2019 Panini Elite Extra Edition -- All the Dodger Cards

Panini's Elite Extra Edition Baseball set is out and it's filled with a bunch of Dodger prospects -- including one ballplayer who's getting his very first card, Ryan Pepiot. Go here to see a complete checklist.

Overall, there are nine Dodger youngsters in the 200 card base set, and all of them have autographed base parallels available to chase after. There are also insert cards of Gavin Lux and Keivert Ruiz.

BTW, Ryan Pepiot is an interesting ballplayer who I'll be keeping keeping an eye on. He was drafted in the third round this past June and recently completed his first year of professional play. Via Brian Crawford at Baseball Essential:

His ability to strikeout batters transitioned nicely to the pro game, as Pepiot racked up 31 strikeouts in 23.1 pro innings split between the AZL Dodgers and the low-A Great Lakes Loons. 

Pepiot records strikeouts regularly thanks to the feel that he has of his four-pitch mix. 

“I throw four pitches. I throw a fastball, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup,” explained Pepiot. “When I’m on the mound, I try to get ahead of hitters early with my fastball. When I’m able to do that, I can mix in my off-speed pitches to keep hitters off-balance.”

He also says that he's comfortable enough in his changeup to throw it in any count, and that's something you love hearing from a prospect.

Base

#25 Kody Hoese

Blog Kiosk: 9/27/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yesterday was "Costume Travel Day" for the Dodgers. Heck, everyone who boarded the plane, including travelling staff, had to join in on the fun.

If I can find the time, I will make a bunch of fantasy baseball cards of them in costume.

On another note, the Dodgers, on the back of Kershaw's six innings of scoreless two-hit ball, defeated the Padres, 1-0, last night. This was his last outing of the season. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“You’re just building confidence,” said Kershaw. “No matter how long you play this game, you struggle and your confidence will go here and there at times. Today, just went in with the mindset to be super aggressive and keep going and don’t worry about all the stuff that’s happened. The results are better today, for sure. 

“If I had pitched bad today, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it wouldn’t have been fun going into the postseason knowing I had struggled. It’s definitely good to get some momentum and confidence going and realize the pitches I need to make are still in there. It was good, for sure.”

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1936 future Dodger 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: 6/14/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic fan-taken snapshot of Jackie Robinson coaching his son, Jackie Robinson Jr. that I ran into on ebay recently. Junior must be behind on the count -- notice how he's choking up on the bat?

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1991 the Dodgers signed 17-year old amateur free agent pitcher Ismael Valdéz out of Victoria, Mexico. He would eventually play seven seasons in LA during an 12-year Major League career -- accumulating an 61-57 record, an 3.48 ERA, a 3.88 FIP and a WHIP of 1.235 as a Dodger. In 1993 the Dodgers played their very first game in Colorado against the expansion Rockies. Behind the pitching of Pedro Astacio, Los Angeles pounded out 12 hits (including a Jody Reed homer) to win the game, 9-4. In 1995 Dodger hurler Hideo Nomo struck out 16 Pirates to set an Dodgers all-time rookie record for strikeouts.  
• Happy Birthday, Don Newcombe & Greg Brock!

Blog Kiosk: 12/28/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fantastic 1957 International News Spring Training press photo, taken by the legendary Herb Scharfman, featuring a couple of Dodgers with some visiting Tokyo Giants' (eBay Link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Dodgers host to Tokyo Giants Players
Vero Beach, Florida... Brooklyn Dodger coach Joe Becker (third from left) and pitcher Don Newcombe (left), discuss pointers of the game with two visitors to the Dodger camp from Japan. They are Sho Horincho, pitcher with the Tokyo Giants (second from left) and Tokyo Giants' manager Shigeru Mizuhara (right). Dated 3-1-1957.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1982 the Dodgers traded for 6' 5" tall reliever Pat Zachry in exchange for utilityman Jorge Orta. In 1993 the Dodgers traded pitcher Isidro Márquez for utilityman Ron Coomer of the White Sox.
• Happy Birthday, Einar Díaz, Don Thompson & Austin Barnes!

2018 Bowman Draft Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released their prospect heavy 2018 Bowman Draft Baseball brand, and it includes two Dodger youngster on an officially licensed card for the first time. Go here for a complete checklist.

First, you can find the first card for infielder Devin Mann --  the Dodgers 2018 fifth round pick. He began is pro career in the Midwest League playing for the Great Lakes Loons - slashing .241/.348/.335/.683. The second Dodger rookie to appear for the first time on cardboard is right handed pitcher Braydon Fisher. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 draft and spent the year in the Arizona Rookie league. The 17-year old hurler threw 22 innings with an 2.05 ERA, 19 strikeouts and just 9 walks.

Unfortunately, there aren't any inserts, relics or autographed Dodger cards to chase after -- just the base cards. Check out the five Dodgers in the set below.

Bowman Base                  Bowman Chrome

#BD-15 Devin Mann      #BDC-15 Devin Mann

Blog Kiosk: 6/22/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Licensed stock broker and current break-out hurler Ross Stripling visited the NYSE yesterday. Check out his brief interview with Cheddar Live as he discusses his current investments, here.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1936 Reds outfielder Ival Goodman hit a three-run home run at Ebbets Field that lands and stays on top of the Schaefer Beer scoreboard in right field. Ballpark rules at the time dictate that it is still considered in play, so Goodman rounded the bases for the easiest inside-the-park home run ever. In 1947 Reds pitcher Ewell Blackwell, after having thrown a no-hitter his last time out, lost out on throwing a second consecutive no-no when Dodgers second baseman Eddie Stanky single with one out in the ninth inning. In 1959 Sandy Koufax struck out 16 Phillies batters to set a new record for strikeouts in a night game. 
• Happy Birthday, Luis Maza!