2017 Topps Series 1 Baseball - All the Dodgers Base Cards

For fans like myself today is the official start of the 2017 Baseball season.  I say this because fans and Baseball card collectors alike can now go to their favorite store to get packs of Topps flagship set.  Officially released today is the 2017 Topps Series 1 Baseball set.  Go here for a complete checklist.

For this first series thirteen Dodger players are represented; including superstars Corey Seager and Clayton Kershaw.  The set also includes several players in Dodger uniforms who have since moved on to other teams -- Howie Kendrick, Carlos Ruiz, Josh Reddick and Jose De Leon.  Also, Chase Utley is available in Dodger Blue (he has yet to decide where he'll be playing this season).  Check them all out below.  I've included pics of both the front and reverse (with exception of the Chris Hatcher card).

As I'm sure you've noticed, for the first time since 1971 Topps does not include full career statistics for each player on the reverse.  But is does include social media information for each player (apparently, that's more important).

Base Cards

#5 Corey Seager

#50 Clayton Kershaw

Welcome to the Blue, Vidal Nuno!

The Dodgers appear to have made their very first move of the winter off-season.  Although not officially confirmed by the team, word has spread throughout the interwebs that they have moved catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Seattle Mariners for left-handed relief pitcher Vidal Nuno.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Nuno, 29, was 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA and a career-high 1.33 WHIP in 55 appearances, all but one in relief, although he has made 42 Major League starts. He was drafted by Cleveland in 2009 and released two years later, briefly playing independent ball before signing with the Yankees in June 2011. Nuno made it to the Major Leagues in 2013, then was traded to Arizona in '14 for new teammate Brandon McCarthy and was traded to Seattle with Mark Trumbo in 2015.

Blog Kiosk: 11/1/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Above is a fantastic vintage International News press photo of Jackie Robinson, sporting one of those satin jersey's, with young son Jackie Robinson Jr. from the 1949 season.  It had recently sold ($750) at Christie's auction house last month as part of the National Pastime Museum auction.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1942 Branch Rickey becomes General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  In 1951 Roy Campanella is named the National League MVP -- his first of three MVP's he would win.  In 1966 Sandy Koufax becomes the first three-time winner of the Cy Young Award. He is a unanimous winner for the second-straight year. This is the last year that only one award is given for pitchers in both of the major leagues. 
• Happy Birthday, Fernando Valenzuela!

Blog Kiosk: 10/17/2016 - Dodgers Links - AGone and Kersh Power Dodgers Past Cubs -- Series Tied at 1

It was the efforts of the two Dodgers above that lead to the team tying the Cubs at one game a piece in the NLCS.  Clayton Kershaw went seven strong innings, allowing just two hits, one walk and recording six strike outs with 84 pitches.  Best yet, he is one of only two pitchers to hold the Cubs scoreless by a 1-0 score in the postseason ever -- the other man being Babe Ruth.  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:

“Awesome. Watching Kersh, that shows he’s the best in the game,” Jansen said. “His stuff that he had, the way that he pitched against this team. He showed you again, he can just put this team on his back.”

Adrian Gonzalez, for his part, got only one hit, but it was a big one.  On the second pitch of the second inning Gonzalez hit a towering drive to centerfield that cleared the wall for the only run to score in the entire game.

Photo above via @Dodgers/Jon SooHoo on twitter.  Go here to check out a bunch of pics by Jon SooHoo from yesterdays game in Chicago.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1981 the Dodgers defeated the Montreal Expos in Game 4 of the NLCS at Olympic Stadium, 7-1.  Steve Garvey hit a two-run homer in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie, then the Dodgers scored four more runs in the ninth to run away with it.  They are tied at two games a piece in the series with a deciding Game 5 two days later.
• Happy Birthday, Jim Gilliam! 

Blog Kiosk: 9/16/2016 - Dodgers Links - Alvarez, Buehler, Jansen and Rich Hill

Things got a little overheated at yesterdays Dodger game. 

Ageless wonder Rich Hill, who had pitched 19 scoreless inning since becoming a Dodger, had finally given up a couple of runs to the lowly Diamondbacks, and apparently he didn't like that one bit.  He was in full-on game mode and made sure everyone in the stadium knew he wouldn't take an inside pitch, which he claims nicked his index finger, lightly.  He chirped and they chirped, the benches cleared, and then things went back to normal.  Per Jake Rill at MLB.com:

"It was just being competitive, just wanted him to get the ball over the plate and really that was the end of it," Hill said. "There was no ill will or anything like that. Just got excited. I saw the pitch, it was supposed to be inside and he just missed. I guess being a pitcher, I just got excited."

Opposing pitcher Archie Bradley said this, per Kevin Zimmerman at Arizona Sports.com:

“It’s just two guys playing the game hard, nothing more than that,” Bradley told the media after the game. “I was going in before he squared to bunt. Maybe the pitch was more in than it should have been.

Unfortunately, the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on the emotion of the evening and lost the first game of the series, 7-3.  

Pic above via ESPN LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1957 the Los Angeles City Council approved the sale of Chavez Ravine to the Dodgers.  In 1988 Reds pitcher Tom Browning throws a Perfect Game, 1-0, against the Dodgers in Cincinnati.  Browning is the second pitcher to throw a perfect game against the Dodgers - Don Larson threw his perfecto during the 1956 World Series.
• Happy Birthday, Orel Hershiser!

Blog Kiosk: 8/29/2016 - Dodgers Links - Vin Scully Team Photo Day

It was team photo day for the Dodgers Friday afternoon, and as you can see in the pic above (via @Dodgers on twitter) they had a lot of fun with Vin Scully.  Per Courtney Schellin at ESPN:

What you're looking at is 88 Vin Scully masks on the Los Angeles Dodgers and one smiling Vin Scully in the flesh.

In honor of the broadcasting great, the team wore photo masks of Scully, who will retire this year after having announced for the Dodgers since their days in Brooklyn. That's 67 years in the booth for the franchise.

Go here to check out a bunch of pics taken during team photo day by Jon SooHoo and Juan Ocampo.  BTW, Saturday was the Hollywood Stars game, and you can check out some photos from Jon SooHoo here.  Below are more links to check out.

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1948 Jackie Robinson hits for the backward cycle when he homers in the first inning, triples in the fourth, doubles in the sixth, and completes the rare event with a single in the eighth.
  

Welcome to the Blue, Carlos Ruiz!

As much as I want to lament to loss of AJ Ellis, I do want to take this moment to welcome veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Dodgers family.  As you may have heard, the front office just traded one veteran catcher for another.  AJ Ellis has been sent to Philadelphia for Carlos Ruiz.  Per a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired catcher Carlos Ruiz and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for catcher A.J. Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later or cash considerations.