2016 Topps Archives - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the Dodgers base cards found in packs of Topps 2016 Archives Baseball card set, check out all of the inserts below.  Of note, all of the Kenta Maeda autograph cards are inserted into packs.

Fan Favorites Autographs

#FFA-KM Kenta Maeda                      #FFA-SG Steve Garvey

2016 Topps Archives - All the Dodgers Base Cards

Topps 2016 Archives Baseball cards are now available in stores.  Go here for a complete checklist.  Below are all the available Dodgers base cards.  As you can see, this years set pays homage to the 1953, 1979 and 1991 Topps designs.

Clearly, the 1991 Topps Baseball card design is the best of the bunch.  Heck, I wouldn't have minded if they used that design for every card in the base set.  BTW, there is a unique parallel associated only with these cards.  An "Operation Desert Shield" embossed stamp can be found in the 100 (#201-300) 1991 Topps design base cards.   This emulates the extremely scarce parallel set that were given to troops that year.

Furthermore, this years set is notable for having a bunch of "Bull Durham" cards inserted within packs.  In fact, there are nine different autograph cards available of many of the actors; including writer/director Ron Shelton.

1953 Topps

#19 Don Sutton                                  #93 Zach Lee

Blog Kiosk: 1/20/2016 - Dodgers Links - Koufax, Maeda and Jose DeLeon

Immediately following his retirement from the game in 1966, Sandy Koufax signed a 10-year contract for $1 Million to broadcast games on NBC's Saturday Game of the Week.  He was paired with fellow former Dodger Pee Wee Reese to do color commentating til 1968.  Unfortunately, Sandy would only stay on the job for six years; having walked away before the beginning of the 1973 Baseball season.  It is said that he never felt comfortable in front of the camera.  Featured above is an NBC press photo of Koufax as a rookie broadcaster in 1967 that was for sale at an RMY Auction recently. 

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Matt Krupnick at The Guardian, "How TV rights have made the LA Dodgers the greatest team never seen."

“I call it the greatest team never seen,” he said, noting his own anger over Scully’s absence from LA airwaves. “I mean, this guy is a national treasure. That $8.35bn is what’s most important, not the fans.”

• Via Kyle Ringo at Big League Stew, "Jackie Robinson's widow says MLB has work to do in diversity."

"We're talking about very few (black) coaches, very few managers ... so there's room for real progress, where people can come into the sport and feel they're going to be respected and given opportunities," Rachel Robinson said.

• Via Eric Avakian at Dodger Blue, "Zack Greinke & Clayton Kershaw Duo, Dave Roberts Hire Nominated For L.A. Sports Award."
• Via JP Hoornstra at Inside the Dodgers, "Kris Johnson on his Hiroshima Carp teammate, Kenta Maeda."

“One of the nicest young men that I met over there. He’s also like a big kid, likes to have a lot of fun. Joking around with him is easy. He had a Hi-Chew (candy) rep on speed dial. I asked him to hook it up. Each sleeve has five (candies), each box has 12 sleeves, each case has 12 boxes. He comes back with four cases. I was handing them out left and right. That’s just off the field stuff. 

• Blowout Buzz has some preview pics from Topps 2016 Archives set; expected to be in stores in June.  One of the insert sets will focus on the movie Bull Durham.  Check out the Nuke LaLoosh card on the right.  Check out more preview cards here.
• Dodgers prospect Jose DeLeon was named by MLBPipeline.com as the #5 top right-handed pitching prospect in the game.  Via Jim Callis at MLB.com:

De Leon has skyrocketed from his lowly Draft status and a 6.96 ERA in his pro debut to leading the Minors with 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings and reaching Double-A in 2015, just two years later. De Leon's stuff and command have gotten a lot better since he improved his conditioning and mechanics, giving him a riding 92-96 mph fastball, a plus changeup and an effective if inconsistent slider.

• Just a fun story about the kid who got away.  Via Mark Sandritter at Lookit, "Dee Gordon signed a $50 million contract and immediately went to get McNuggets."
• Ha!  Via Blowout Buzz, "Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton among politicians getting Garbage Pail Kids treatment from Topps."

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Blog Kiosk: 12/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Roberts, Kershaw and Puig

It's great to have you back, Dave!  Via Joey Nowak at MLB.com:

"To be able to put this hat and this jersey on again, it'll never be mistaken and forgotten, how impactful these people [have been] and the legacy they created," Roberts said. "I look at it as a responsibility to continue forward and do things the right way."

Photo above via @MLB on twitter.  You can check out more photo's from yesterday's press conference from Jon SooHoo here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider live blogged the Dave Roberts press conference.  Check it out here.  Below is an excerpt:

A word that I like, I like “grit.” I wasn’t a great baseball player, and so I had to do a lot of things and grind and try to create opportunities for myself. And I think grit is something I believe in — it’s an unrelenting passion and desire for a common goal.”

“I’m always trying to learn. I’m always trying to grow. I want to be the best that I can be. That’s kind of my goal for staff, for people in the organization, for players. I think if we can shoot for that, everything else takes care of itself.”

• Just to clear things up.  Via Dylan Hernandez on twitter, Kershaw never said those things about Puig:

Friedman denies Kershaw told him to trade Puig.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) December 1, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Impressive first interview gave Dave Roberts inside track to Dodgers manager job."

"After our first-round interview, it was like he had our answer key. He had all the answers we wanted to hear going through it," said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "It was incredibly impressive."

"We went into it with a completely open mind," general manager Farhan Zaidi said. "There's no way Dave walked out of that interview without thinking 'I totally nailed that,' because that's what we all thought."

• Via Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue, "Being Genuine Is Key To Connecting With Yasiel Puig, Says Adrian Gonzalez." 

“From my experience, Puig responds well to genuine people; when he understands there’s no agenda and people really just care for him,” Gonzalez said.

“I think that’s one reason why he’s really responded well to me. I told him from day one I don’t want anything from you. When I tell you something it’s for your own good. I’m not doing it because I’m trying to get something out of you or I’m trying to get something for myself.”

• This is good news.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Don Newcombe resting at home after fainting at Dodger Stadium press conference."
• Topps recently announced, via instagram, that a Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) of Bull Durham fame autographed card will be inserted into packs of 2016 Topps Archives.  Check it out on the right.
• Holy mackerel!  Are we about to have another reason to loudly boo Barry Bonds? Apparently, he will be a hitting coach for the Miami Marlins, via Mike Oz at Big League Stew.

The coaching hierarchy as it's been reported has Bonds as a second hitting coach alongside Frank Menechino, who has been with the Marlins since 2013. New Miami manager Don Mattingly and Menechino are said to be "all in" on the idea, according to Peter Gammons.

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