When Cards Come Calling

Reader Bob reached out a while back seeking to trade. Since then he's send me three if not four packages of Angels cards. Bob's generous. I sent him a package of oddballs which is what he likes, but I'll have to do more digging to keep up with his additional packages!

I have to admit, I THINK these all came from Bob. I've been in a bit of a collecting/blogging rut this season, during which time incoming cards have all been lumped in together. So if you see a card you think maybe came from you, please accept my apologies. But for now I'm assuming these are all from Bob's packages.

Here are some of my favorites:

2019 Donruss Elite Series #ES2

Ohtani's base card from this 10-card insert set with numbered parallels.

What a fantastic card.

2007 Upper Deck Game Materials #UD-VG

About a 1:24 retail pull for one of the 83-card Game Materials cards. I've always preferred the gray material over the white. Red would be my absolute favorite.

1990 Wonder Stars #3

Found in loaves of Wonder Bread (which I never ever ate growing up - it was too expensive for my large family), Abbott was one of 20 stars in the set with airbrushed MLB logos.

1996 Fleer Smoke 'N Heat #4

These Smoke 'N Heat insert cards (10 in the set) were found in about 1 of 9 packs.

2001 Upper Deck e-Card #E5

From a 2-card pack randomly inserted into hobby boxes, the finder would enter the code on the card front into Upper Decks website to see if they won a signature or jersey card. Pretty cool, as I had never seen these before.

1988 Topp Revco League Leaders #23

Classic 33-card glossy box set could be found East of the Mississippi in 1988.

Downing tied with Dwight Evans for most walks at 106 in 1987.

1989 Topps Ames 20/20 Club #31

You don't see Devon White in a box set set too often, but in 1987 Devo hit 24 homers and stole 32 bases, making him a selection for this 33-card set Topps produced for Ames Toy Stores.

2003 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic #21

I always enjoy seeing Angels vets on retro cards, long after they've retired. Kinda nostalgic.

One Page of Lloyd Allen

This series will highlight "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former Angels and Patriots  players.

  Lloyd Allen RHP California Angels 1969-1973

Original correspondence received prior to 2005.

Baseball Card #444 Aaron Altherr

Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr is card #444 in the 2018 Topps set.

I pulled this card out of a factory set that was recently given to me.

Interesting note that Altherr was the first to hit a grand slam off Clayton Kershaw.

Happened in 2017, 1,922 2/3 innings into Kershaw's career. I wonder if the photo on the card is of that grand slam. He's kinda in a grand slam pose, eyes to the sky.

I also wonder if Altherr got drilled the next time Kershaw faced him. I do know that Retrosheet indicates that the grand slam was the only hit Altherr has gotten off Kershaw in 6 career at bats.

The Hitting Crosschecker's Autograph

I was pulling some autograph cards out of my "for sale" box to contribute to Padrographs Autograph Frankenset. As I'd pull a card I'd google the player to see if he has/had any association to the Angels. If he did, I kept that card for myself. Jason Ellison's card is one that I kept for myself, even though he never actually played for the Angels. This card will now go in my Angels Autographs binder.

2005 Topps Total #563

Turns out, Jason is a member of the Angels Amateur Scouting Staff, as the Hitting Crosschecker. Basically he's a scout that gives a second opinion on the reports filed by scouts in the field.

I originally received this autographed card in person, I think at a Rangers game when he played for them in 2008.

2017 Vladimir Guerrero Angels HOF Induction Card

Found this card in a box of stuff my sister brought on her recent visit. There's usually some baseball and Angels stuff for me, and a bunch of clothes for my girls to dig through. Always fun.

She's thoughtful that way.

I don't know if she was actually at the game, but chances are good she was. My family lives close to Anaheim Stadium, and often the Angels stuff she brings was picked up at a giveaway night by one of my siblings.

Vladdy was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame during a ceremony prior to the game on August 26, 2017. This card was a handout at the gate that night, I believe.

Baseball Card #444 Robbie Grossman

Robbie Grossman of the Astros holds down the #444 card in the 2014 Topps Baseball set.

I have his base card already in my Master #444 set, but this blue parallel is pretty sharp too.

Card came in a recent trade package from reader Bob.

1990 Donruss Best N.L. - Need It?

Anyone out there need any cards or a team set from the 1990 Donruss Best N.L. set?

The only cards I'm keeping are: the two checklists, #62 Dale Murphy Braves, and the #55 Tim Wallach that goes on the Tim Wallach Collector's stack.

Claim now before I put them in the donation box. But please limit any requests. I'm mailing solely in PWEs these days.