I get stuff

Nice, right? That's a sketch card from Jeremy of No One's Going to Read This Blog. It looks very much like this year's Allen & Ginter black-bordered cards. Me likey. I might have to incorporate into my blog somehow.

Jeremy was great enough to send this, along with a few cards. I've mentioned before that I am always amazed by what fellow traders send in conjunction with their cards. It makes me want to do the same. I try to send a note, but really I've got to personalize my card packages a bit more. Who knows if I'll actually go through with it. Like the Dodgers with men on base, execution is something of a problem.

I thought I'd feature a handful of non-card items that I've received in the last week or so, along with some of the cards. First I'll show a couple of cards that Jeremy sent since I like them so much.

This card means I am finished with the 2006 Topps base and Updates & Highlights base set. I have all 989 cards of the first set I tried to complete upon my return to card collecting. Woo-frickin'-hoo! Major thanks, Jeremy. All that's left is chasing down some inserts (yeah, that's all. That will keep me busy for awhile). I suppose there's that famed Alex Gordon card still out there, but I've done a pretty good job of ignoring it.

One of my favorite Dodger pitchers from my second-favorite Donruss set ever. Donruss was on quite a streak in 1984 and 1985. Then 1986 happened. Bleah.

Next are a few more cards from John of The Pursuit of 80sness. He also sent a non-card, all the way from England. It's this Donruss ad here in which you had the chance to win an actual 1949 Leaf Jackie Robinson if the scratch-off circle inside revealed you to be the winner. (The circle was scratched off already, and no, I didn't win. Do you think John would have sent me this if it was a winner?)

I suppose the "He was the first, and so were we," tag is Donruss' reference to 1949 Leaf, which came out before Topps or Fleer or Upper Deck began. Of course, that's all relative. Bowman was producing sets before Leaf, and Bowman was around at the time of this ad (1997). And before that there was Play Ball and Goudey and candy cards and tobacco cards, etc., etc. So I don't know what Donruss is talking about.

John's package was Upper Deck heavy, from earlier in this decade, which is a good area to target. One day I will get my 2000-06 want lists complete on the blog. They'll be monstrous.

The first image was the vertical 2000 Upper Deck Dodgers. Now, here are the horizontal cards. I'm still looking for someone to do an all-horizontal set. Come on guys, it's not that hard!

2003 Upper Deck Dodgers. This is what I'm talking about when I said UD didn't do much to impress me over the last few years. Perhaps UD was all about high-end in recent years and that's why so many big-time collectors love them. But for regular old base? Yawn.

Who doesn't love a thick plastic card? You could scrape gunk off your kitchen tile with this 2001 Fleer E-X Eric Karros card. Don't sweat it. I'm not going to do that.

The next package is from Kris of Cards in the Attic. He sent a newspaper clipping, which is always appreciated. It's from the Daily Racing Form, and as you can see, has the phrase "night card" in it. If I cared about horse racing, I could track down night cards of night cards. Or, you know, volunteer at the soup kitchen or something productive.

Probably my favorite thing he sent was the pocket schedule for the 2009 Albuquerque Isotopes, the Dodgers' Triple A team. I don't collect anything but baseball cards, but if I collected something else, it might be pocket schedules. I love those things.

Kris sent some Disabled American Veterans cards of the 2009 Isotopes, which are nice cards. Here is Tony Abreu, who just got called up by the Dodgers, and had a chance to win the game for L.A. in the 11th inning against the Braves on Friday night. He grounded out.

I'm wondering how long Jason Repko's going to be around. There isn't any space for him in the Dodgers outfield.

Former Dodger Tim Wallach (yeah, I can say that. There aren't any Expos fans anymore are there?) and Isotopes manager.

And why not? Let's give the strength and conditioning coach some love.

Finally, this "team emblem" was sent to me by Dan of Saints of the Cheap Seats. I'll feature the cards he sent some other time. But I wanted to show this because I'm not sure what it is.

It's advertised as "Big 5-inch regulation size." The emblem is a 1958 replica. I'm wondering if this is something you'd attach to your jacket back in the day? It's quite large. You could use it for a coaster or a frisbee.

Anyway, thanks to all for sending a little extra long with your cards. It does make an impact. And makes the package even more enjoyable than it already is.