Why CAN'T he be the next Koufax?

I received this card from Dennis at Pictures of Men. I've come into a lot of Blue Jays cards recently and he is going to be a beneficiary of that windfall as soon as I can find a post office.

Cards like this Koufax-Kershaw item get some collectors' blood boiling, because the card by its nature is comparing one player with another, as if (*gasp*) they are the same.

Sometimes the card is actually doing that, sometimes it isn't. In this case, it's merely saying that Kershaw led the N.L. in ERA last year and Koufax led the N.L. in ERA in 1963 -- the year to which this year's Heritage is paying tribute.

But the Koufax-Kershaw comparison has been made before.

And I've heard a load of people dismiss it instantly: "I don't think Kershaw is another Koufax (said with a "that's absurd" tone of voice.)"

But why can't Kershaw be another Koufax? His last name starts with K. He's a Dodger. He's a pitcher. He's a tremendous talent. He strikes out a lot of people. He's the ace of the staff. He's won a Cy Young.

Sound familiar?

Right. Koufax did/was all those things, too.

Truthfully, it's also difficult for me to imagine Kershaw matching all the feats of Koufax. Four no-hitters. I mean that's big mountain. Kershaw doesn't even have one yet. 382 strikeouts in a season. Kershaw's best is 134 less than that.

But remember, Kershaw is just five years into his career. Koufax had a .500 record and an ERA over 4 five years into his career.

I think the reason a lot of us have a problem with this is we don't want to give modern players credit while we give past players too much credit.

I see this all the time. The biblical saying, "A prophet is not without honor save in his own country" can apply to the modern baseball player. "A baseball player is not without honor save in his own decade."

I've learned to get past most of that with Kershaw. I've decided to enjoy him for the greatness that he is. I've never been more excited about a player on my team (although Matt Kemp is getting very close). In fact, I've gotten to the point where I'm stunned when Kershaw doesn't do well.

So, I'm trying to get all the Kershaw cards while I can, before everyone realizes, "geez, maybe this guy really IS the next Koufax."

These came from Dennis, too. It's kind of a cheap way to pick up Kershaw cards. But I'm not the one who put four unrelated players on one card. Believe me, if I produced cards, I'd never do this.

Dennis also sent me another Koufax:

OK, it's one of those Golden Giveaway ads with a card I'll probably never get (because all get out of that stupid thing are fake coins). But good on Dennis for knowing that -- for me -- yes, this is a Dodger card, too.

Wow, I need help.

I also received another item that isn't related to Kershaw or Koufax and isn't even a card.

But it's uniquely Canadian.

It's some sort of fold out that must have come out of a cereal box, as you might be able to see the "General Mills" logo under Kevin Bass' mug. You can see in the upper right corner of the Mike Scott picture that it was "printed in Canada."

Good gosh, Dale Murphy has a freakishly long neck.

I chose to display the three Dodgers. There are actually 10 players on this fold-out. Dave Parker and Bill Doran didn't make the cut for this post.

Today, you see collectors worshiping '80s players like I held '70s players up on a pedestal. There is a lot of love for Murphy and Gwynn among the thirtysomething crowd. I was in my 20s when they played, and they were good, but I never thought they were legendary.

It's just difficult to appreciate players when they're playing.

But I'm trying to snap out of that mind-set. Fortunately Kershaw (and Kemp) are making it easy.

That doesn't mean that Topps can create a card comparing Bryce Harper to Mickey Mantle.

(Who am I kidding? It's probably already made).