two more pages from the steve garvey oddball binder

i have three versions of the 1979 topps comics steve garvey issue in my garvey oddball binder (here is a handy link to all garvey binder posts, by the way).  here are two of the three, along with a couple other oddballs.

so that would be a uncut garvey panel in the top left and the actual pack-pulled issue on the top right.  filling out this particular page in the binder is a 1981 msa blank-back disc and a 1981 topps scratch off panel featuring two of garvey's three fellow infielders, ron cey and davey lopes.

nothing exciting to see on the backs of those items, except for perhaps the scratch off

ninety cents and a wrapper for a ball-strike indicator.  such a deal.

this next page gets us into some oddball meat.  have a look at some garvey goodness, only slightly spoiled by one very visible padre item

what we have here is a 1981 all-star game program insert, a 1981 topps sticker, a 1982 all-star game insert, two 1982 o-pee-chee stickers, two 1982 topps stickers, a 1983 all-star game insert, a 1983 fleer stamp, a 1983 sleer sticker, and a 1983 o-pee-chee sticker.

here are the backs, which are the only way to tell the o-pee-chee stickers from the topps versions

the 1982 stickers showing garvey at the plate in dodger stadium features sweet 1981 world series action.  why topps included world series stuff in their sticker release but not the flagship really chaps my hide.

i used to have a 1980 all-star game program, but i don't recall any inserts similar to the ones that have been cut up and sold off like the ones shown here.  those are the types of oddballs that i once rejected (i still don't have any desire for the red foley oddballs), but i have somewhat arbitrarily softened my stance in recent years.

more garvey goodness to come - stay tuned...

how to succeed at collecting without really trying

well, i guess you have to try at least a little bit.  in this case, you would need to develop an ebay rivalry with another steve garvey super collector and then start a blog and trade with him instead.  you send him a little 17-card factory team set, and he will send you a big box filled with oddball dodger stuff that you didn't even know existed, plus some cool steve garvey stuff.

yes, i traded with curt from 1978, the year it all began. it wasn't the first time he and i had made a trade, but it was likely the most lopsided.  i had asked him for a scan of a steve garvey sga item, and he obliged.  he also offered to send me a hard copy of it, and i told him i would send him a 2009 topps dodger factory set in exchange.  he didn't mention that he was also going to send a map.

from 1970, that is a aaa map of dodger stadium.  that is pretty cool.  i should have unfolded it and taken a picture of it.  it looks so easy on paper - so many freeways.  still, heed my advice if you go - plan to get there early.  no map will save you from stadium way or the downtown gates.  unless you get off the freeway and use the sunset route, but that's only for people in the know.

here's the garvey sga that started the whole transaction

this is what's on the back

it's all about consecutive game goodness.  the photo is from garvey's 1000th consecutive game, but the sga occurred on the occasion of his moving into fourth place all-time with his 1104th consecutive game.  of course, garvey went on to pass billy williams in 1983, but he was a padre by then.  he played in game number 1118 at dodger stadium, though, and my dad was kind enough to take me to see the game in person.  it is still to this day the only time i have received a steve garvey autograph in person.

more garvey goodness in the box, including this 1977 pepsi glove disc

i was hot and cold with these oddballs until just a few months ago.  i did have a few in my garvey collection, but not more than a couple.  now i have several of the msa discs that came out in the 1970's into the 1980's, including a 1981 blank back (trust me)

and a 1976 towne club version

speaking of discs, there were others in the box - and not just of steve garvey.  here are pedro guerrero

and fernando valenzuela

from the 1984 7-11 slurpee coin set.

fernando and garvey are together forever on this 1987 m&m's panel

those padres hats look really bad without the logo.  they look only slightly better with, however, as we see on this 1984 fun foods pin proof

i am glad curt sent this to me.  it is much easier to store in the binder than the actual pin back.

here's steve garvey in the metrodome, courtesy of the 1986 donruss pop-ups set

it's hard to believe that garvey was part of the home run derby held prior to the 1985 all-star game in minneapolis.  his slugging days were behind him by then, unfortunately.

there really was so much cool stuff in the box.  media guides, team issued photos, union oil portraits (from 1962 and 1982), fernando valenzuela perfect attendance certificates, magazines, and more.  it was the package that keeps on giving.

i'll show two more cards - this one is from 1977 landsman playing cards and features jackie robinson down the third base line

i think jackie is the five of diamonds or something like that.  these are similar to the playing cards that pepsi put out in 1978

last but not least is this 1987 donruss all-stars card of steve sax

with garvey gone, saxy became my favorite dodger and subject of a pretty good pc, but i never did pick up one of these.  now i have one and i hardly even had to try for it.

thanks curt!  that really was an awesome box of goodness.