Blog Kiosk: 3/20/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

This is just charming. Featured here is a vintage press photograpgh (P&A Photos) of former Dodger owner Charles Ebbets with his wife Grace (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

"Squire" Ebbets, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers and his wife picking oranges at Clearwater, Fla., where his team is in training. The "Squire" has always been a shrewd business man and a judge of good baseball material. Here's hoping that he hasn't picked any "Lemons" on his team.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1934 the great Babe Didrikson pitched the first inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers during an spring training game against the Philadelphia A's at McCurdy Field in Frederick, Maryland. She walked one and gave up no hits. In 2005 the Dodgers traded starting pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii to the Mets for catcher Jason Phillips. In 2008 the Dodgers make their Cactus League debut. For the first time they would spend their spring training in Arizona. They would beat the White Sox in Phoenix, 8-2. 
• Happy Birthday, Pat Corrales, Mike Griffin, Joe McGinnity, Johnny Butler, Jim Golden, Terry McDermott, Rick Parker & Will Brunson! 

Blog Kiosk: 2/12/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out the above 2020 Topps "Decades' Best" insert card featuring the Dodgers celebrating their 1963 World Series sweep of the Yankees. Do you notice something weird about it?

It should jump out as plain as day.

Well... If you don't see it, don't feel bad. I missed it too. Fortunately, bbcardz -- who writes the Stadium Fantasium Dodger blog -- caught it and let me know. (He wrote about it here)

For whatever reason Topps chose to give the Dodgers celebrating in the photo red numbers on their backs.... Red? What a screw up!

I figured I'd see if I could find an original copy of the photo and came across it on an RMY Auction from just a few weeks ago. It was taken by Larry Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times and is in B&W. So clearly, something went array as they were colorizing the photo, and some person behind a computer (likely figuring that since the Dodgers numbers on front are red, then so must the numbers on the back) messed it up.

I wonder if Topps will make a corrected version of this error. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 a $4.8MM civil lawsuit was filed against former Dodger infielder José Offerman by catcher John Nathans. As a member of the independent Long Island Ducks in 2007 he charged the pitcher with his bat in tow after being hit by a pitch. The pitcher suffered a broken finger and the catcher had a concussion (effectively ending his playing career) from the melee. Offerman is eventually found guilty and ordered to pay $940,000.
• Happy Birthday, Sweetbread Bailey, Enzo Hernández, Don Stanhouse & Dennis Springer!

2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- The Rest of the Dodger Cards

Here is a last look at the Dodger insert cards found in packs of Topps flagship Series 1 Baseball cards. This time we can see the Baseball Stars Autographs, Decades' Best, Postseason Performance, Topps Choice and the Medallion Manufactured Relics cards. Go here for a complete checklist.

Baseball Stars Autographs

• #BSA-CKE Clayton Kershaw -- Not Yet Seen

#BSA-DM Dustin May

2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- More Dodger Insert Cards

Below are more Dodger inserts found in packs of Topps 2020 Series 1 flagship brand. Check out the Decade's Next, Major League Material Relics, Jumbo Jersey Sleeve relics, Decade of Dominance and Home Run Challenge Promo cards.

Decade's Next

#DN-10 Gavin Lux

2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- The Dodger Short Prints

As always, there are numerous 'short-printed' cards available in the base set to chase after. For this years Series 1 installment there are eight Dodger cards available in packs -- Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux each have two a piece. See them all below Go here for a complete checklist of 'short-printed' cards.

BTW, the Koufax 'short-print' shows him shaking hands with another Baseball legend -- Yankee Hall of Famer Whitey Ford. That photo was originally taken on October 1, 1963 -- the day prior to Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees. Sandy and Whitey would face off against each other on that day, and as you likely know Koufax came out the victor. He pitched a six hit complete game to defeat the Yankees, 5-2. The Dodgers would eventually win the series by sweeping the Bronx Bombers.

Base Variations

#50 Cody Bellinger SP

2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- 1985 & Turkey Red Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the Dodgers' base cards (link here), here are several of the inserts you can find in packs. Featured are the Dodger cards found in the 1985 35th Anniversary and Turkey Red sets. I also include a listing of the Silver Pack cards since they are basically replicas of the basic inserts -- they are limited parallels found in promotional silver packs inserted into boxes.

1985 Topps 35th Anniversary

#85-22 Jackie Robinson

2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- All the Dodgers Base Cards

If yesterday's trade announcement didn't mark the start of Baseball in the minds of fans, then today's release certainly should.

Today is the official release date of Topps 2020 flagship Baseball card brand, and I've got pics of all of the Dodgers base cards found in the "Series 1" installment of the set. Check them all out below. Go here to see a complete checklist.

As you can see, there are 17 Dodger cards available, and it happens to include cards of three Dodgers who were recently traded -- Alex Verdugo, Kenta Maeda and Joc Pederson. Assuming they don't return to Los Angeles later on in their career, these are likely the last flagship Topps cards we'll see of them.

Also, be sure to check out Kiké Hernández's card below. I think it is easily the best Dodger base card. It features Kiké doing his best "Chorus Line" impression.

Base

#24 Kenley Jansen

#50 Cody Bellinger

An Early Peek at the 2020 Topps Baseball Card Design

Are you ready for 2020?

Featured above is an early look at the 2020 Topps flagship baseball card design, and I'm not sure if I like it. Go here to check it out at Topps website. It once again includes full-bleed photos -- unfortunately, flagship cards with a border appear to be a thing of the past -- and an unusual placement of the players name and position. As you can see, it is sideways -- perpendicular to the placement of the photograph.

This is an odd choice by Topps. Heck, I'm certain this is the first time they've ever done this to the flagship set (please correct me if I'm wrong) (UPDATE: Woops, I forgot about the 1999 Topps set). Only once At no time over the past 60+ years have they ever forced collectors to tweak their neck in order to read the name of the player -- I'm obviously being overly dramatic. Still, it's a little unsettling.

Nevertheless, it's the design we've got, so I'd better learn to love it. BTW, Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining shares his opinion about the design, and I think it's worth a look. Check it out here.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *

* Like Dodgers Blue Heaven on facebook *

* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *