Blog Kiosk: 5/8/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fun Herb Scharfman International News press photo from the first day of spring training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, 1954, and as you can see it features a rather nimble Duke Snider. Don Newcombe, who was on the mound, was aiming for Snider's rear-end, and the Duke had to do a jitterbug to get out of the way. Per the descriptor attached to reverse (eBay auction link):

Pitch went Wild
Vero Beach, Florida -- Brooklyn outfielder Duke Snider isn't going into his dance as might be supposed from his gyrations in this picture. A pitch by Don Newcombe tagged Duke on his trouser seat in Opening Day workouts at Vero Beach yesterday. A sartorial note was added to the scene by Snider who appeared in a polo shirt of violent scarlet, trousers of a golden hue, two-tone shoes and a straw hat modeled like a long-ago box baseball cap. The Dodgers spring training underway under the guidance of their new manager, Walter Alston.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the Giants and Dodgers play an Army-Navy Relief exhibition game that raises over $60,000 for the Navy Relief Fund in front of 24,000 fans. Brooklyn edged out their rivals, 7-6, on a Dolph Camilli home run in the seventh inning. BTW, everyone, including the umpires, coaches and players, paid admission to enter Ebbets Field. In 1973 Willie Stargell hit an Andy Messersmith pitch out of Dodger Stadium. This was the second time he had accomplished the feat at the stadium and only the second time it had ever happened in its history. In other words, Willie Stargell owned Dodger Stadium. In 1981 Fernando Valenzuela pitched his seventh straight victory to open the season -- shutting out the Mets by a score of 1-0 at Shea Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Dan Brouthers & Adrian Gonzalez!

Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

This just might be the best photo from the 1955 World Series - the Dodgers first World Championship. Featured are a group of Dodger wives (see Rachel Robinson on the far left) celebrating right after the victory, available via RMY Auction. This photo was taken by Barney Stein and it is a re-strike -- printed in 1980.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the St. Louis Browns returned pitcher Tommy Lasorda to the Dodgers after having just purchased him a month prior. In 1984 Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in a White House ceremony. Rachel Robinson accepted the award on her late husband's behalf. At the time, Jackie was just the third ballplayer to be given the distinction (Moe Berg and Joe DiMaggio were the others). You can watch the presentation here. In 1991 the Dodgers sign free agent catcher and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to a one-year $500,000 contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack McCarthy, Joe Klugmann, José Vizcaíno & Frank Lankford!

Blog Kiosk: 9/28/2016 - Dodgers Links - Culberson, Puig, Urias, the Nationals and Vin Scully

Hey... We scored a run.

Last night the Dodgers played their first game after clinching their fourth consecutive division championship and lost... Not that I'm fretting, or anything. 

The Dodgers are in the midst of preparing for the division series against the Nationals, so the outcome of the last five games of the regular season are less important than setting up the club for success in October.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

Manager Dave Roberts did start nearly all of his regulars in the first game after clinching the National League West on Sunday, but starter Kenta Maeda only went four innings, as did left fielder Andrew Toles and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
...
"As you saw tonight, I normally wouldn't have taken Toles out as early as I did, but I want to get Andre [Ethier] some at-bats, and it was nice to see him get that last at-bat and get a walk and have a competitive three at-bats," Roberts said. "Toles will start tomorrow, and we'll see how the game plays out. And Adrian had a sinus infection, so that's why he came out of the game."

It's not as if the Dodgers do not care about playing host to the Nationals for the opening two games of the NLDS, plus a potential deciding Game 5. But post-clinch baseball is usually different from the version that preceded it.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers Baseball:  In 1988 Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale Major League record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched at 59.  He threw ten scoreless innings against the Padres in San Diego.  In 1997 Mike Piazza set the Los Angeles Dodgers record for home runs at 40. 
• Happy Birthday, Todd Worrell and Jerry Sands!

Blog Kiosk: 12/24/2015 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends Before the Holidays

With the year coming to a close the Dodgers are sharing a bunch of old photos from the past 30 years of Jon SooHoo's tenure.  As you know, he's been the Dodgers official photographer for the past three decades.  You can check out those pics exclusively on their Instagram account; using the hashtag #soohoo30.  Go to this link to check them out.  The photo above features two young Dodger prospects before they would ever have an opportunity to put on a Major League uniform.  Meet prospects Blake DeWitt and Clayton Kershaw - "Before the Bigs."

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers continue to show interest in Kenta Maeda."
• Former Dodger Jerry Sands has been claimed by the White Sox, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors.
• A minor transaction.  Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Astros claim Daniel Reynolds off waivers from Dodgers."
• Panini provides an early peek at some of the 2015 National Treasures Baseball cards that will be hitting stores come early January; including the Joc Pederson card on the right.  Go here to check out a bunch more pics.
• The other night the LA Kings wore some fantastic Christmas themed jerseys for their pregame skate, and auctioned them that same evening to benefit the victims of the recent San Bernardino shooting.  Go here to check out the results.  Surprisingly, backup goalie Jhonas Enroth's jersey sold for the most - at $4,000.  Other sales include Jonathan Quick at $3,025; Anze Kopitar at $2,525; Drew Doughty at $2,275; and Alex Martinez at $2,025.  The below are pics of the jersey's via the LAKings on twitter:

• Panini shares a bunch of preview pics of their 2015 USA Baseball Box Sets that include cards of some of the best and brightest prep stars in the country.  Check it out here.  It doesn't look like any current Dodger prospects is a part of this set yet, but I suspect a player or two will eventually be in our system as some of the prep stars get old enough to be drafted.  Go here for a complete checklist.  BTW, this set is now officially available in stores.

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Blog Kiosk: 12/24/2013 - Dodgers Links -

Tommy Lasorda dropped the opening puck at last nights Kings game.  He's done this a number of times over the past several years, and has quite an unusual way of doing it.  He walks up to center ice, never acknowledges the opposing player, barely acknowledges the Kings player, drops the puck and immediately walks away.  It's hilarious.  Watch his puck drop from last night here.

• Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs shares the Dodgers 2014 ZiPS Projections.
• An old friend alert.  Via Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors, The Tampa Bay Rays claim Jerry Sands off of waivers.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Ethier a friend to Los Angeles' neediest communities".
• Apparently, the Dodgers have signed reliever Jamey Wright to a 1-year contract, via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA.
• Check out Hanley Ramirez's new hairdo, via Samer Kalaf at Deadspin.
• Via Sarah Wexler at We're born again, there's new grass on the field writes, "Dodger Stadium: MLB’s only Googie stadium".  This is a great piece on it's architectural design.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers agree with relievers Wright, Perez".
• Via Logan Rhoades on BuzzFeed, "24 Reasons Why Hockey Players Are Actually Big, Cuddly Sweethearts".

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Blog Kiosk: 4/18/2013

The Collegiate a capella group the Yale Whiffenpoofs sang the National Anthem last night at Dodger Stadium.  Pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  Check out more pics from yesterday; including photos of Hello Kitty and Brittany Spears in the dugout. 

• Steve Garvey did an interview on Good Day LA yesterday to talk about the SCP Auction of his memorabilia from his career and his battle with cancer.  Watch it here. 
• "Chadwick Boseman On His Intense Training To Become Jackie Robinson In 42," via a video from Access Hollywood.
• Via Trulia Luxe Living Blog at AOL, Zack Greinke just purchased a $4.6Mil home in Studio City.
• "Dodgers' Zack Greinke on A.J. Ellis: 'I should have warned him'," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.

"Anyone with the White Sox has always labeled me as someone who does stuff," Greinke said. "I didn't think it would happen. Looking back, I should have warned him."

• Greg Zakwin at Chad Moriyama.com does a great job updating us on the current Dodgers' injuries hampering the team.
• Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts wonders if the problem with the Dodger is a new curse.
• The Dutch Card Guy shows off his recent purchase of Clayton Kershaw autographed cards.  I am very envious.
• Gary Joseph Cieradkowski at The Infinite Baseball Card Set shares his Jackie Robinson card creation.

I tried to depict Robinson as being full of confidence, ready to take the field for the first time, the weight of a whole race upon his able shoulders. It was an important day and I wanted to make this an important drawing.

• Our old friend Jerry Sands has been suspended for a little altercation in the minors, via Charlie Wilmoth at Bucs Dugout.
• I enjoyed this article on high school player and potential draftee Manny Ramirez Jr, via Les Carpenter at Yahoo.

The bat, long and thin and dipped in black paint, can’t weigh more than 34 ounces, but it is the name on the barrel – the one printed in gold – that makes the lumber so heavy. Manny Ramirez Jr. smiles as he touches the letters. For 17 years he’s lived with this name and the stares and looks and jokes that come with it until he can do nothing but shake his head. Son of Manny. That’s who he is. 

• I just thought I would let you all know that next week is the start of National Parks Week throughout the country.  From April 22nd to the 26th, all National Parks entrance fees are waived.  Go here for more information.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 12/27/2012 - New Dodgers Batting Practice Lids

A little belated on my part.  Here is a pic tweeted by the @Dodgers of Don Mattingly playing the part of Donnie Claus on Christmas Eve.

• Battle of Los Angeles: Angels vs. Dodgers, via David Leon Moore at USA Today.

Whether Angels owner Arte Moreno was urged to break the bank for Hamilton by the Dodgers' signing of Greinke is a matter of conjecture.

But these two franchises have been poking fun at each other for a long time, and Moreno seemed to be particularly enjoying himself talking about the Dodgers at the news conference introducing Hamilton.

• Ken Gurnick at MLB.com takes a look back at the 2012 Dodgers and notes the top 5 Dodger moments.
• Stacie Wheeler at Lasorda's Lair notes the importance of Chad Billingsley to the Dodgers this upcoming season.
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA informs us that Ivan DeJesus Jr. was also a part of the Joel Hanrahan for Jerry Sands trade.
• This just warms my heart.  Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times shares a great story from Dodger Stadium this past season that includes a 11-year old kid who can teach us all a little bit about giving.
• Dustin Nosler at Feelin' Kinda Blue takes a look at some videos of several Dodgers prospects.
• Here's the strangest list you'll see about 2012.  Jayson Stark at ESPN notes some truly bizarre and wacky things from the 2012 Baseball season.

Only one pitcher in the National League struck out nine hitters in a row in any game this year. But it wasn't Cliff Lee, Stephen Strasburg or Clayton Kershaw. It was (who else?) Aaron Harang, who punched out nine straight Padres on April 13. So how many other times do you think Harang has struck out nine in a game in his last 73 starts? None. Of course!

• What gives, Google?  Via Markle05 on Reddit, if you do a Google search on Clayton Kershaw they note that his nickname is "The Claw."  When did this happen?  Am I that clueless?

• Paul Lukas, proprietor at Uni Watch, writes at ESPN about the new batting practice caps for the 2013 Baseball season.  Below is what the Dodgers will be wearing next to what they wore in the recent past.  Go read his article for a sneak peak at what other teams will be wearing.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 11/20/2012

Above is a great photo shared by Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers of Roy Campanella earlier this morning on his photoblog.  Check it out here.  Roy would have been 91 yesterday. 

• The Dodgers just released the Dodgers 2013 Spring Training schedule.  Go here to check it out.
• BTW, "Pitchers and Catchers" officially report on February12th, and the first full-squad workout is on February 16th.
• Evan at I Bleed Dodgers Blue 2 notes that both Jerry Sands and Alex Castellanos have been named onto Topps 2012 AAA All-Star team.
• The Dodgers signed former Met Nick Evans to a minor league contract, via Andy Martino of the NY Daily News.  He plays 1st base and 3rd base, and has an invitation to the Dodgers Major League camp this spring. (Hat Tip: MLB Trade Rumors)

Evans, 26, left the Mets to sign with Pittsburgh last year, but played in just 21 minor league games after suffering a broken hand.  Evans is expected to be fully healed in time for spring training.

• Kyuji Fujikawa has 10 offers, via MLB Trade Rumors.  While Eno Sarris at RotoGraphs analyzes his potential.
• Chad Moriyama takes a quick look at Dodger prospects playing this winter.
• Mark Langill, the Dodgers official historian, shares an interesting fact about the PCL being a possible third Major League in the early 50's.
• Black Friday is more than just for "big box" retail stores.  They are also for sports card shops, as well.  Panini is running a card shop Black Friday promotion at numerous hobby stores around the country that includes free packs of limited edition cards.  Go here for more information; including a list of participating stores.  Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any Dodger players in the set, but there is an LA King- Jonathan Quick.
• Sports Collectors Daily notes that Oakley Stores are also running a Black Friday promotion that includes a free autographed item with the purchase of over $250.  Athlete autographs include many Baseball players.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 10/5/2012

Ya know, this photo doesn't make me feel better about the off-season.  The above photo tweeted by @Dodgers features Vin Scully and Duke Snider taking in a round of golf.

• Best tweet ever!  From AJ Ellis.  BTW, if you haven't seen his card yet, go here.

• Ramona Shelburne at ESPN writes an excellent piece on Dodgers owner Mark Walter.

"What I don't think people got about that trade is we wouldn't just throw money away to make the team slightly better. It's gotta make sense," he said.

"I feel like the people we got are people we should be able to count on as a core group of players for a long time. We got a good young first baseman who happens to be about the same age as the guy in right field, and shortstop, and center field."

• Alex Pavlovic at Giants Extra shares a story about Vin Scully from the last game of the year.

But I’ll never say anything bad about Vin Scully, especially after what I saw Wednesday. Scully walked over to the Giants clubhouse in the afternoon to congratulate Bruce Bochy and wish him luck in the postseason. Bochy was on the phone and Scully, a legend, waited patiently in a corner as a few coaches came over to shake his hand. He left before getting a chance to talk to Bochy, but made sure to stop by and leave a message with one of the coaches.

“Please congratulate him, and tell him that I wish you guys the best of luck in the postseason,” Scully said.

That’s some serious class.

• Check out Mike Petriello's Dodgers Fan Guide to the Playoffs.  Then, check out his piece at RotoGraphs about why Andre Ethier didn't live up to expectations.
• This is probably the most irrelevant piece of Dodger news to come out the past few days.  The Dodgers completed their trade with the Red Sox by sending Rubby De La Rosa and Jerry Sands to Boston, via a Dodgers press release.
• Now with the 2012 season over it is time to show your Dodger Blue support by voting for Clayton Kershaw.  Go here.

• I want to hate Sergio Romo right now (after all, he's a Giant), but I just can't.  Via Reddit, Romo earned the respect of many Dodger fans with a gesture towards a child battling cancer.

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2012 Topps Triple Threads- Some Dodgers Relics and Auto's

As I had promised the other day, I would feature as many of the Dodger autoraphed/relic cards from the set that I could find.  Here is the first of several postings I will be putting together.  Below, I feature a general selection of cards from the set.  In future post I will focus on several individual players that have a bunch of different variations available.

First up are a couple of Relic Combo Books with Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw.

TTRDC-5 Ryan - Seaver - Jenkins - Spahn - Koufax - Carlton

TTRDC-3 Verlander - Sabathia - Darvish - Halladay - Kershaw - Lincecum

Below is a Triple Threads Relic Combo card featuring Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw.  Of the 63 different combo cards available this is the only one with multiple Dodgers on it.  There are a handful of other combo cards with just one Dodger on it, so I will have those up in a future post when I feature that individual player (Kemp and Kershaw).

TTRC-14 Matt Kemp - Andre Ethier - Clayton Kershaw

There are two former Dodgers featured on the Triple Threads Legends Relics.  They are Sandy Koufax and Jackie Robinson.  As always, all of the relic cards in the set have numerous parallels with varying print runs.  The Koufax below is a "emerald" parallel numbered to 18.  The Jackie Robinson below is a "gold" parallel numbered to 9.

TTRL-12 Sandy Koufax - Dodgers

TTRL-13 Jackie Robinson - Dodgers

I do like these All Star Patch cards.  The Kershaw below is a "1 of 1" ruby parallel card.  The base model version is numbered to 9.

TTASP-33 Matt Kemp - Dodgers

TTASP-40 Clayton Kershaw - Dodgers

TTASP-50 Andre Ethier - Dodgers

This card kind of confuses me.  It is a Rookie & Future Phenom autographed relic card that is numbered like it is a part of the regular base set.  The Jerry Sands card below is #140.  There is also a Dee Gordon card that is #105, but appears to be only available through a redemption card.  I believe all of these cards are suppose to be on-card signed.

140 Jerry Sands - Dodgers

Below is a Triple Auto Relic card that has Dee Gordon in the middle, between Starlin Castro and Elvis Andrus.  This is a sticker autograph, so no redemption card needed. 

TTARC-14 Starlin Castro - Dee Gordon - Elvis Andrus

TTARC-17 Clayton Kersahw - Matt Kemp - Dee Gordon

Now here is what the Triple Threads set is known for.  Below are the Dee Gordon Triple Threads Relics with various written phrases.  All players available have three different versions available.  I will have a post on the other Dodgers in the set in future postings.

TTR-118 Dee Gordon - Dodgers

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Dodgers Are Walk-Off Leaders- Watch Them All

As you can see in the tweet above from MLB Stat of the Day, the Dodgers lead the National League in walk-off hits.  And I gotta say, it's giving me heartburn.  Every game I don't know if I should turn off the tv in disgust, or hold on with my palms clinched wishing, no hoping for a come from behind victory.  I swear that my hair is starting to grey because of this.

Anyway, in commemoration of AJ's 3rd walk-off this season (including a walk-off walk) I decided to post up all 8 walk-off hits, 2 walk-off walks and a walk-off from Spring Training below.  BTW, including walks the Dodger have been on the winning side of 10 walk-off victories this season.

Watch last nights walk off below- courtesy of AJ Ellis.

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Here is Adrian Gonzalez's walk-off double from Sunday.

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Here is Hanley Ramirez's walk-off single from 8/15/2012 against the Cubs.

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Matt Kemp blast a walk-off 2-run homer against the Phillies on 7/18/2012.

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Dee Gordon, remember him, hits a walk-off single against the White Sox on 6/17/2012.

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Her does it again.  Here is AJ Ellis' walk-off 3-run homer against the Astros on 5/26/2012.

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AJ Ellis has a walk-off walk against the Cardinals on 5/18/2012.

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Matt Kemp belted a walk-off home run against the Nats on 4/28/2012.

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Dee Godon hits a walk-off single against the Padres on 4/15/2012.

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Andre Ether starts off the walk-off parade by getting a walk-off walk against the Padres on 4/13/2012.

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And, to end this video parade I bring a walk off from Spring Training at Camelback Ranch.  Former Dodger prospect Jerry Sands singles in the winning run against the White Sox on 3/26/2012.

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Jerry Sands Gets Another Crack At It While Tony Gwynn Jr. Gets DFA'd

This is a game of musical chairs.  Once again, the Dodgers call up Jerry Sands to see if his recent adjustments at the plate will finally translate into big league success.  As indicated by Christopher Jackson at Examiner.com, Jerry

Has hit .400 (8-for-20) with three home runs and 15 RBI in his last five games, including a monster game in Nashville last Sunday where he became the fifth player in Pacific Coast League to hit two grand slams in one game.

What adjustments have been made?

“A couple weeks ago we had a bunch of (roving instructors) and coaches in town,” Sands said. “We kind of decided to go back to my old swing, but still use the things I’ve been working on pretty much the whole year.

“I’ve gotten where I can pull the ball a little bit better, just looking for pitches on what I want to do, get my hands ready a little bit earlier, a little bit of everything we’ve been trying to work on.”

So, who was sent down to make room for Sands?  Per the Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today designated outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. for assignment and recalled outfielder/first baseman Jerry Sands from Triple-A Albuquerque. Gwynn was batting .232 with a team-leading four triples and 17 RBI in 103 games with Los Angeles.

Oh well.  I kinda liked Gwynn and thought he had some value to the team.  He's still a great glove out in the field.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 8/6/2012

Don Newcombe is getting into the act.  He wants the Dodgers to know that he see's them.  (Pic via twitter @Dodgers Jon SooHoo/Dodgers 2012)

• Tommy Lasorda was in Baltimore signing at the National Sports Collectors Convention and had this to tweet.

(twitter link)

• Via David Pinto at Baseball Musings we hear of a story Bobby Valentine told about Tommy Lasorda while he was in the minors.

Bobby played outfield in rookie ball, but Lasorda stuck the 19 year old at shortstop, where he fielded poorly. He fielded so poorly that the other players got together and demanded that Valentine be demoted.

Go to the link for more of the story.

• I wish I knew about this, Matt Kemp made a special appearance at the Diamond Supply Co. Store and David's Autograph Signings was there.
• I've noticed Chad Billingsley's playoff beard, too.  Left Field Pavilion blog makes a great graphic celebrating it.
• Jerry Sands is on fire in Albuquerque.  Christopher Jackson from the Examiner.com has more.

“A couple weeks ago we had a bunch of (roving instructors) and coaches in town,” Sands said. “We kind of decided to go back to my old swing, but still use the things I’ve been working on pretty much the whole year.

• Via ESPN's Dodger Report, Dodgers' New Additions are Adding Up.

Victorino, his shirt already soaked in sweat, then looked at the imaginary watch on his right wrist and said they “better start showing up earlier around here.”

Now, Victorino said it with a smile on his face and shared a laugh with Loney and Guerra as he grabbed his glove and went back to work, but the message was clear: If the Dodgers are to get to and win a World Series as Victorino’s Philadelphia Phillies did in 2008, things are going to have to change.

I love the attitude these new guys can bring.

• Via mauceri on reddit, how sports can take down barriers.  South Korea vs. North Korea in a Olympic table tennis match.  Sometimes, all it takes is a handshake to get it started.

• Zach Schonbrun of the NY Times writes a fascinating article about a single pitch thrown by Freddy Garcia that had physics experts baffled.
• With the recent success of the Mars rover Curiosity I thought this letter from Letters of Note was timely.  It is from 1970 and is written to a nun who wonders why we spend billions when so many are suffering on earth.  Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger a NASA Associate Director for Science responds.  It is a long read, but is as pertinent today as it was then, as well as in the distant past.

The townspeople, however, became angry when they realized that the count was wasting his money, as they thought, on a stunt without purpose. "We are suffering from this plague," they said, "while he is paying that man for a useless hobby!" But the count remained firm. "I give you as much as I can afford," he said, "but I will also support this man and his work, because I know that someday something will come out of it!"

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2012 Topps Series 2- Dodgers Base Cards

Following up on my post from last week, here are the 10 Dodgers within the base set from the 2012 Topps Series 2 set.  Note that Kershaw has 2 different base cards.

There are 10 Dodgers included.  See them all below.  Here's an unfortunate note, A. J. Ellis still does not have a regular 2012 Topps base card.  What's up with that Topps?

357  Aaron Harang

383  Andre Ethier

401  Kenley Jansen

405  Nathan Eovaldi

406  Juan Rivera

438  Juan Uribe

482  Chris Capuano

486  Jerry Sands

588  Mark Ellis

600  Clayton Kershaw

As I briefly mentioned above, Kershaw has two different base cards in the set.  I had highlighted this and a Matt Kemp variation insert card last week, in a separate post.  On the left is the short printed variation, and on the right is the normal base card for Clayton.

Blog Kiosk: 4/25/2012

Panini unveiled more preview picks of their upcoming 2011 Limited Baseball set that is coming out soon.  See them here.  They showed off a couple of Dodgers autographed prospect cards of Justin Boudreaux and Pratt Maynard.

• Here's an excellent update from Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts on the progress of some Dodger prospects in Albuquerque with the help from Albuquerque sports reporter Christopher Jackson.

Sands and the Topes’ coaching staff are confident he can turn things around, but lordy, that boy seems stubborn. They tell him “lay off the first pitch” and he goes up and swings away from the start.

• Go to LFP and check out the Dodger Video that's posted up.  It's incredible.
• Chad Moriyama thinks the MLB should ban plate collisions and takeout slides.  I wholeheartedly disagree.  I might accept banning home plate collisions, but takeout slides are an integral part of the game.  The idea that a man running towards second base should not be allowed to break up a potential double play is ludicrous. 
• GCRL shows off some recent "Through The Mail" autographs of some Dodgers.
• Kevin Nelson at Sports Collectors Digest writes about, "The Importance of Nisei Baseball in Japanese Internment Camps."
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Jersey (from GasLamp Ball) recently visited Dodger Stadium and has a post up to prove it.
• Sports Collectors Daily picks out 5 of the best vintage Baseball card investments.
• As expected, LA Kings goalie Jonathon Quick has been nominated as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy that is given out to the leagues best goalie, via Kings Insider.
• Check out this soon-to-be released animated graphic novel called "Bottom of the Ninth" that was created by Ryan Woodward.  It looks great.  Link here.  A preview video trailer is below.

YUP!  Always dreamed about this when I was a kid….an ANIMATED graphic novel!!!  Took me 40 years to realize this dream, well…40 years of dreaming – 4 insane months of animating, drawing, drinking caffeine, and acting like a 10 year old again.

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