2018 Panini National Treasures - The Dodgers Base Cards

Panini's National Treasures Baseball brand hit stores last week and it's filled with nothing but hits. Heck, even the base set consist of either an autograph, relic, or both. Below are all of the Dodgers' found in that base set. Go here to see a complete checklist.

Rookie Materials Signatures

#18 Walker Buehler                      #19 Alex Verdugo

Blog Kiosk: 9/27/2018 - Dodgers Links - Ugh!

We're not out, but it sure don't feel good.

Last night the Dodgers failed to win their series against the Diamondbacks, losing 7-2 to win just one-of-three games in Phoenix. So, now they enter their last series of the year - a three game set - against the Giants with the season on the balance. Fortunately, we still hold a one game lead for the last wild card spot, but I would much prefer to win the division.

On a side note, this last series against the Gnats is sure to be exciting. I hope my heart can take it.

In hopes of providing inspiration, please check out the above fantastic October 2, 1955 International News press photo taken by the legendary Herb Scharfman. It features a celebrating Dodger dugout and our slugging centerfielder, Duke Snider, after his second homer of the day during Game 5 of the World Series.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1936 future Dodgers Hall of Fame skipper Walter Alston played in his only Major League game. It was as an 24-year old first baseman for the Cardinals, and he got into the game as a late-inning substitution for Johnny Mize. He would commit an error on the field in two chances, and only get a single at-bat -- he struck out. In 1951 future basketball Hall of Famer Bill Sharman was on the bench for the Dodgers as a 25-year old prospect. On this day he would be thrown out of the game, along with 14 other teammates, for "bench-jockeying" after a close play at home. He would never get a chance to play a Major League game, and thus became the only player to be ejected from a game without ever appearing in one. In 1961 Sandy Koufax recorded seven strikeouts against the Phillies to set a new National League record for strikeouts in a season at 269. The mark was previously held by Giants hurler Christy Mathewson who set it in 1903 with 267 strikeouts. In 2000 the Team USA Baseball club, skippered by Tommy Lasorda, beat the Cuban ballclub to win the gold medal in the Olympics.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Visner, Doug Baird, Whit Wyatt, Len Matuszek, Jason Phillips, Vicente Padilla & Jon Garland!

Blog Kiosk: 9/26/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Ugh... We are now in a theoretical tie with the Rockies.

Last nights game did not end the way we had all hoped -- losing 3-4. After clawing back from behind to tie the game in the ninth, Kenta Maeda gave up a walk-off homer on a 3-2 pitch to the first batter he faced, Eduardo Escobar -- a ballplayer who had been really great on my fantasy team. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"They're not in the playoffs this year, but you can't discredit that team," Hernandez said of the D-backs. "They have a lot of good players in that lineup. Really good bullpen. Our bullpen has been really good the last few weeks. We're human, we're baseball players, it happens. Just a tough night for them."

I thought I would show the above pic that recently sold on eBay. It features an acrobatic Pee Wee Reese floating above a sprawled-out Elston Howard. This is a classic depiction that is sadly a thing of the past. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1975 Burt Hooton set a Dodgers record for starters when he won his 12th consecutive game. In 1981 the Dodgers were no-hit by legendary fireballer Nolan Ryan of the Astros in Houston, 5-0. It would be the fifth no-no of his career. You can watch the last out of the game here. In 1997 Mike Piazza hit a change-up against former Dodger Darren Holmes 496 feet to left-centerfield - hitting a billboard between the scoreboard and the Rockpile - at Coors Field. It is deemed the longest homer ever hit at the stadium. You can watch the blast here. BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Rockies, 10-4. Per a Denver Post story:

“It was mammoth, man,” pitcher Darren Holmes said. “It was a big bomb.”

• Happy birthday, Bernie Neis & Brian Traxler!

Blog Kiosk: 9/25/2018 - Dodgers Links - Magic Number is Now Five

Last night the Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks, 7-4, to drop their magic number to five games, with just five games to go.

The win was far from an easy victory. Fortunately, David Freese was on point, as he knocked in the first two Dodger runs of the evening. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I really like the at-bat quality, and he's gotten big hits for us, but tonight was probably the biggest, the home run that tied the game up," said Roberts. "He's a leader, doing things the right way, and guys tend to follow him. When we're talking about approach and having a plan as a team, he's all in. He's all that we had hoped for."
...
"You understand what this organization is trying to do and you get called upon to help out," said Freese, part of the club's right-handed-hitting platoon. "You do whatever Dave asks of you. You need to be productive and help the team, and so far, I think I've done a decent job of doing my thing and filling my role. This never gets easy, but we're all professional hitters and we're handling it pretty well."

Photo above of David Freese high-fivin' Clayton Kershaw via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the Dodgers won their first NL pennant in 21 years when they defeated the Braves in Boston, 6-0. In 1956 Dodgers hurler Sal "The Barber" Maglie no-hit the Phillies at Ebbets Field, 5-0. At 39 years old he became the oldest pitcher to throw one. You can listen to the last inning of Maglie's no-no (as called by Jerry Doggett with Vin Scully) here. In 1974 Dr. Frank Jobe performs the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on Dodgers pitcher Tommy John's left elbow. The revolutionary procedure would soon be known as Tommy John Surgery.
• Happy Birthday, Dave Walsh!

Blog Kiosk: 8/8/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers are back in first place in the West -- up half a game over the DBacks -- after defeating Oakland last night, 4-2. The best part, though, was their use of the "safety-squeeze" that scored the Dodgers second run of the game in the 2nd inning. It's like, all of the sudden, old-tyme Baseball is trying to valiantly make a comeback. If this is the case -- if we are about to enter a new age of a newfangled version of "small-ball" -- then this Baseball fan can't wait. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Per Dave Roberts: "The safety squeeze by Barnes was big."

It sure was.

Unfortunately, a second attempt by Barnes in the 6th inning resulted in an out at home. Nevertheless, it was exciting, and I'd love to see teams experiment with different strategies.

Photo above via Lachlan Cunningham/Getty at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1903 Dodger pitcher Henry Schmidt is thrown out of the game when he angrily threw the Baseball out of the park. He did this because a run scored while his infielders were arguing a close call. In 1954 Gil Hodges came up to bat in the eight inning three times. He started the inning by tripling, then hit a double his second time up, and finally flied out to center for the last out of the inning. Amazingly, 12 of the 13 runs scored that inning happened with two outs. In 1963 Frank Howard and Bill "Moose" Skowron of the Dodgers become only the second duo in baseball history to hit back-to-back pinch-hit home runs. In 2000 Dodger Stadium got a dose of homophobia. After being seen kissing, a female couple is removed from the stadium and told to never come back due to "lewd behavior". The Dodgers quickly realized what century they were in and profusely apologized -- contributing tickets to various LGBT groups and providing sensitivity training to its employees.
• Happy Birthday, Alanna Rizzo, Clise Dudley, Tot Pressnell & Frank Howard!