Three Dodgers Make Topps 2016 MLB All-Star Rookie Team - Get 2016 Topps Now Cards

As part of a tradition that has existed for numerous decades Topps has named their 2016 MLB All-Star Rookie Team, and it includes three Dodgers' players -- Corey Seager, Julio Urias and Kenta Maeda.  No doubt this is a testament to a flourishing minor league system.  Per a Topps release:

The Topps All-Star Rookie Team began in 1959. The winners also receive a gold “cup” on their official Topps baseball card in the 2017 set, which has been a tradition for many years.
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The Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team – nicknamed the Topps Rookie Cup – is awarded to one player for each position, a right-hander starter, a left-handed starter, and a relief pitcher.

Corey Seager NL Rookie of the Year Award Winner - 2016 Topps Now Cards - #OS-16

To the surprise of no one, Corey Seager was named the unanimous winner of the National League "Rookie of the Year" Award winner last night.  In honor of that Topps is making available an Topps Now card to commemorate the honor.  Go here to check it out and order.

Additionally, Topps has created six different (and massively overpriced) game-used relic cards that come from Game 2 of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals.  As you will recall, he walloped a first inning solo home run during the game.  You can check those out at the very bottom of this post.

Corey Seager NL Silver Slugger SS Winner - 2016 Topps Now Card #OS-10

To no one's surprise Corey Seager was named the National League recipient of the Silver Slugger Award for the shortstop position yesterday.  In commemoration of that Topps has issued the featured 2016Topps Now card seen in this post.  Go here to check it out and order.

Corey Seager "ROY" Players Choice Award - 2016 Topps Now Card #OS-9

Along with a parade of awards for rookie shortstop sensation Corey Seager there will no doubt be a flurry of Topps Now cards to commemorate the occasion.  Available for the next day is the above 2016 Topps Now card featuring four National League Players Choice Awards winners -- Corey Seager, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Fernandez and Daniel Murphy.  Check it out here to order.

UPDATE  The print run is  459 cards.

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Kenley Jansen 2016 Topps Now Card - NL Reliever of the Year - #OS-3

As you know, Kenley Jansen was named the 2016 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year on Sunday.  Naturally, Topps has commemorated the award with an 2016 Topps Now card that features both Jansen and the AL winner Zach Britton.  Go here to check it out and order.

Per Mark Newman at MLB.com:

"Thank you so much for this tremendous honor," Jansen said via video. "I'm so sorry that I could not be there to receive the Trevor Hoffman Award from the man himself, a pitcher I respect and always admire. … Thank you for the legends and Hall of Famers to vote for me. To earn that respect from the greatest reliever of all time means a lot."

New 2016 Topps Now Card is Available - Julio Urias' as Youngest Starter Ever - #609

Frankly... It's a bit depressing to see that this card will exist... Not that I have any disdain for the player portrayed on it... After all, Julio remains one of the more dynamic and highly-rated pitching prospects in the game today.

Rather, its the resultant end that gives me heartburn.  Last nights record start by Urias, as the youngest starting pitcher in Postseason MLB history, while certainly notable, left me with a taste of something bitter. 

Four New 2016 Topps Now Cards to Commemorate Last Nights Victory -- #599, #600, #601 & #602

To no one's surprise Topps has issued a foursome of new Topps Now cards to celebrate the Dodgers 6-0 shellacking of the Chicago Cubs yesterday.  Featured on them are Corey Seager, Yasmani Grandal, Justin Turner and Rich Hill.  As always, you can purchase all four (in addition to two Toronto cards) for $39.99. Go here to check that out.  In the meantime, let's take a brief look at each one individually.

Three New 2016 Topps Now Cards to Commemorate Dodgers Game 2 Win - #590, #591, #592

To pay homage to the Dodgers victory last night Topps has released three new 2016 Topps Now cards featuring Adrian Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen.  They are all available for order exclusively online for the next 20 hours, or so.  BTW, you can purchase all three at a discounted price of $24.99 -- they normally cost $9.99 each.  Go here to purchase a bundle of all three cards.

A Whole Ton of Dodgers 2016 Topps Now Cards are Now Available - Kershaw Autographs

There are now a bunch of 2016 Topps Now Dodger cards commemorating last nights thrilling victory currently available for sale; including a limited number of Clayton Kershaw autograph and autographed game-used relic cards.

Featured above is the first of four base cards in the set.  It highlights Julio Urias' mark as the youngest Dodger pitcher to ever win a game in the postseason.  Go here to check it out and order.  Per the reverse:

Twenty-year-old pitcher Julio Urias entered Game 5 of the NLDS in the bottom of the fifth inning, with the Dodgers trailing the Washington Nationals, 1-0.  In doing so, Urias became the youngest pitcher in Dodgers history to pitch in a Postseason game, and the youngest pitcher in MLB to pitch in a Postseason game since 1970.  Urias recorded two clean innings of work, and was credited with the win, as the Dodgers took the lead with a four-run seventh inning, which led to an eventual 4-3, series-clinching victory.

Chase Utley 2016 Topps Now NLDS Card - #574

Chase Utley saved our collective hides yesterday when he slapped a single through the right side of the infield to score the winning run for the Dodgers in the bottom of the eight inning.  It was both a moment of elation and relief, and I think it's fair to say that Utley's been quite a godsend since he decided to wear Dodger Blue to close-out his career.

In commemoration of his base hit Topps has issued his very first 23016 Topps Now card.  Go here to check it out and order.  It says the following on the reverse:

No stranger to the big stage of the Postseason over his 14-year career, Chase Utley provides the Dodgers lineup with a calming presence at the plate and in the field.  Trailing the Washington Nationals two games to one in the NLDS, Chase lived up to that billing in Game 4.  The second baseman singled in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth and then preserved the lead in the ninth with a spectacular glove flip to closer Kenley Jansen, who was covering first.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 367.

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Another Corey Seager NLDS Playoff 2016 Topps Now Card -- #557

Corey Seager gets another one.

Following up on his second first-inning home run of the series on Sunday afternoon Topps has issued another 2016 Topps Now card for Seager.  Per the description on the reverse:

Corey Seager, who homered in his first 2016 Postseason at-bat two days prior, did it once again off Tanner Roark in Game 2 of the NLDS.  Seager's shot put the Los Angeles Dodgers in the lead by a score of 1-0, and the lead grew to 2-0 after three innings of play.  The Washington Nationals, however, were able to come back and snatch victory from the Dodgers by a final score of 5-2, which evened the series at one game apiece.

Unsurprisingly, in his first at-bat in Game 3 he also hit a deep drive, but had to settle for a run scoring double instead.  The ball landed at the foot of the wall at right-centerfield.

Go here to check it out and order.

UPDATE:   the print run for this card is 817 copies.

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A Corey Seager 2016 Topps Now Playoff Card -- #551

My timing for a little vacation couldn't be more any poorer.  Not only did it conflict with the Dodgers NLDS series against the Nationals, but it also impeded my ability to post about the newest 2016 Topps Now Dodger card.  Following the Dodgers thrilling Game 1 victory on Friday Topps released the above card highlighting Corey Seager's first playoff home run.  You can check it out here.

Two More 2016 Dodgers Topps Now Cards Available - #505 & #506

In addition to the postseason 15-card Dodger team set currently available (originally written about here), Topps Now has just release two more cards to add to their running set.  Both cards capture the excitement and joy of yesterdays big day.  Unfortunately, Vin Scully isn't featured on either. 

The card on the top left celebrates both Corey Seager's game-tying home run in the 9th inning and Charlie Culberson's walk-off homer in the 10th inning. It is card number #505.  Go here to check it out and order.  Hilariously, it describes the events wrongly on the reverse (as seen on below left).  It says:

Dodgers 2016 Postseason 15-Card Topps Now Team Set

In honor of the Dodgers recent western division championship Topps has issued a limited edition 15-card postseason team set.  It is available for order until Thursday, October 6th at $49.99, and is limited in number based upon the number of orders received during that time period.  Go here to check it out and order.  At the very bottom is a checklist.

A special catch to the set is that the size will expand depending on how far they get in the playoffs.  Each set will receive one extra exclusive bonus card for each playoff series they win.  Hopefully, we'll see three more cards added to this set.

• Corey Seager (RC) (Card Number: LAD-1)
• Adrian Gonzalez (Card Number: LAD-2)
• Justin Turner (Card Number: LAD-3)
• Yasmani Grandal (Card Number: LAD-4)
• Joc Pederson (Card Number: LAD-5)
• Chase Utley (Card Number: LAD-6)
• Howie Kendrick (Card Number: LAD-7)
• Yasiel Puig (Card Number: LAD-8)
• Josh Reddick (Card Number: LAD-9)
• Clayton Kershaw (Card Number: LAD-10)
• Kenta Maeda (Card Number: LAD-11)
• Julio Urias (Card Number: LAD-12)
• Scott Kazmir (Card Number: LAD-13)
• Joe Blanton (Card Number: LAD-14)
• Kenley Jansen (Card Number: LAD-15)

UPDATE: The print run for this set of Dodgers cards is 383.

UPDATE II:  Below are pics of all the cards in this set; including the one bonuc card featuring Clayton Kershaw.  The bonus card is numbered BON-4.

Bonus Card #BON-4

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Gonzo's Walk-Off Double Against Gints - 2016 Topps Now - #480

I feel like last nights glorious come-from-behind walk-off victory has been overshadowed by that angry bench-clearing incident started by an unstable Giants pitcher.  And that's a shame.

Fortunately, Topps hasn't forgotten what's really important.  Available, starting today, is a Topps Now card featuring Adrian Gonzalez and his thrilling double off the glove of Giants outfielder Hunter Pence.  Per the description on the reverse.

In another epic installment of Madison Bumgarner against Clayton Kershaw, the San Francisco Giants looked poised for victory.  Bumgarner left the game after seven brilliant innings, in which he allowed just one hit and struck out ten batters.  The game entered the ninth with the Giants leading, 1-0, but the Los Angeles Dodgers would rally.  Andrew Toles and Corey Seager singled, and then Justin Turner drove in Toles with his own single to tie the game.  Adrian Gonzalez then capped off the comeback with a double to score Seager for the walk-off win.

Go here to check it out and order.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 233.

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Seager Sets Dodger Rookie Hit Record - 2016 Topps Now - #471

Corey Seager has far exceeded expectations.  Sure, many knew he'd be good, but I doubt anyone expected the results we've been enjoying so far. As a 22-year old Seager has not only entered into this seasons MVP discussions but has also surpassed numerous Dodger records in the process.  So far he has broken franchise marks for home runs by a shortstop, doubles by a rookie, and now has just passed Steve Sax for hits by a rookie with 181.  Corey said this about the new achievement passed, per Ken Gurnick and Jake Rill atMLB.com:

"It's another cool one, but kind of has to get put on the back burner until the offseason while we still have to keep winning games," said Seager.

In honor of this Topps has issued his fifth Topps Now card of the year.  Go here to check it out and order.  Below is what is written on the reverse:

Corey Seager recorded two hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks during their September 17th matchup.  The two hits were significant in that they set a Los Angeles Dodgers single-season, franchise record for most hits by a rookie (181).  One of those hits was a single, while the other was a triple, and Seager finished with a 2-for-4 line with two runs scored en route to a 6-2 win for the Dodgers.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 696 copies.

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Rich Hill's Perfecto Halted when Pulled in Seventh - 2016 Topps Now - #440

Rich Hill finally gets his own Topps Now Baseball card.  Unfortunately, it isn't as grand as it could have been.  As you know, Rich Hill was in the midst of throwing a perfect game yesterday when he was, to the surprise of many, pulled after the seventh inning with a 5-0 lead over the Marlins.  As indicated on the front of the card, this marks the "Longest Perfect-Game Bid By Pitcher Removed From A Game Since 1900."

Not exactly something you want to be remembered for, eh?

Jose De Leon's Nine Strike Out Victorious Debut - 2016 Topps Now - #426

In commemoration of Jose De Leon's fantastic debut game Topps has issued a 2016 Topps Now card for him.  Go here to check it out and order.  De Leon struck out nine Padres batters and walked none to record his first victory of his career.  As you can imagine, Jose's entire family flew in to town to take in the game.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I was pretty calm until I saw my brother," he said. "He went up to the rail and I just saw him. Usually when I pitch, I stick with my routine, but when I saw him I stopped my warmup and went up to him, hugged him, told him, 'I did it.' That was pretty special, I got emotional there. He didn't say much, but I know he almost cried.

"I saw on the replay for my first strikeout, my dad just jumped all over the place. It was my first time actually seeing them in the stadium since I signed in 2013 and now I know what they go through when they see me on the TV when they're in Puerto Rico."

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 705 copies.

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Game Winning Grand Slam for Andrew Toles - 2016 Topps Now - #413

This was a moment worthy of a Topps Now card.

Featured above is an commemorative card that celebrates Andrew Toles clutch grand slam in last nights game.  As you surely know, he smashed an 0-1 pitch with the bases jacked in the ninth inning into the left field stands.  Best yet, he sprinted around those bases like he was being chased by the ghost that kept him out of the game just a year ago.

Few ballplayers have experienced the kind of "ups and downs" that Toles has.  He began as an highly prized prospect within Tampa Bay's system in 2012 then found himself out of the game just under three years later.  In fact, he spent several weeks in 2015 working at a Kroger grocery store before deciding to rededicate himself to the game.  Thankfully, all of the promise that existed when he was originally drafted is now flourishing with the Dodgers.  Toles is currently slashing .397/.463/.690/1.152 in 58 at-bats since being called up to Los Angeles.

Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

Asked about how far he has come in a year, Toles only seemed to want to go as far back as the grand slam he just hit.

"I'm not trying to look back man, I'm just trying to look forward and keep playing," he said. "I'm just trying to focus on right now, man. That's about it."

Why worry about the past when, clearly, it's the future that's really important.  Go here to check it out and order the card shown above.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 458 copies.

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Corey Seager's Franchise Record Home Run - 2016 Topps Now - #399

Once again, I missed out on another new Dodgers 2016 Topps Now Baseball card issue.  This past Sunday Topps announced that the releaseof the third Corey Seager Topps Now card of the year, and it celebrates his recent Dodgers franchise record for home runs by a shortstop.  You can check it out here.  Unfortunately, sale of the card is now closed.  A total of 1,084 copies were snapped up.

He hit the bomb against Jason Hammel of the Cubs on Saturday in the first inning.  It was a 401 foot blast to centerfield.  Per Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"I think it was a 1-0 slider. Not really looking to do that, just happened to happen," Seager said.

The homer is the latest development of yet another hot streak for the 22-year-old. Seager has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games, a span in which he has batted .452 with 12 multihit games and 10 extra base hits.

Seager broke Glenn Wright's 86-year-old record of 22 homers in 1930, and with more than a month remaining in the season, he will have plenty of time to create some separation. However, don't expect that march for history to be on the phenom's mind.

"You're not really thinking about it during the games," Seager said. "It's one of those things you'll celebrate at the end of the year. Not really now, you're kind of just worried about winning."

Below is the reverse of the card.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 1,084 copies.

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