Going GaGa Over 2009 Allen & Ginter Dodgers

The internet is a flutter as a result of the recent release of Topps 2009 Allen & Ginter Baseball cards. Well, at least the card blog community is. Everywhere you go there are post singing its praises. As you can see below, you'll soon find out why.

The design is flawless. A lightly drawn black border surrounds the footer and portrait. The drawings are colored in soft pastels with an almost bleach-white background which allows the colors to swirl. The players last name sits in a box while resting above the trademark. The Allen & Ginter name is done in a style reminiscent of its grandfather card set. The original vintage A&G set was created in 1887 and were inserts within packs of cigarettes- such were the origins of all card collectibles.
Brooklyn, New York on the very bottom is a nice touch. Nevermind that it has nothing to do directly with the Dodgers. It represents the original birthplace of the Topps Company.

Below I have pulled out photos from eBay and GCRL (I hope you don't mind) of every Dodger card in the set I could track down. There are numerous variations available and I figure it would only be right to show them all (at least what I could find) since most may never reach our hands. As soon as I start I hope to gather up just the base cards for my set.

The Billingsley above is a base card- meaning it's a regular part of the set. So far I count 12 Dodger base cards. As I said above, there are plenty of rarities as well. Below is a "rip" card of Chad Billingsley. A "rip" card is very rare as they come only one per case. They are essentially a card within a card. On the reverse is a small pull tab that when opened hides a short printed mini card the size of original tobacco cards. You'll see an example a little further down. Chad's card is one of only fifty available. They also come in print runs of 99, 25, 10 and 5.
Here is a very well done base card of Clayton Kershaw. I love how he sports a menacing stare as he shows us his fastball. He is almost daring you to hit him.
Another rare variation is the Kershaw short printed mini card below that was found in a "rip" card. I don't know if I could ever open up one of those cards. It's like playing the lottery. You could get something worse than what you already have. Of course, card collecting is like gambling so who am I fooling? I'd rip one open.
There are also randomly inserted autographed card of your favorite players like Kershaw below. It is signed on a mini card that has been encased in a plastic frame. You are sure not to damage these cards.
Russell J. Martin seems to always have great looking cards. Below is his base cart to the set.Rafael Furcal's base card is below.
Now here is one of the coolest limited inserts available in the set. Below is a Furcal silk card. Every card in the base set has a parallel version like this one number to just 10. I couldn't imagine anyone trying to put together a complete silk set. That would be maddening and expensive.Are you seeing a trend here? Most of the cards have the players sporting very serious looks. Their eyes are piercing or their expression muted. Casey Blake's base card makes him look a little angry. Even on Manny's base card he can barely give a smile.
Below are three different insert mini cards of Manny Ramirez. Within each pack of cards comes some base cards and one mini card. The mini cards mimic the base cards They also have there own limited variations. To the left is a black border mini, at center a rare mini A&G back variation, and to the right is the mini base card. Are you confused yet? Too many variations and parallels to boggle the mind.
Each base card has a normal size card, a mini, a mini silk, a black bordered mini version and a A&G back variation card. On top of that, there are short printed mini cards found in "rip" cards that are in addition to the 350 card base set (making a truly complete set at 400 cards) like the Kershaw above and the Manny Ramirez below. Whew!Oh, no! There's more. Within each box of 18 packs is a box loader. A box loader is a special pack that holds a larger size card. These cards are fashioned after the vintage A&G N43 set from 1888. Below is Manny's card.There are even cut game-used uniform pieces within the N43 subset like the Manny below.
There are also several subsets like the National Pride card below of Manny Ramirez.So you can't get enough of Manny, right? Well, how about the below two inserts of bat and jersey pieces.Andre Ethier continues with the theme of sternly posed game faced portraits in this base card below.Oh, wait! I have led you astray. You can also pull a rare 1 of 1 wood card mini version of the base set. We are up to 6 different versions of each card.
Ethier's "rip" card is numbered to 25. James Loney looks straight at you when he wants to challenge you.
Loney's "rip" card shows off his follow through. His eyes show total concentration. Blake DeWitt almost smiles. Alas, it's just a knowing grin. DeWitt's wooden card is below.
DeWitt also has a autographed insert and bat cards in the set.
The Bison, Matt Kemp, snarles at us in his base card.
Kemp's "rip" card has him gazing in the direction of where he will be hitting the ball- way out there.Matt Kemp was also kind enough to sign a few as you can see below.
Hiroki Kuroda, in his base card below, looks as stone faced as Moneymaker at the poker table.
Kuroda also has his own National Pride card.
Last, but not least is James McDonald's rookie base card. He is posed below in a poormans multiple exposure pose of him delivering his pitch.
This is all for now. There are still a couple of more cards I have yet to stumble upon. So, as you can imagine, completing a truly complete Dodger set would be very difficult.

Photo Help from eBay and GCRL:

Card Of The Week: Matt Morris

I love goofy looking Baseball cards and this weeks "Card of the Week" certainly qualifies. Above is a 2003 Fleer Ultra card of pitcher Matt Morris working out with a big plastic ball.

This is a strange looking card. The photo appears to have been taken with a fish eye lens as Matt Morris cradles the ball between his legs like a mother with her newborn child. This makes me laugh and wonder "why?" at the same time.

The best part of the card, though, is the big blue sky.

Blog Kiosk: 7/12/2009

Sorry about the short kiosk, but with the All-Star game around the corner, I guess you can say I've been taking a bit of a break.

• I can't even begin to tell you how idiotic an idea this trade is. Halladay is not worth that package.
  
• Today is the 30th Anniversary of Disco Demolition Night. Go to Baseball Mussings for a great video with a interview with the disc jockey, Steve Dahl, responsible for blowing up the records and a young Greg Gumbel.
• NASA just released the first photos from the recently launched Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter of the moon. (Hat Tip: LGF)
• How the mighty have fallen. Once an industry leader but now a defunct auction house, Mastro Auctions continuing problems are written about in the NY Daily News.
• Bert & Ernie play some hardcore.

YouTube Video Link:
Hat Tip: Little Green Footballs:

Dodger Correspondence: Ernie Koy

(Pic Link: DayLife.com)

This time around, Monterey, CA resident Dicky Ow writes to former Dodger Ernie Koy, who spent 5 seasons as a Major Leaguer, and asks for some tips on how he can be a Major League ballplayer.

Ernie Koy broke into the "show" in superb fashion. In his first at-bat he hit a home run. During his first season in 1938 he played in 142 games and started in left field for 135 of them. He batted a healthy .299, slugged 11 home runs and drove in 76 runs. He even had a little speed as he swiped 15 bases- 2nd in the National League that season. Unfortunately, he would never again equal these numbers. He played 4 more season while being traded to the Cardinals and the Reds, then he was sold to the Phillies before the breakout of WWII. Koy would then serve his country in the Navy, but would never again play pro Baseball.

In 1960 he was elected into the University of Texas Longhorns Hall of Fame. He was a fullback and team captain of his college Baseball team. His nickname was "Chief" which reflected his American Indian heritage. His son, Ernie Koy, Jr., played pro football for the Giants in the late 60's. He is also a member of my All-Ernie Baseball team as a backup outfielder.

Anyway, click the photo below for his advice to Dicky Ow.

(click to enlarge)

Ernie's advice are really great words to live by.

1. Practice all you can
2. Self Confidence- Believe in your own ability no matter what other people think.
3. Pick out some good Baseball players and use him as an example. Watch his moves on the field.
4. Take care of your body by exercise and clean living- attend church of your belief.
5. Practice on your weakness- hitting, fielding, speed of foot and strong arm throwing.
6. Speed of foot is the best answer. If you can run and hit, any team will find a place for you.

Ernie Koy

Below is the original letter Dicky Sent to Ernie Koy

(click to enlarge)

eBay Auction Link: Koy Letter:

Matt Kemp In?

Even with Matt Kemp not winning the the All-Star vote it appears he may be in anyway. Carlos Beltran will not be going to the game due to injury so his spot has opened up, and Kemp is the likely replacement.

Manuel, who will manage the NL All-Stars, will pick Victorino if it’s his call, but he thought Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp may get in because he finished higher in the players’ vote.

“One of the things that the league office was kind of concerned about is Kemp had more player votes and that plays some kind of part in it,” Manuel said. “I have to wait and see.”

Hat Tip: Twitter:TrolleyDodger:

Dodger Correspondence: Earl Mossor

Here is another letter written to Jim from former Dodger Earl Mosser. He would only play 3 games in the majors, but played 14 years of professional ball. Earl writes a great story about his first inning of pro ball.

Dear Jim,

I guess the one thing that I will always remember in my 14 years as a pro baseball pitcher is the time that I made the big jump from class "B" baseball to the big leagues in 1951 with the Dodgers. I walked into Ebbets Field on cloud "9", and about a month later I got into my first game as a big leaguer against the Card's with two men on base and one out. I was shaking like a leaf. I get the first man out on a pop up to the infield, and guess what?

(click to enlarge)

I had never even seen the guy before, let alone pitch against him, and there he was kicking a little dirt around in the batters box, Stan "The Man". Now I was shaking even more. I said to myself, I can't run in the dugout and hide. I have to pitch to him. I said there is a guy getting a $100,000 a year and me $10,000 and I am supposed to get him out? Ha. Anyway, I worked the count to 3-2 on him and threw him a big change curve and ducked. Ha. He missed it (by) about 2 feet so I struck him out, and I was about the happiest boy in the world. I struck out "The Man", and the first time I ever saw him.

Best of Luck Jim,

Earl Mossor

(click to enlarge)

eBay Auction Link: Mossor Letter: