You guys! Look!

When I started this blog, one of the first people who ever sent me cards -- perhaps the first person who ever sent me cards -- was David from Tribe Cards.

I was absolutely elated when he sent them to me. I'm pretty sure it came through in the post. I was practically typing it from the ceiling. YOU GUYS! THIS PERSON I DON'T EVEN KNOW JUST SENT ME A BUNCH OF BASEBALL CARDS THAT I COLLECT!!!! YOU GUYS!!! I DON'T EVEN BELIEVE THIS!!!!!!

Dave had one of the first card blogs that I knew, certainly the first that I knew who ran contests where people could win cards. Yes, it was once a novel concept.

And he's still at it. He's got a 2013 giveaway going where people can win cards of their favorite player, just by entering. And last year, he opened packs for every day of the baseball season, and gave away the contents.

I was the fortunate person who received the Dodgers. I kind of entered the contest with my present been-around-the-block night owl attitude. You know. Seen it all, done it all. I hardly ever say "You Guys" anymore. Sure, he's giving away Dodgers. But I have a lot of Dodgers already. There's almost no chance that I'm going to get Dodgers that I don't have. But, sure, yeah, I guess I'll enter the contest. Free cards, right? Ho hum diddy hum diddy ho.

Well -- you guys -- you know what?

I GOT SOME CARDS I DIDN'T HAVE!!!!!!

Cool.

Let's start with some Stadium Club from 1998. Even though I have a bunch of Dodgers, if you head directly to the late '90s, you'll be able to find a card I don't have in a matter of seconds. And I'll be able to say that 40 years from now. There are just so many.

See what I mean? More late 1990s. More cards that I didn't have. The Hollandsworth looks like it melted a little bit in the 16 years it's been sitting in a pack.

More '90s. More Pinnacle. More Hollandsworth. I wasn't quite aware that I was so lacking in Hollandsworth.

RANDOM ANGELS CARD!!!!!!!!!!


Yeah, there were random cards like these in the package, too. Pretty fun stuff.

Here is a shiny verson of perpetual Dodgers pitching prospect Chris Withrow. The dude's been in Double A for four years. Four years! But shiny shines on the stalled and unstalled alike. I enjoy this card.

My first 1986 Donruss Big card. I have an aversion to this design, so normally "big" is not preferred. But Fernando erases all flaws. Even that giant crease traveling through his midsection.

RANDOM HANK DONRUSS PUZZLE PIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think I've ever been excited about receiving a Topps Attax card until the very moment this came out of the package. This is the last Dodger 2011 Attax card that I needed. I have been aware that I have needed it for a year-and-a-half. It's haunted me more than any other card in that time. But it was Attax so I was too embarrassed to put it on the Nebulous 9 list. (What's that fool collecting that garbage for?)

Dave, thanks for saving me from embarrassment. You're a swell guy.

But the greatest card in the package was this terrific Mike Piazza Fleer Ultra insert from 1994. Ultra made the greatest inserts. In fact, it should have been purely a set of inserts. If anyone ever makes a set like that -- all inserts -- it needs to invite Ultra's people back just for that.

RANDOM CHIPPER CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another great thing about the packs that Dave opened is that -- yes, I received a lot of cards that I had already, but -- they were wonderful upgrades to '90s sets like 1991 Studio where the EDGES CHIP LIKE MAD!

I can't wait to upgrade a bunch of sets.

All in all, Tribe Cards is a great asset to our cardboard community. If you get a chance to enter his contests, I recommend you do. It's great fun and you don't have to do anything. Just watch him pull cards and enjoy.

You guys, just do it.