Cardboredom

Following a growing collection of vintage Dodger baseball cards.

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Baker's Five

Dusty Baker 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

Topps #495

Bats: Right    Throws: Right    AVG: .278  H:1981    HR: 242    RBI: 1,013

Dusty Baker was an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1976 to 1983. During his tenure with the Dodgers, Baker was a 2x All-Star, 2x Silver Slugger Award winner, 1x Gold Glove winner, and NLCS MVP in 1977. He also helped the 1981 Dodgers reach the World Series. Though he performed poorly during the post season, the team emerged victorious earning their 5th World Title. In 1977 Baker accomplished two great feats in the history of baseball. On October 2nd 1977, during the last game of the season, Baker launched his 30th home run against the Huston Astro's J.R. Richard, by doing so Baker became the 4th member of the 1977 Dodgers (along with Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, and Reggie Smith) to 30 home runs or more during a season. This made the Los Angeles Dodgers the first Major League team to have 4 players go yard 30 times or more each. It was also during this home run when Baker achieved his 2nd feat. While Dusty rounded third on his way home, Glenn Burke (on deck) stood at the plate with his hand high in the air and his body arched back. Baker, not sure what to do, but his hand up in the air and when he reached the plate their hands hit and thus the high-five was born. Burke would follow up with his first career home run and repeat the gesture with Baker upon his return to the dugout. 

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The Curious Case Of Karl Benjamin Spooner

Karl Benjamin Spooner 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

Topps #90

Throws: Left   Bats: Right    W-L: 10-6    ERA: 3.09   Strikeouts: 551  Saves: 105

Karl Spooner was a left handed pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers out of Oriskany Falls, New York. Selected as an Amateur free agent in 1951 for the Brooklyn Club, Spooner would play his first game in the majors in the fall of 1954. Though only making two starts in the 1954 season, Spooner would wow the league by pitching consecutive complete game shutouts giving up only 7 hits in his first two games. His first start for the Dodgers saw Spooner striking out 15 setting a Major League record that has only since been tied by J.R. Richard in 1971. After a stellar rookie start fate would work against Karl when, during spring training for the 1955 season, he entered a game without properly warming up resulting in an arm injury that would limit him to only 29 more games in in entire career. The last game being a start in game 6 of the 1955 world series against the rival New York Yankees, in which the Dodgers lost 5-1, with all 5 Yankee runs coming in the 1st inning.

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Hey Rube!

Albert Bluford Walker 1955 Los Angeles Dodgers

Topps #108

Bats: Left    Throws: Right    AVG: .227  H:360    HR: 35    RBI: 192

Rube Walker was a Dodger's catcher from Morganton, North Carolina. After being traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Chicago Cubs Walker became the backup catcher behind Roy Campanella. When Campanella couldn't play in the 1951 playoffs due to injury, Rube became part of the battery. During the playoffs Walker hit two home runs in a game 2 victory over the Giants tying the series 1-1. But Walker was also behind the plate when Bobby Thompson hit the walk-off home run at the Polo Grounds which came to be known as "the shot heard 'round the world." Walker swears the pitch from Ralph Branca was not what he called. Rube continued on with the Dodgers through their first year in Los Angeles, after which he retired from playing. It was after his playing days where Walker's biggest contribution to the game came. As pitching Coach for the Mets, along with Manager and former Dodger Gil Hodges, Rube Walker developed the 5-man pitching rotation. 

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Shot Unheard

Clement Walter Labine 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

Topps #180

Throws: Right   Bats: Right    W-L: 77-56    ERA: 3.63   Strikeouts: 551  Saves: 96

Clem Labine was a right handed pitcher for both the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to his baseball career where he earned 96 saves Labine made 26 jumps as a US Army Paratrooper in World War II. Labine joined the Brooklyn club in 1950 where he compiled a 5-1 record as a rookie reliever. The 1951 season saw him in a rare start in game 2 of the National League Pennant playoff. He would shutout the rival cross-town New York Giants 10-0 keeping the Dodgers hopes alive in the best-of-three match up. He was almost brought out of the pen during game 3, but that role was given over to Ralph Branca who ended up giving up a 3 run walk-off home run at the Polo Grounds in what came to be known as "The shot heard 'round the world."  Through Labine's time with the Dodgers he was most pivotal out of the bullpen and no where more so than in Brooklyn's first and only World Title, winning game 4 and providing a crucial save in game 5. Labine would also pitch 1 inning of the 1959 World Series which would give the World Series title to Los Angeles for the first time. Vin Scully once remarked that Labine "had a heart of a lion and the smarts of a wily fox, and was very likeable."

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Johnny Be Good

John Joseph Podres 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

Topps #25

Throws: Left    Bats: Left    W-L: 148-116    ERA: 3.68   Strikeouts: 1435

Johnny Podres was a left handed starting pitcher for the Dodgers' organization. Starting for the Brooklyn club in 1953 John Joseph Podres would continue with the team through their move to Los Angeles. During his tenure with the Dodgers Podres would pitch on four World series Championship teams (55, 59, 63 and 65) though he would not pitch in the 65 world series. His finest moments came during the 1955 world series when, after the Dodgers losing the first two meeting against the rival New York Yankees, Podres would pitch a 7 hit complete game holding the Yankees to 3 runs in an 8-3 victory. Then after a Yankee's victory forced a game 7 match up at Yankee Stadium Podres would again be called to start, this time throwing a 2-0 shutout over the Yankees, bringing Brooklyn their first and only World Championship title. For his efforts Podres was awarded the first ever World Series MVP award. 

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50 Shades of Gray

Dick Gray 1959 Los Angeles Dodgers

Topps #244

Bats: Right    Throws: Right    AVG: .239  H: 97    HR: 12    RBI: 51

Dick Gray was a third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1958-1959. Originally drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952 Gray engaged in military service from 1953-1954 and did not get called up until the 1958 season. During the home opener of the 58 season Gray became the first Dodger to hit a home run in Los Angeles. He did so against Johnny Antonelli of the rival San Francisco Giants making the score 6-3. This home run would prove to be the difference in the game which saw the Dodgers winning not only their opener but their first game in the City of Angels 6-5.

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Night of the Long Ball

James Hughes 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

Topps #51

Throws: Right    Bats: Right    W-L: 15-13    ERA: 3.83   Strikeouts: 165

Jim Hughes was a Chicago born pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. During the 1954 season Hughes lead the majors in saves, amassing 24 for the season. Playing in the Brooklyn ball club from 1952-1956 Hughes was a member of four pennant-winning teams (1952, 53, 55, and 56), though he only participated in the 1953 World Series. During that series Hughes pitched 4 innings in the series opener giving up only 4 hits and 1 earned run. The game ultimately ending in a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees. Though the worst would come during game 5 where it was learned that Jim's older brother William P. Hughes, Jr had been stabbed to death by his wife while watching game 5 on television.

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The Cleaner

Steve Garvey 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

Topps #530

Bats: Right    Throws: Right    AVG: .294   H: 2,599    HR: 272    RBI: 1,308

Steve Garvey,10 time All-Star 1st baseman joined the Dodgers in 1969 at age of 21. After previously being a bat boy for the Brooklyn club. During his tenure with the Dodgers Garvey, along with Ron Cey, Bill Russell, and Davey Lopes became one of the longest running infields in baseball history in a starting lineup lasting 8 1/2 years. During his time with the Dodgers Steve was the recipient of 8 All-Star votes including being one of only two players to be elected to the All-Star game via write-in vote (1974). Though scandals later in life marred his post-baseball careers Garvey was known as "Mr. Clean" due to his upstanding personal behavior during his playing days. Tommy Lasorda once remarked"If he ever came to date my daughter, I'd lock the door and not let him out."

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MEET JOE BLACK

Joseph Black 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers

Topps #156

Throws: Right    Bats: Right    W-L: 30-12    ERA: 3.91   Strikeouts: 222

Joe Black was a right handed pitcher out of Plainfield, NJ. Called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952, a year which saw 28 year old Joe Black earn Rookie of the Year while also becoming the first African-American to win a World Series game defeating the New York Yankees 4-2 with a six hitter in the Series opener.

Of Joe Black, Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully said, "His legacy is the thought that unheralded players can rise to the heights, that someone who at the time was considered an ordinary athlete could wind up pitching Game 1 of the World Series,"

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Root Root Root For The Home Team

Roots.

The Atlantics, Greys, Bridegrooms, Trolly Dodgers, Superbas, Robins, Brooklyn dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Different names. Different cities. Same History.

From 1883-2012 the Dodgers have captured 11 Western Titles, 21 National League Pennants and 6 World Series Titles.

From sometime in the 80s until sometime in the 90s I collected baseball cards.

Years later I have decided to start collecting again. But rather than peel away wax paper from stale gum, I've set a target. This is to collect full card sets of the Dodgers 6 World Series Title holding teams. The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1959, 63, 65, 81 and 88 Los Angeles Dodgers.