - jose morales

1983 topps - ron roenicke

1983 topps traded - rafael landestoy

1984 topps - fernando valenzuela

1984 topps traded - mike vail

1985 topps - burt hooton

1986 topps - enos cabell

1987 topps - steve sax

1987 topps traded - matt young

1988 topps - len matuszek

1989 topps - mickey hatcher

1990 topps - kal daniels

1990 topps traded - juan samuel

1991 topps - tim belcher

1992 topps - roger mcdowell

1993 topps - dave hansen

1993 topps traded - tim wallach

1994 topps - jody reed

1995 topps - chris gwynn

1996 topps - todd hollandsworth

1997 topps - brett butler

1998 topps - greg gagne

1999 topps - jose vizcaino

2000 topps - jeff shaw

2001 topps - chan ho park

2002 topps - andy ashby

2002 topps traded - joel hanrahan

2003 topps - jim tracy

2003 topps traded - ron coomer

2004 topps - edwin jackson

2004 topps traded - milton bradley

2005 topps - chad billingsley

2005 topps update & highlights - jason phillips

2006 topps - bill mueller

2007 topps - james loney

2007 topps update & highlights - andy laroche

2008 topps - delwyn young

2008 topps update & highlights - casey blake

2009 topps - matt kemp

2009 topps update & highlights - brad ausmus

2010 topps - juan pierre

2010 topps update & highlights - ronnie belliard

2011 topps - hong-chih kuo

2011 topps update & highlights - matt guerrier

2012 topps - nathan eovaldi

2012 topps update & highlights - matt treanor

thanks to all the players who signed and returned my cards!