A Topps Koufax Sketch Card

As some of you already know, Topps 2011 Series 2 cases are now live and being ripped open throughout the country. I bought in on a Series 2 Jumbo case break through A Cardboard Problem blog yesterday evening, snatching the Dodgers, so as soon as they arrive I will feature the Dodger base cards and any hits I get. In the meantime, I thought I would point to a great card that just popped up on eBay.

As you may know, "1 of 1" sketch cards have been inserted in this years boxes and one certain Dodger was made. As you can see above (and below) the sketch card is of Sandy Koufax, and it's glorious. It's so nice I even placed a bid on it, so please don't do the same. I don't need the competition... Heck, who am I kidding? It will probably hit 3 figures (if not more), and that will be out of my price range, so I have no shot at it.

Anyway, check it out in all its glory. It was hand drawn by Brian Kong. See his website here. He has done a bunch of comic drawings for Acclaim, Tekno and Malibu Comics.

Damn... I would really love this card!

(eBay Auction Link)

eBay: A Drysdale Casey's Lager Beer

Back in High School I had a friend who was an avid can (beer & soda) collector. He had a giant wall filled with vintage cans from all over the country. It was pretty impressive looking. Anyway, I don't quite recall if he had any sports themed cans, but I'm sure he would love this can that I ran into on eBay.

It is a 1980 Casey's Lager can with Duke Snider on it. They were made by Valley Forge Brewing Company out of Wayne, PA. This can is empty as the pull tab was left in tact, but a giant hole resides on the bottom.

(eBay Auction Link)

Auto Collection: Johnny Podres

Once again, here is a scan of an autographed card in my collection that just looks terrible. It's way out of focus and the scratches on the holder is unbearable to look at. Sorry about that. For some reason my new scanner has major problems when scanning encapsulated cards.

This is a 2003 Topps uncirculated autographed card of Dodger World Series hero Johnny Podres. I swear it is in much better condition than the pic above and below suggest.

Philly Broadcasters Are Worse Than Philly Fans

I don't quite now what to think about this, but I am certain Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy (I initially had Wheelers name here, but that was wrong) is a douche. I know I have been accused of having no sense of humor, but forgive me for considering the term "brownie" as a derogatory description of a Mexican. What makes it worse is that it is a specific reference to Fernando Valenzuela... Not El Toro!... Check out the scoop from Sons of Steve Garvey.

UPDATE: SOSG provides further context, and suggest it's not as bad as initially thought. Apologies all around.

This whole thing made me think about a scene from Office Space... ya know... the "Jump to Conclusions Mat."

YouTube Link:

A Dodger Book: When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms

How much do you really know about the Dodgers? Sure, you've heard of Charles Ebbets and his palace called Ebbets Field. And you know of the ballplayers with names like Durocher, Reese, Snider and Robinson who have been spoken and written about in ad nauseam, but how about McGunnigle, Adonis Terry or Charles Byrne.

Well, I have to admit, before finding out about this new book I had no idea who they were either.

Fortunately, these past Dodger characters have not been lost to time. Ronald Shafer, who wrote "When the Dodgers Were Bridegrooms," puts us through a time capsule that explores the birth of the Brooklyn franchise to the early 20th century, and I had an opportunity to asked him a couple of questions about it. Check it out below. Also, go to his website, here, for more information about the book.

1: Please tell me how you came up with the idea of this book?

I got the idea for the book after my wife, Mary, told me that her great-grandfather, Bill McGunnigle managed the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and invented the catcher's mitt. I found out that according to an 1895 baseball guide, Mac was indeed credited with being the first to use in mitt in 1875 (actually, a pair of bricklayer's gloves). I also found that the Bridegrooms were the same team that later became the Dodgers.

2: Considering we are looking at the late 19th Century, how did you do the research to fill out a complete story about the team and cast of characters? Resources must have been limited, and with the passage of time, stories a bit muddled.

I Don't Mean to Scare You

Yhea, this is a shirtless Tommy Lasorda throwing a pitch during batting practice. The eBay seller does not provide a date for the photo, but I suspect this was during the 80's.