2020 Topps On-Demand #9 - Dynamic Duals - All the Dodgers'

Here's a look at the Dodger cards found in Topps 2020 On-Demand set #9 called Dynamic Duals. A total of 950 base sets were sold online. Go here to check out a complete checklist. Below are all of the Dodgers'.

Base

#10 Gavin Lux / Dustin May

2020 Topps On-Demand #8 - MLB The Show - Gamer Gavin Lux

It wasn't too long ago when Baseball fans were spending their days glued to the online play of a bunch of Major Leaguers. As you'll recall, a Players League was formed -- one ballplayer from each team -- to compete in head-to-head competition playing MLB The Show 20.

The Dodgers were represent by rookie phenom Gavin Lux, and if I remember correctly he ended up in the semi-finals.

To satisfy collectors, Topps dutifully created an online exclusive On-Demand set consisting of all the participants. Below is a look at the Gavin Lux card. Go here to check out a complete checklist. A total of 824 set were created.

As a side note, I really wish Topps used photos of the ballplayers actually playing the game -- ya know, wearing their comfy clothes at home while wearing headphones and holding a game controller.

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#15 Gavin Lux

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2020 Topps On-Demand #5 - MLB Rookie Progression - Graterol, Lux & Gonsolin

Several weeks back Topps released an On-Demand card set online called "MLB Rookie Progression" and it came out in a series of four different waves of ten cards. Only three Dodgers can be found in the 40 card set and I've got pics of all of them, including photos of any parallel autographed cards. Check them out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base -- Week 1

#10 Brusdar Graterol

Blog Kiosk: 3/24/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out these two old men above at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL in the press pic from Wide World Photo. As you can see, Duke Snider is having his knee checked out by Dodger skipper Walter Alston. It is dated 2/23/1959 (eBay auction link). Snider had experienced knee troubles last season that resulted in Duke playing in only 106 games.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Leo Durocher had a four-hour hearing with Commissioner Happy Chandler, related to gambling. In this meeting he would admit to playing cards for money with Kirby Higbe. Durocher would soon be given a one-season suspension for "association with known gamblers." In 1959 an infamous photo is taken of Reds outfielder  Pete Whisenant during an exhibition game in Cuba against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He is seen holding Fidel Castor's machine gun. See it on the right. In 1982 Dodgers star hurler Fernando Valenzuela ends his contract holdout and reports to the Dodgers spring training. After winning the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards he sought a raise from $42,500 to $1 million. Instead, the Dodgers unilaterally renewed his contract for a reported $350,000. In 1984 the International Olympic Committee agreed to hold a six-team exhibition baseball tournament as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics to be held at Dodger Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Jim McCauley, Mike Mowrey, Jim Bucher, Dick Egan, Wilson Alvarez & Jamie Arnold!

Blog Kiosk: 3/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a look at the Dodgers 2020 on-field cap. As you can see, it includes a patch for the upcoming All-Star Game. Pic above via New Era on twitter. BTW, below is a look at the St. Patrick's Day Dodger cap for this year, below (via Dodger Blue)

(Emmett Kelly by Art Rogers/LA Times)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1942 two African-American ballplayers, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, showed up at the White Sox spring training home at Brookside Park in Pasadena and requested a tryout. They met manager Jimmy Dykes and were allowed to hit the field, but as you know nothing would come of it. In 1958 famed clown Emmett Kelly, signed by the Dodgers to play the teams mascot in Brooklyn, announced that his contract had not been renewed to join the team in LA. The veteran circus performer believes the size of the Coliseum, the club's new home on the West Coast, is just "too big for one clown".
• Happy Birthday, Oscar Walker, Johnny Cooney, Gerónimo Berroa & Scott Podsednik!

2020 Topps Black & White Baseball -- All the Dodgers Cards

Topps 2020 On-Demand set #4, called MLB Black & White Baseball, has been showing up on collectors doorsteps. As the name suggest, this online exclusive set features the top players in the game, both past and present, on cards using unique black & white photographs -- many of which I have never seen before. Go here for a complete checklist. A total of 2015 30-card packs were sold.

The best card is clearly the Duke Snider / Jackie Robinson Historic Duos insert card. It uses a photograph I have never seen before -- featuring both players crouching with bats at their shoulders and they are nicely framed by a couple of other bats. Check out this card below. Another favorite of mine is the Dustin May base card. This card is unusual in its framing. Using the Rule of Thirds, Topps places the right-handed hurler on the right side -- thereby leaving a giant blank open space to his left. In order to balance out this placement the bright lights of the stadium is seen on the top left -- causing a nice contract between light and dark. The artistic quality of this photo is something you rarely see on cardboard.

Lastly, I decided to include the cards made for Hyun-Jin Ryu and Mookie Betts -- even though they represent other teams on the card.

Base

#13 Walker Buehler

Blog Kiosk: 2/19/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Kershaw is excited for the season, regardless of the controversy currently embroiling the game. Via Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I think any time you add players of Mookie’s caliber, of David’s caliber, there’s a little bit added excitement for sure,” Kershaw said. “We’re fired up. We know we have a good team. Now we’ve just got to go play.”
...
“I love baseball,” Kershaw said. “I’m excited about it, and I’m just thinking about the 12-year-old kid at home that… here’s all this stuff. It’s hard to decipher. It’s just a lot of negative and negative and negative, and rightfully so. It’s a lot of stuff that’s going on that shouldn’t have happened, but at the same time, the season’s going to happen. We’re excited about it. This team is excited. There’s going to be a lot of great baseball, and I’m fired up for that.”

Photos above and on the right via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1954 the Dodgers signed 19-year old Roberto Clemente to a one-year contract worth $5,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus. He was highly scouted by both the Yankees and Giants, but they all got outbid by the Dodgers. Unfortunately, they would lose Clemente's rights during the upcoming 1954 Rule V Draft to Pittsburgh... And guess who was the Pirates GM at the time -- Branch Rickey. In 1983 22-year old Dodger hurler Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first ballplayer awarded an $1,000,000 salary during arbitration. The Dodgers had countered with a salary of $750,000.
• Happy Birthday, Oscar Roettger, Dick Siebert, Gail Hopkins, Dave Stewart, Josh Reddick & Fabio Castillo! 

Blog Kiosk: 1/20/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Sandy got a ticket. This is hilarious. Per a descriptor on the reverse (eBay auction link):

Sand Koufax lifts a parking ticket from the windshield of the car which was given him for being outstanding player in recent World Series. Sandy appeared at a downtown restaurant in New York Tuesday to get his prize and the car was driven up on the sidewalk for the benefit of photographers. When Sandy came out he found a decoration -- which cost $15 -- on his windshield. (10/9/1963)

Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Bill Schardt, Bill Zimmerman, Denny Sothern, Camilo Pasqual & Cecil Espy!