2015 Panini Immaculate Baseball - The Dodger Autograph Cards

Here is a final look at Panini's Immaculate Baseball card set.  This time I share pics of most of the Dodger autograph cards that are available.  Unfortunately, I'm missing pics of a couple of them, so if you happen to run across them please pass it along.  For instance, I have yet to see the Fernando Valenzuela Immaculate Ink (#17) card that is numbered to only #10 copies.  The only other card I have yet to lay eyes on is the Shadowbox card of Corey Seager - which really sucks.  These cards look fantastic.  If Panini could use team logos I might call this card as one of the best of the year.

Immaculate Ink

#17 Fernando Valenzuela (#/10)

Immaculate Auto Material

#31 Adrian Gonzalez (#/20)

2015 Panini Immaculate Baseball - The Dodger Relic Cards

I am finally getting around to showing off some of the various Dodger insert cards available in Panini's Immaculate Baseball set.  On Monday I shared pics of the Dodger base cards. Featured below are the relic-only insert cards.  I hope to have the autograph cards up tomorrow.

Of note is the Immaculate Cleats Jumbo Card of Corey Seager.  Unfortunately, this card has yet to make an appearance online, but it represents something very new to Baseball card collectors.  It featured a jumbo sized relic piece of his shoe.  Based on what I've seen so far, these cards are the coolest things I've ever seen - and I'm not a huge fan of relic cards.  From what I understand, card manufacturers have been making cards like this for several years, but this is the first time its been done for Baseball.  I've included an example of one of these cards below.

Accolades Materials

#6 Don Drysdale

2015 Panini Immaculate Baseball - The Dodger Base Cards

Panini's high-end Immaculate Baseball set came out last week, and it's filled with a bunch of Dodger autograph and memorabilia cards.  Go here for a complete checklist.  As you likely now, the set is unlicensed by MLB, so team logos are nowhere to be found.  A box cost about $200 and consist of only one pack of six cards.  You are guaranteed that five of those cards are either have an autograph, memorabilia piece or both.

Below are pics of all the Dodger players found in the base set.  The "Rookie Materials Autograph" cards are numbered as if it's a part of the base set, so I have included it below. 

#2 Clayton Kershaw                                    #17 Yasiel Puig

Blog Kiosk: 8/24/2015 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Pederson and Chef Dave

Longtime Dodger Chef David Pearson needs your help.  As you may know, the 51-year Dodger employee has been battling lung cancer and is currently going through his second round of chemo.  To assist him financially with this is a "Go Fund Me" page, and if you are so inclined please check it out here. Every little bit helps.  (Hat Tip: SOSG)

Once upon a time I was invited to sit in the press box, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.   I had the pleasure of watching and writing about the game from that unique perspective, and made sure to test out a meal created by Chef Dave.  I remember walking in that room, getting a plate of pork chops and eating to my hearts delight.

Anyway, you should check out Bill Plaschke's excellent story about Chef David Pearson from a couple of months ago here.

With every press-box dining room being a reflection of the person who runs it, Dave's Diner is like a big hug. It is a place where the lowliest of workers can joke with Scully, where Tom Lasorda's voice still booms with glee, where Hefley and her husband Billy occupy one corner table, where Fernando Valenzuela can be found chowing at another one, where scouts gossip and writers complain and many folks just mill about until the first pitch.

Dave Pearson created this space with a gentle, easygoing manner that matches his simple delicacies. He personally serves the broadcasters in a separate side room so Scully can at least eat in peace, yet he treats everyone as if they were a Hall of Famer, as he spends most of his time standing at the end of the food line shaking hands and telling stories.

Below are some links to check out:

• Kershaw saysm "PANIC."  Via Pedro Moura at the OC Register:

“I hope we’re panicking a little bit. I think panic’s a good thing, to a certain extent,” Kershaw said. “It’s August whatever-it-is and we have five weeks and whatever it is, too. There needs to be a sense of urgency — maybe that’s better to say than panic.

“I feel like we have to start playing like that.”

• Joc Pederson is losing his job.  Via Chris Abshire at MLB.com, "Hernandez earning at-bats over Pederson."

That's the situation Joc Pederson faces right now, as he was held out of the Dodgers' lineup for a second consecutive game on Sunday despite a right-handed pitcher taking the mound for the Astros.

Kiké Hernandez again got the start in center field, and manager Don Mattingly all but outright said that's his preferred lineup going forward.

"It's that time of year. Kiké's just been swinging the bat better, and he's a comparable defender. It's just one of those things we have to do at this point," Mattingly said.

"I'm still going to try to match up Joc [with righties] ... but Kiké's earned at-bats. We feel like he gives us a better chance to win."

• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digests provides, "Your Annual Reminder About Postseason Eligibility."
• Phungo made note of a Dodger anniversary that had escaped my notice; "ANNIVERSARY: 40 Years ago Davey Lopes Steals 38 consecutive Bases."
• Check out a whole bunch of preview pics from Panini's 2015 Immaculate Baseball set here; including the Tommy Lasorda and Corey Seager cards below.  Of special note, that Seager card is incredible.  It's a "1 of 1" game-used leather glove relic card.  Wow!  This set officially goes live this coming Wednesday.

• I couldn't agree with Night Owl Cards more, "No-hitters are meaningless."

I noticed last night in myself a sense of resignation as Fiers pitched the no-hitter last night. While other Dodgers fans flailed around in a panic, I didn't care all that much. Yes, it sucked that the Dodgers were being no-hit (especially at the same time the devil magic Giants get HRs from their pitchers), but my overriding emotion was "Yes! I have a lead story for the cover of tonight's sports section!"

That's what happens in the middle of August, when you're staring at preseason football and little else.

I just don't feel the humiliation of a no-hitter anymore. My feelings of depression and embarrassment have faded over the years. I decided to explore that by studying the times that the Dodgers have been no-hit since I've been following baseball.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/20/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Zaidi and Rollins

Jimmy Rollins seems happy to have his former teammate in LA.  Watch what he said about it in the clubhouse yesterday from SportsNet LA, here.  Photo above from @SportsNetLA on twitter.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Rollins likes idea of reunion with Utley."

"I think it would be a lot of fun," Rollins said. "One, he loved this team, went to school at UCLA, plays well at Dodger Stadium, actually beats up the Dodgers. If everything goes through and he's here, it would be nice to see him play home games in a place he's comfortable playing.

"He can add a lot. Hopefully, No. 1 first and foremost, if he's healthy and in a good place. That being the case, the way he's swung the bat, the way he's been playing, we can use it, anybody can. He's a tough guy. More than anything, there will be some new excitement in the clubhouse. He'll have the chance to play meaningful baseball late in the year. It's what we all want."

Below are some links to check out:

• ICYMI:  The two Dodger prospects sent to Philadelp[hia as a part of the Chase Utley trade are infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney and minor league pitcher John Richy.  Per a Dodger press release:

Sweeney was hitting .271 with nine homers, 30 doubles, 32 stolen bases and 49 RBI in 116 games this year for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. The 24-year-old was the Dodgers’ 13th-round selection out of the University of Central Florida in 2012.

Richy, the Dodgers’ third-round draft selection out of UNLV in 2014, was 10-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season. The right-hander pitched for Rookie-level Ogden and Single-A Great Lakes in 2014.  

• BTW, to make room for Utley on the Dodgers roster they have DFA's Alberto Callaspo, via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider.
• Jon also shares a whole bunch of quotes from Dodger GM Farhan Zaidi about the trade and the "State of the Dodgers," here.

•  On why they targeted Utley: “It’s everything. Beyond the numbers, he’s always been a very good defensive second baseman … he’s shown that range (since he came back from the disabled list). His quality of at-bats has been near the top of the league. We made it a point to stack our lineup with players who have quality at-bats. He’s always hit well at Dodger Stadium.

• “I think we have all the elements of a really good team. We got out of the gates really strong, and we’ve had stretches in other parts of the season where we did certain things well and struggled in other areas. I think we still have talent to bookend our season with a stretch … where we’re firing on all cylinders. We think we have the ingredients of a really good team, and it’s going to come down to execution.”

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Yasiel Puig has mild hamstring strain."  He should be ready to go on Friday.

"It was pretty good news today, it feels like," Mattingly said. "This is way less than last time, it seems like. At this point, he's calling it, 'very mild,' and the MRI is not showing a whole lot and Yasiel looks good."

• Panini has released some more preview pic for their upcoming 2015 Immaculate Baseball set; including the Yasiel Puig jumbo relic card on the right.  Go here to check out a bunch of great pics.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/14/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

Don't quit your Baseball job boys.

Justin Turner Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson tried their hand on the tarmac for Southwest Airlines yesterday afternoon in a promotion meant to highlight the partnership they have with the Dodgers.  Photo above via Kiké Hernandez on twitter.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers still looking for value from new pitchers."

“We’re going to keep going. I don’t know what you want me to say,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Alex has thrown the ball fine, Brett [Anderson] has been throwing the ball good all year long. Mat’s had a couple bad starts back-to-back, so we’ll just keep working and go forward.”

• Via Mike Petriello at Dodgers Digest, "On Those Underwhelming Rotation Additions."  He does his best to explain that it's way too early to judge the effectiveness of the Dodgers recent trades and I'm inclined to agree. 
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Andre Ethier ties for 10th on all-time Dodgers doubles list."
• Panini America released some preview pics from their upcoming 2015 Immaculate Baseball card; including the Fernando Valenzuela card on the right.  Check out more pics here.
• Wow.  Now I'm envious.  Check out this commemorative Baseball, via Rep. Xavier Beerra on twitter:

Threw out first pitch at the @Dodgers game. It was a strike! What a rush! #LetsGoDodgers #mydayinLA pic.twitter.com/g1krXQ6cRi

— Xavier Becerra (@RepBecerra) August 13, 2015

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Blog Kiosk: 7/8/2015 - Dodger Links - Newcombe, Pierre and Tsao

Yasiel Puig is seen taking batting practice underneath the confines of Dodger Stadium before yesterday's game.  Considering the tough go he's had at it lately, he no doubt needed it.  My question, though, is who is the little tyke on the bottom left of the photo?  Ain't he in mortal danger of getting a ball fouled back towards him?  Tough guy, that kid is.

The above photo via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers.  Go here to check out more pics from him from yesterday's game.  Below are some links to check out:

• Get well!  Via an ESPN report, "Don Newcombe leaves Dodger Stadium for hospital after feeling ill."
• Awesome!  Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Juan Pierre is the best of sports."

Juan Pierre, who memorably accompanied his retirement announcement with the amusing lament that while he had 18 career home runs, he wished he had 20, was lighthearted Monday responding to my tweet that he had been the only position player in Dodger history to start in the No. 9 slot in the batting order after the pitcher.

• The 3rd Annual Kershaw's Challenge Ping Pong 4 Purpose charity event is coming up on July 30th.  Go here for information.
• Via Steve Bourbon at MLB.com, "Crawford aims to return after All-Star break."

"I think [trainer] Stan [Conte] has a plan mapped out for him to be playing through the break so they have the same time off that we do," Mattingly said. "Then we can see where he's at."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers to call up Chin-hui Tsao, per report."

"He gives me a lot of options to play with, whether it's backdoor breaking balls, cutters inside, fastballs up," said catcher Yasmani Grandal in March. "He can bring it too. I didn't know he could bring it that hard."

• Panini shares some preview picks from their 2015 Immaculate Baseball set; including the Kershaw card on the right.  Go here to see more.
• Nick Diunte at the Examiner.com tells us about a former Dodger who had recently passed away: "Buddy Hicks, former Detroit Tigers infielder, passes away at 87."
• Topps newest online exclusive creation is called "Fire" and it's an art print measuring 10"x14" and numbered for only #/49 copies.  Clayton Kershaw and Yasil Puig prints are available.  See them below.  Go here to check them out.  A rare "1 of 1" sepia version were also available, but have already been sold.

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