cora the exploiter

not too long ago, i completed my 2002 topps chrome dodger team set with an order on sportlots.  this was the final card i needed

cheater? embattled? once a dodger, anyway.

a short time later, i received a package from johnny's trading spot in which i found this card:

more chrome cora - this one from 2004 topps chrome - and a double play turn to boot.  this card was also a need, and an appreciated one as my focus as far as team sets go is currently 2001 and 2004 topps chrome.  thankfully, john sent another couple of needs from one of those sets:

i don't know for sure, but i don't think either of these guys were ever fired from their jobs due to involvement in a cheating scandal.

it used to be that when i thought of alex cora, i first thought of his 18-pitch at bat in 2004 that ended in a home run for the dodgers. now, i think of his involvement in the astros' sign stealing shenanigans during the 2017 season and his subsequent management of the 2018 red sox who also beat the dodgers in the world series.  personally, i am fine with him losing his job over it, and i would also be ok with the astros' championship being vacated based on my understanding of the scheme and its impact. as my painter friend donald said, it ain't never gonna happen.

the best thing to come out of this for me, in my narrow fan-view, is that dusty baker is back and i am really hoping that he sticks around long enough to get to 2000 wins (he has 1863 coming in to the 2020 season). i'm also really hoping that he is around long enough for topps to bring back the manager cards and feature him on one - i am thinking 2022 heritage would be a great set to have the manager/coaches cards back in play.

enough about all of that. john sent some more cards - here's one featuring a different cheater

2003 topps has become this century's 1971 topps. those blue borders chip and the cards stick together in a way that makes preservation outside of sleeves or sheets very difficult.  anyway, slammin' sammy cheated, and another performance enhancer should have been on the card, but didn't sign with topps for a couple of years

anyway, nice to see shawn green hanging out.  here's another shawn green card that john sent

that's a 2004 upper deck super sluggers insert, which completed my team set.

here's a 1981 o-pee-chee dave lopes card!

rough cut and offset like opc should be, but not a variation in my eyes even though there is french on the front. for those of you who may not know, i've been collecting o-pee-chee since 1978 and am such a fan that i dedicated a blog to the differences between it and topps.  check it out if you have not!

a few more from john, including a 2018 topps kenta maeda 1983 insert

a 2018 topps holiday chris taylor card

a 2016 panini donruss the rookies julio urias card

and, probably my favorite card of the package, a 2018 sport kings don drysdale card

not much new in the hobby in the way of don drysdale cards, at least from topps. would have been nice to have seen him in the 'greatest seasons' inserts last year, but it could be that topps isn't allowed to use his name or image.

thanks john.