Trade With Cardboard Heaven: Kemp, Kershaw, Ethier, Loney, Billingsley

I recently completed my first trade ever (at least my first that I can remember, considering I may have traded baseball cards when I was like seven). The trade was with Cameron from Cardboard Heaven.

I sent Cameron a 2010 Allen & Ginter Game Used Bat Card of Prince Fielder, a couple of Tony Gwynn cards, and a Clyde Drexler card. I also sent some assorted Brewers cards to Cameron, as he's a big Milwaukee fan. I received his package Saturday, and upon prying it open, could only mutter the words "holy crap" (except a little more PG-13 than that) for about five minutes. That, and "I have to hit him back with something amazing". Why was I so excited, you may ask? Well, what he sent me was truly amazing and unexpected.

I knew I was getting the following four cards in the trade, and that's all I anticipated finding in my bubble mailer. Cameron was sending me a 2005 Matt Kemp Topps Gold Rookie Card, a 2005 Matt Kemp Topps Chrome Rookie Card, a 2003 Andre Ethier Upper Deck Rookie Card (complete with his Oakland A's uniform), and a 2004 Blake DeWitt Bowman Chrome First Year Rookie Card.

I was thrilled to be getting these cards, but never would have imagined the cardboard-y goodness that I soon laid my eyes upon. Cameron was kind enough to include a slew of other cards, ranging from Clayton Kershaw to Chad Billingsley to Andrew Lambo and John Ely to my two favorite non-Dodgers, David Wright and Cole Hamels. And then, to top off an already superb grouping of wax, Cameron sent this along.

This beautiful card is a 2003 Bowman Signs Of The Future Certified Autograph Issue signed by James Loney. The autograph is even more amazing because it's on-card, not on a sticker, though I don't mind autos on stickers.

Again, I'm still in awe at what I received. Cameron, I can't thank you enough, and I will definitely be sending something nice your way in the near future. What that will be, I have no idea. But it will be nice. Check out Cardboard Heaven people. NOW!

Four Dodgers Cards For My Personal Collection

I saw a box of Dodger singles at my local shop, and couldn't pass these four cards up for only 75 cents a piece.

The first two are from the 2009 Topps Unique Set. I already have the Matt Kemp card from this set, which I really like. That card was mentioned in my post on Dodger Day at the LA County Fair. Here are the two from this set that I bought:

The next card is the first Bowman card of former Dodger prospect Brett Wallach, who was shipped off to the Cubs in the Ted Lilly deal. Wallach's card is from 2009.

The final card is of another former Dodger prospect, this one currently residing in the Pittsburgh farm system. It's a 2008 Donruss Threads card of Andrew Lambo.

Andrew Lambo Suspended

Andrew Lambo, one of the top prospects in the organization, has been suspended 50 games. The cause, according to Dylan Hernandez, is for failing a drug test for a "drug of abuse".

I have a buddy that played with or against Lambo (I can't recall which) who told me last year that Lambo was a real jackass when they played.

Regardless of any character issues, hopefully Lambo can learn from this (it's his second failed drug test), get back to focusing on baseball and baseball alone, and leave the Mary Jane (most likely) behind, as he was having a monster start to his campaign at AA, posting a juicy line of .342/.390/.566/.956 with 11 extra-base hits through 19 games and 82 plate appearances.

Top 10 Dodgers' Prospects, According To Baseball America

-Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects-

1. Dee Gordon, SS
2. Chris Withrow, RHP
3. Aaron Miller, LHP
4. Ethan Martin, RHP
5. Josh Lindblom, RHP
6. Scott Elbert, LHP
7. Andrew Lambo, 1B/0F
8. Ivan DeJesus, Jr., 2B
9. Trayvon Robinson, OF
10. Allen Webster, RHP


I'm also partial to Kyle Russell and Garrett Gould.





Previously on Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle: Dodgers Farm System Ranked Poorly, According To Baseball America

Lambo Leap

Andrew Lambo has been tearing it up in the Arizona Fall League.