The First of Many Chavez Ravining Posts: Puig, Greinke, Orel, Piazza, Big Hurt

About a year ago I purchased a large portion of cardboard from my good buddy Alex of the now-defunct Chavez Ravining. Alex had decided to leave the hobby for a while to focus on other things and I appreciate that he gave me the opportunity to add some great cards to my collection. He'll be back one day, as this hobby is cyclical in that way. Whenever he returns I'll have some cool stuff to send his way as a thank you, but in the meantime it's about time I showcase some of the awesome stuff he sent my way.

We start with a former Dodger in Zack Greinke. I don't believe he had any autos during his time in Los Angeles so I'm happy to pick up the above and below relics of him. The Triple Threads "Zack Attack" is numbered 12/36.

That's probably a Brewers' jersey swatch. Probably.

An assortment of #ManBearPuigs and a few Greinkes. The Panini Prizm Fearless insert is numbered 02/99 and is my favorite card of the whole lot featured today, followed closely by the Puig sketch from Edward Vela.

Piazzas make any bubbler better. Fact.

This is such an easy 80s card I'm surprised I somehow never owned it until now. I may one day break it from its plastic-y, made-for-TV tomb. 1985 Topps Orel Hershiser RC; simple but appreciated.

And finally, a Frank Thomas 1990 Bowman RC slabbed as an SGC 96. It just felt right to scan it in and include it in this first batch of goodness. Also, I really love SGC holders above any other graded holder.

This is just the tip of the iceberg and I have not come close to scanning in the best stuff I received from Alex. The first of many thanks amigo!

Massive 4th Place Contest Winnings From The Legendary Fuji!

Fuji held a massive contest earlier this year and when the dust settled I found myself in fourth place, which in this case meant a prize package would head my way. Here's a handful of the cardboard that found its way to Southern California.

The hits, highlighted by a sweet Eric Gagne relic.

A new Kemp, a new Kershaw, and a new Russ Martin. The Martin serves as the 300th unique card in my PC of the former Blue Crew backstop.

Now here's an interesting card. Night Owl has written on many an occasion about people sending him Royals' cards because they thought they were Dodgers' cards, what with the Blue and all. Well, here's a case where it falls on the shoulders of the card company to have gotten the darn thing right. I pulled this out of the bubbler and said hmmm, I don't recall there being a prospect named Salvador Perez in the L.A. system. Because, you know, there isn't. It's Sal Perez, the Kansas City backstop who's a fantastic young player. Anyways, I quite like the card even though it erroneously says Dodgers on the front while the back does say Royals.

Some randomness to end things. Love the Billingsley rookie; lots and lots of Jered Weaver which just further emphasizes that Topps reuses the same photo over and over (Topps Chrome, top middle); Kirk and Orel are welcome sights; that Piazza is nails; and so many talented arms in recent years.

Thanks as always Fuji for your generosity!

Trade With The Dutch Card Guy: The Sickest Kershaw, Joc Pederson's Auto, and I WANT YOUR GINTER.

I completed my first trade with Jeroen from The Dutch Card Guy. After winning a card in a contest he held, I took a look at his trade bait and a number of Dodger goodies jumped out at me. We worked out a great deal which allowed me to add these beauts to my collection.

Kid K! It may be hard to see, but this beautiful patch/triple bat Quad Relic from 2013 Topps Museum Collection is numbered 22/25. Yes, that would be 22 as in Clayton's uniform number. I would have wanted the card anyways because, well, look at it, but the numbering did make it a tad more appealing.

Joc! The above REF RC auto, numbered 002/500, is my first hit of the Dodgers' top outfield prospect. I still think there's a fairly good chance Pederson is dealt before ever playing in a major league game with the club, but no matter what transpires, I'm glad to finally own his John Hancock after a few failed eBay attempts.

A brand new Russell Martin is up next. It's so nice of Upper Deck to put "CATCHER" in bold print, as I never would have guessed from the picture alone.

A bunch of random Dodgers were included, and I scanned in my favorites. The Kirk Gibson is of course legendary and spectacular.

Finally, Jeroen also knocked off six Across The Years I needed for my 2013 Allen & Ginter quest. I would love to finish off all of my Ginter needs soon, so if anyone has what I need please let me know and we'll work out a trade.

Thanks for the fantastic trade amigo!

Tribecards Buck-A-Box Group Break Results: Dodgers, D-Backs, Rays

I'm probably the last participant to post these. I've been sitting on the unopened bubbler for about a week.

It's that teenage laziness. Even though I'm no longer in my teens.

Anyways, as the title alludes to, I bought in for the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Rays over at Indians Baseball Cards (or Tribecards, I guess - same thing). This was my first ever group break, and though I've wanted to and been tempted to join others in the past, the cheap price roped me in. I of course took the Dodgers, and snagged Arizona and Tampa because they were cheap (duh) and I wanted to corner the market on potential big hits, should they pop up.

Here are my results from the break of:

(1) 1988 Sportflics Box
(1) 1990 Topps Heads-Up Box
(1) 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Blaster
(2) 2011 Bowman Blaster

I'll show my favorites from each of my three franchises.

First up, the Dodgers.

A new Kuroda and a Chrome Allen Webster.

Next, we stay in-division with Arizona.

The Chrome Paul Goldschmidt is the card I was most excited to get. True story.

And finally, we head east and land in Tampa.

A Hellickson RC, the best of the Rays bunch.

Thanks for the fun break Dave, I look forward to more in the future!

Trade With Cards From The Quarry: David Wright 2011 Topps Throwback Manupatch

I completed my second trade with Johnny of Cards From The Quarry fame. He sent me a couple of additions for various player collections - a Hamels, a Bruce, a '93 Gold Hershiser, and a golden and #'d Jim Edmonds the most prominent amongst them - which are greatly appreciated.

They all pale in comparison with the main course of this deal, however, as I snagged my second 2011 Topps Throwback Manupatch. The first was an Utley in a trade with Off The Wall; my newest is of my favorite non-Dodger, Mr. David Wright.

As I've said before, I don't actively seek manupatches (sorry Eric!), but I won't pass up trading for one if the price is right.

Thanks for another great trade Johnny, here's to many more!

Did Joe Morgan Really Just Say That? (UPDATE)

Morgan just said that we were watching "Sandy Koufax vs. Juan Marichal" on the ESPN 2 telecast of Sunday Night Baseball, referring to tonight's Opening Day match-up of C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett.

Right Joe, right. Just go back to statistical analysis and leave the broadcasting to somebody else.

Preferably not Orel Hershiser.

UPDATE: Morgan also said they were two of the greatest pitchers of their generation (he may have used the word era). Johan Santana and Roy Halladay would strongly, strongly disagree. And considering C.C. and Beckett will probably each pitch at least another 5-8 years, Clayton Kershaw and Tommy Hanson voice their disagreement as well.

Obviously 1 game is by no means a measuring stick for an entire career or what a player's career may end up as, but it is quite funny that Morgan would make this egregious comparison on a night when the lines for both C.C. and Beckett were quite awful.

Beckett: 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 1 K, 3 BB, 2 HR, 94 pitches - 54 for strikes

C.C.: 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 4 K, 2 BB, 104 pitches - 58 for strikes