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Saturday, October 5, 2024
Monday, November 6, 2023
TAG, You're It!
I attended the Burbank Show in September and decided to submit a few cards to each of the third party grading companies set up at the show. I submitted the most with PSA (a few have been show in previous posts) because I have a few sets I'm working on in their set registry. The Steve Garvey Master Set has been my main focus. It only includes cards issued during his playing career (1969-1988) though there are no 1969 and 1970 issues for him.
For cards that I collect of Steve Garvey that fall outside of his playing career (1989 to present) as well as cards of other players that I like, I decided to give TAG Grading a try.
Below is a recap of the entire submission after it arrived back to me.
I got a couple more items graded at the show including one that I submitted with Beckett that I'm still waiting to get back. I'll include them in future posts.
Sunday, October 1, 2023
Michael Schechter and Associates
I recently got back from PSA my 1977 MSA Cup Lid. It received a grade of VG 3. I wasn't sure if PSA graded these so I was happy to find out that they did.
MSA stands for "Michael Schechter and Associates". Michael Schechter had an MLB players association license to produce trading cards from the mid-1970's until the early 1990's. Most sets from that era without MLB logos on them were very likely produced by MSA. His firm was based out of Florida and after doing a quick search on Google, it appears that someone with the same name has a law firm in Florida today. I wonder if it's the same person or if they're related because there are a bunch of questions I'd love to know the answer to about their business.
Some that come to mind include: "Where did you design and print your cards?", "Do you have a master list including checklists of all your products?" and "Is anybody that worked for MSA still involved in the hobby today?"
Below is an image of the back of the lid. I'm not 100% sure, though I do remember having one or two of these as a kid, but I believe these
were lids for drinks at 7/11 though if I'm wrong, please let me know. The
coolest part of this particular lid is that the straw hole hasn't been punched
through yet.
I have a few more items that I got back recently from PSA and another grading company that I'll post about soon.
Friday, September 29, 2023
Dynamite!
Haven't posted on this blog in a long, long time. I recently submitted this to PSA. It's a panel of six 1977 Topps cards that were inserted into the old magazine Dynamite. They did this from the mid-70's to mid-80's with quite of a few different panels released each year.
Wasn't expecting a high grade because the panel was inserted inside the magazine so that four cards showed up on one page and two cards showed up on another. It meant you were guaranteed to get a crease on the panel where it folded in the magazine. You can see the crease on this one beneath 1970's All-Name 1st Team member Bombo Rivera and Steve Garvey.
I actually remember having this one as a kid but sadly I did a horrible job cutting the panel up and my guess is that my mom threw that one away years ago.
I received a few other interesting items back from PSA and another grading company as well. I'll save that for the next post. Hopefully, it doesn't take twelve years for the next one.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Ryan Garvey gets drafted by the Phillies
Click here to view a video of him on MLB.com showing his pre-draft workouts.
Click here to read an article on Philadelphia's local CBS TV station's website about the Phillies drafting Ryan.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Bark in the Park 2011
My wife and I attended the Dodgers second annual Bark in the Park on May 28th. Just like the first time I attended, it was a well run event. Among the highlights was making a lap around the field, having my wife take a picture with Steve Garvey and taking to Steve about his son Ryan's high school baseball team. The one lowlight was that the stadium caught on fire and the choking smoke led to half of the top deck and reserved level being evacuated.
I'd note that Ryan Garvey's Palm Desert High School baseball team made it to Dodger Stadium to play in California's Southern Section Division 4 finals but ended up losing to Southern California powerhouse Bishop Amat 7-0. It'll be interesting to see where he gets drafted this week since he already has a commitment to USC.
That said, here are some pictures of the event that show Dodger Stadium from the field level.
Steve Garvey leading a "Pup Rally" prior to the game. |
The start of the pre-game lap around the warning track at Dodger Stadium. |
A shot of Diamonvision during the lap around the field. Ironically, Steve Garvey was on the screen. |
Looking in from center field. |
Close up shot of the Dodgers digital screen that's part of their outfield wall. |
Here's a look inside the Dodger Bullpen through the outfield wall. |
The Dodgers bullpen through the outfield gate. |
The far end of the Dodgers dugout heading towards the locker room. |
The Dodgers dugout. Plenty of interesting things in the trainer's medicine chest. |
Last year when I attended this event the Dodgers were already on the field. |
Steve Garvey, my wife and dog behind home plate. |
My wife and dog posing right behind home plate. |
The visitors dugout at Dodger Stadium. |
My dog, Chloe, making a new friend. |
The visitors bullpen at Dodger Stadium. |
Chloe sitting in my wife's lap in the all you can eat right field pavilion. |
Here's a view from our seats of the game. Andre Ethier is playing right field. |
A shot of the smoke from the fire on the top deck at Dodger Stadium. |
The entire Top Deck and Reserved levels were evacuated on the first base side. |
Interestingly, the game was never stopped. |
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Jerry Sands and a Dodger Dog
While there, I had Jerry sign a few items for me (i.e. ball and photos) but the big highlight was having him sign my dog Chloe's Dodger jersey which he had fun doing.
Not suprisingly, Jerry said signing a dog was a first for him. |
If you look closely, you can see Jerry's finace in the photo on the far left. |
Jerry brought his fiance to the signing and my wife being the female that she is struck up a conversation with her. She was super impressed with how nice both Jerry and his finace were. Once we left she filled me in on all the details of her girl talk (most of which I don't remember other than they're getting married in November).