Congrats, Jim Thome! You're a Hall of Famer!

I don't care what you say. Jim Thome is a Dodger Hall of Famer!

I jest, of course. After all, Thome spent a very short amount of time in Dodger Blue during the 2009 season -- having been traded to the team as a late-season pinch-hit threat for the playoff run. During that season he never got on the field, and only recorded four hits in 17 at-bats. In the playoffs he went 1-2 with a walk.

Regardless of his short stint in Blue I felt it necessary to make a bunch of Thome fantasy Dodgers Baseball cards in his honor. Check out all nine in this post.

Blog Kiosk 6/15/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

With Kiké's help, along with a little bit of luck, the Dodgers win their sixth straight.

The game was all tied up at two in the eight inning when Hernandez came up to the plate and put the Dodgers on top. Batting against reliever Andrew Miller, who hadn't given up a homer all season along til the Dodgers came to town, he hit a lazy flyball to right field that sailed all the way into the stands. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“It was kind of an emergency swing,” Kiké Hernández said afterward to SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “Thank God we’re in Cleveland and not LA. That might’ve been an out at home.”

Thereafter, the Dodgers trounced. They quickly loaded the bases, scored three more runs and left the game in the capable hands of Kenley Jansen for the victory. He recorded his 202nd save of his career.

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

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 Reds lefty Johnny Vander Meer throws his second consecutive no-hitter -- beating the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, 6-0. In 1996 the Dodgers turn their first triple play in 47 years. With runners going from 1st and 2nd base in the 1st inning Braves infielder Chipper Jones hit a popup to short-left that was snagged by Juan Castro. He dutifully threw to second baseman Delino Deshields for the second out, who then relayed the ball to first baseman Eric Karros to get the third out (6-4-3 Triple Play).
• Happy Birthday, Ed Wheeler, Eddie Pipgras, Hank Winston, Babe Dahlgren, Dusty Baker, Brett Butler & Josh Lindblom!

2009 Topps Unique Dodgers

Even with Baseball on a winter hiatus new card sets continue to be released. Earlier this month Topps released a new Baseball card brand called "Topps Unique" that features a nice design and some unusual insert cards. All of the photos below were taken from various eBay Auctions. Feel free to click on any of the pics to enlarge.

Before I show the base cards of Dodger players in the set I thought I would show the below "1 of 1" insert card of Andre Ethier first. In my opinion it is the nicest card in the set and, unfortunately, you may never have an opportunity to own it yourself since only one exist. It recently sold on eBay for a bit over $200.00. The card has a signature of the Dodger right fielder and a game used patch (most likely from a uniform or cap) of the MLB logo.
Now we get to the 7 Dodgers in the base set.

Jim Thome.

Russell Martin.

Manny Ramirez.
Clayton Kershaw.

Matt Kemp.

Andre Ethier.

Chad Billingsley.

Below are two insert cards called Unparalleled Performances of Orlando Hudson and James Loney.

James Loney.

Here is a triple patch that can be pulled of Russell Martin, Manny Ramirez and Matt Kemp.

Below is a great large game-worn patch card of Chad Billingsley.

Solo Shot autographed inserts of Andre Eithier and Chad Billingsley are below.

And one of the strangest and unique cards in this set are below. Even though Adrian Beltre hasn't worn Blue in over 5 season he is featured on this game-worn patch card wearing a Dodger uniform.
Even odder is the below game-worn button (yes, you read that right- a button) from Brad Penny in Blue. This is one card I could do without.

Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2009

• Follow Orlando Hudson on Twitter- right here.
  
• I love the name of this new Dodger blog, Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle, with the catch phrase of "All Dodgers. All The Time. Minus the Plaschke."
  
• Chicago Lawyer Magazine examines the 1919 Black Sox scandal and lays out the groundwork for a "reasonable doubt" argument while questioning the veracity of some of the facts in the book "Eight Men Out." (Hat Tip: TS O'Connell)
• Night Owl Cards makes a couple of custom Alyssa Milano cards, but expresses consternation at her new husbands team allegiance. The card below uses the 1986 Topps Baseball design
• Bob Lemke has been making custom cards for years that are based on the 1955 Topps Football All-American set. Check out his creations here in his album. My favorite is the Steve Garvey below. There is also a great Jackie Robinson card- so check it out here.
• Go here to see, probably, the last of the new editions to the 2009 Goose Joak custom cards of the Dodgers from GCRL. Garland, Thome and Belliard are featured.
  
• I like these cheerleader insert cards.
• Just awesome. The Custom Card Blog unveils 3 custom Flint Tropics cards, from the movie "Semi-Pro", that borrows its design from the 1976 Topps ABA card set.
• That is something to brag about. The Upper Deck blog shows off the T-Rex tooth card.
• In a stroke of brilliant marketing Sidney Crosby of the Penguins visits a season ticket holder with the Cup.
• Here is a preview clip from ESPN Films 30 for 30 Project documentary called "King's Ransom." It's all about the Gretzky trade to LA.
  Publish Post

YouTube Link: miikeeed:

The Shirts Off Their Backs

Sometimes, when you have a long weekend looming and your mind is blank like a newly painted wall of a plain office building, you just can't find something interesting to write. Today is one of those days. So, imagine my joy when I got a Dodger press release announcing a special silent auction being held this weekend during Sunday's game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium.

It is being called the "Shirts Off Their Back" silent auction and will feature game-worn jersey's from Dodger players and coaches. Even the Dodger wives get involved. They have prepared some gift baskets that will also be auctioned off. All proceeds go to benefit the Dodger Dream Foundation.

The auction will be held during the game (probably ending in the later innings) on the Club Level outside of the Vin Scully Press Box. Three potential Hall of Famers will be represented in Joe Torre, Manny Ramirez and the newest Dodger, Jim Thome.

I won't be in attendance, but, if you are there, please pass along what some of the jersey's sold for.

UPDATE: I just noticed that the PR announcement mentioned it would be taking place from 3:10 to 6:45 PM. So, if you plan on bidding do it right away

Thome... Garland... Really?

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated is saying we just got Jon Garland from the Diamondbacks and Jim Thome from the White Sox. Wow! If true, this is quite a move. I wonder who we traded.

Update:
Vin Scully has just confirmed it! Thome is a Dodger for a player to be named later! That's something else. Wow!

This is a aggressive move. Will he be playing some first base? Platoon with Loney? Our designated big bat off the bench from the left side?

Update 2:
Vin now confirms that Jon Garland is a Dodger. No word on what we traded for Garland.

Update 3:
Denver Post also confirms the Garland trade and adds that the Rockies got Jose Contreras. Also, they speculate that Arizona was looking for a grade B prospect in return for Garland.

Update 4:
Jon says, from the Chicago Tribune, that we traded Class A ballplayer Justin Fuller ans cash for Thome. As Jon wrote, "a pure giveaway." Smells like the Manny trade. Instead of giving away a clubhouse problem like the Red Sox, the White Sox shed some salary. After all, picking up Peavy and Rios was not cheap. Chicago also traded pitcher Contreras to Colorado.

Update 5:
AZCentral says

"The Diamondbacks are paying the rest of Garland's salary. That is, whatever is left this year plus whatever the option amount ends up being. He has about $1 million left this year, meaning they are kicking either $2 million or $3.5 million into this deal."

With Arizona pitching in some sizable money expect a decent prospect to be going their way.
Hat Tip: Twitter:Dodger Thoughts: