2017 Diamond Kings - The Dodgers Autograph Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards, here are the autograph Dodger cards available in packs of Panini's 2017 Diamond Kings.  Please note that you should ignore the card#'s below.  Panini does a very poor job providing accurate card#'s in their published checklist.

DK Signatures

#6 Julio Urias                  #34 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 8/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Ethier, Magic and Kershaw

Check out who made it to the LA Coliseum for the Rams first preseason game in Los Angeles since coming back to California, via a pic tweeted by the NFL.  Clayton Kershaw, following an afternoon win at Dodger Stadium over the Pirates, 8-4, was spotted on the sidelines during the Rams victory over Dallas. 

I wonder who he was rooting for.  Being a Texas native it wouldn't be surprise to find out that he's a Cowboys fan.  On the other hand, he did send the LA Rams players, coaches and personnel 200 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch whisky as a welcome gift to the Southland.

BTW, this past Sunday was Magic Johnson's birthday, so the team presented him with his own cake on the field.  Photo directly above via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game from Jill and Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1914 Jake Daubert set a NL record with four sacrifices in one game.  In 1926 Babe Herman famously tripled into a double play.  Per a description at Dodgers.com:

With one out and the bases loaded, Herman hit a line drive off the right field wall and Hank DeBerry, the runner on third, scored easily. Dazzy Vance, the runner on second, rounded third, but stopped 30 feet past the bag and started back. Chick Fewster, the runner on first, was coming full steam around second and soon found himself at third with Vance.

Herman, meanwhile, oblivious to what was transpiring at third base, tore around the bases until he also was at third base. Both Fewster and Herman were tagged out, ending the inning.

"Everybody," Herman said years later about the play, "overlooks the fact that the run I knocked in on that play was the winning run."

Blog Kiosk: 6/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yesterday was the third annual Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) PlayerFest at Dodger Stadium, and as you can see it was packed with happy kids everywhere.  The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from the event.

 Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1944 the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees play an exhibit charity game in front of 50,000 fans for the war bond movement dubbed the Tri-Cornered Baseball Game.  The Dodgers won the contest: Dodgers 5, Yankees 1, Giants 0.  Check out what I wrote about it here.
• Happy Birthday, Babe Herman!

Blog Kiosk: 6/23/2016 - Dodgers Links - Six Wins in a Row!

What's happening?!

All of the sudden the Dodgers are getting all the breaks.

It started innocently enough when in the first inning Chase Utley scored his 1,000th career run on a wild pitch to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.  Via Jack Baer at MLB.com:

"It's a cool accomplishment. I've been fortunate to be on a lot of good teams. They could swing the bat, constantly driving guys in. It's really more of a team accomplishment than an individual accomplishment."

Then, with the game tied at two in the top of the fifth inning, a game of pickle inside of a circus suddenly showed up on the field.  Nationals pitcher Joe Ross hit a high pop fly to the first base side that saw three Dodgers fielders converge towards the right field stands.  Utley got to the ball first, but was only able to haphazardly swipe at it with his glove.  Fortunately, he deflected it towards a charging Adrian Gonzalez.  It bounced off AGone's leg, barely missing the grasp of his left hand and fell towards the ground between his feet.  Then, with the reflexes of a jaguar, Adrian grabbed the ball with his glove just inches before bouncing on the dirt.  Wow!  Go here to watch a video of the catch.

Remarkable, eh?   Obviously the Baseball gods were not going to let the Dodgers lose this game.  With them down by a run in the ninth and the tying run on first base, Yasiel Puig hit a sharp ground ball through the middle that was misplayed by the centerfielder.  This crucial error resulted in a Little League-styled inside-the-park walk-off home run victory.  Watch it here.  You can listen to Puig talk about the bizarre ending here.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"I was ready for the hit, and nobody thought that the ball would go through," Puig said through an interpreter. "So when I did see the ball go through, I had to talk to my hamstring so I can figure out how far I could go on the bases."

All the photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1930 the Dodgers record twelve consecutive hits against the Pirates during the sixth and seventh innings.  This includes two home runs being hit by Babe Herman. In 1956 Don Zimmer is hit in the face with a pitch; breaking his cheekbone.

Blog Kiosk: 5/18/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Maeda's Bobble and the Time Warner/Charter Merger is Done

Kenta Maeda finally got a look at the promotional bobblehead the Dodgers are giving out on Tuesday, July 26th against the Tampa Bay Rays.  As you can see, in the photo tweeted out by the Dodgers, he definitely got a kick out of it.  On the right is a better look at the bobble, via another tweet by the Dodgers.

BTW, Clayton Kershaw was fantastic once again last night.  For the sixth straight game, resetting the MLB record, he recorded double-digit strike outs and had one or less walks.  Overall, he went eight innings, allowed four hits, struck out eleven and walked none to record his sixth win of the season.  Via Ken Gurnick and Fabian Ardaya at MLB.com:

"When you see [Mike] Trout walking up to the batter's box and he looks at me and shakes his head like, 'I'm going to take my medicine,' that respect is earned," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "There's that novelty, that respect that Clayton has from other players, so when you get in there, you're almost defeated."

On another note, the Dodgers youngsters continue to wreck the ball.  For the third straight game one of the kids hit a couple long balls in the game.  On Sunday, Corey Seager hit two homers.  On Monday, Trayce Thompson hammered two of his own.  Then last night, Joc Pederson pocketed a couple while Seager hit another. 

Go here to check out a bunch of great pics from yesterdays game from Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1931 Dodgers outfielder Babe Herman would hit for the cycle for the first time. He would do it against Cincinnati, and accomplish this feat three times in his career.
• Happy Birthday, Eric Young!

2016 Panini Diamond Kings - The Rest of the Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a final look at the Dodgers cards found in 2016 Panini Diamond Kings packs.  Go here to see all of my previous post on this set.  Featured below are the remainder of the Dodgers inserts I have yet to show; including a bunch of relic and autographed cards.

Diamond Deco

#DD-CS Corey Seager

Scans of the 1951 Jackie Robinson Comic #5

Here are scans of the vintage 1951 Jackie Robinson Comic #5.  There is one more to go before I'm done.  I should have that up tomorrow.

Directly below are links to the other comics I've scanned and shared so far:

UPDATE:  Directly below are links to the other Jackie Robinson vintage comics I've scanned and shared:

• 1950 JR Comic #1 (the first half) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #1 (the second half) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #2 (complete scans) - Link
• 1950 JR Comic #3 (complete scans) - Link 
• 1950 JR Comic #4 (complete scans) -Link
• 1951 JR Comic #5 (complete scans) - Link 
• 1951 JR Comic #6 (complete scans) - Link

Click on any pic to embiggen.

Blog Kiosk: 1/5/2015 - Dodger Links - Trading Either, Mike Piazza and Babe Herman

The 1951 version of the Dodgers brain trust is all set up and ready to go for spring training, as evidenced in the vintage press photograph above.  Check out the eBay auction here.  Per the caption attached to the reverse:

Coaches and Dressen Confer at Dodger Camp; Vero Beach, Florida.... Charles "Chuck" Dressen, new manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers holds a conference with three of his coaching staff at the Brooks Spring Training Camp.  Left to right are: Dressen; Clyde Sukeforth; Jake Pitler and Cookie Lavagetto.

The photo was originally taken by Herb Scharfman for International News; dated 2/21/1951.  As you may know, Scharfman would join Sports Illustrated and is famous for a photo in which he appeared - he is the man seen in the background (between the legs of Muhammad Ali) as Ali stands over a knocked out Sonny Listen.

Below are some links to check out:

• Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining put together his list of, "Top 10 Matt Kemp Cards."
• ICYMI, there have been rumblings over the weekend that the Orioles, "have engaged in trade talks with the Dodgers regarding Andre Ethier," via Roch Kubatko at MASN Sports.   Baltimore appears to have many options, so I wouldn't expect anything to be imminent.  At this point, nothing would surprise me, though.  The Dodgers have not been shy about wanting to deal Ethier and they are probably willing to make a deal.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Acclaimed scout Brito not slowing down at 80."
• Via Lyle Spencer at MLB.com, "Wills' impact on game is Hall of Fame worthy."
• Via Anthony DiComo at MLB.com, "Proud of numbers, Piazza awaits Hall's call."

"I can only say that there's been a lot of great players throughout history that have had to wait their turn," Piazza said during a phone interview to promote a shaving system, for which he recently filmed a television commercial in upstate New York. "Joe DiMaggio had three ballots. Yogi Berra had three ballots. And that's part of the process. For me, it's not really my place, I feel, to start campaigning. I can only say that I'm proud of my work and I'm proud of my career. I'll put my numbers against a lot of players in history, and I feel that's all I can do."

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers 2015 non-roster invitees to spring training."
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Seasons: Babe Herman’s 1930 — the year of the hitter."

It was that year when a Dodger had arguably the greatest offensive season in franchise history. Floyd Herman, better known as “Babe” Herman, had a monumental campaign for the Brooklyn Robins, one that is statistically jaw dropping.


Herman ranked in the National League top five in 12 different offensive categories. His .393 batting average is 12 points better than any other in franchise history. (Herman hit .381 in 1929.) Herman finished second in the NL batting race to Bill Terry, who hit .401 that season.

• Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "Roadshow Segment on Rare Collection Airs Monday (today)."

The segment was taped on Roadshow’s first trip to New York City in 13 years.  It reveals the largest sports memorabilia find in the 19-year history of the series: an archive of rare Mort Rogers Scorecards with a handwritten letter from the 1871-1872 Boston Red Stockings.

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Take a Look at some Vintage Dodger Photos from Hyee Auctions - Campy, Sandy and the Duke

Some of my favorite sport memorabilia items to check out on eBay are vintage press photos, and one of the top sellers of them currently has some great Dodger pics to peruse through.  Check out some of my favorites from hyee_auctions below. 

Below is Roy Campanella chatting with Yogi Berra during a pre-1953 World Series workout.  According to the caption glued to the reverse, they are wondering out-loud why they both stick a finger out of their glove when catching.  Notice how Campy has a grip of Yogi's index finger.  It was taken by Herb Scharfman of International News. 

(Auction Link)

As a collector I found this below photograph totally fascinating.  Here is a July 30, 1958 photograph of a concession stand for a Dodger game at the Coliseum.  You can see a Dodgers yearbook, some Jay's photo packs, postcards and scorecards.

(auction link)

Below is a 1965 St. Paul Pioneer Press Photo of Sandy Koufax on the mound during Game 2 of the 1965 World Series after giving up a few runs.

(Auction Link)

Here is a 1954 AP photograph of an 18-year old hurler straight out of the University of Cincinnati - Sandy Koufax.

(Auction Link)

Below is a great photo of Babe Herman with his young son Bobby, dated 8/18/1930.  It was by Herman Adnson of Wide World Photos.

(auction link)

Here is a 1949 ACME News photo of Campy, Preacher Roe and the Duke in those shiny satin Dodger uniforms.

(auction link)

I thought I would finish this post up with a fantastic photo of Duke Snider doing celebrating after the Dodgers 1955 World Series victory.

(auction link)

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