Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The passage of time sure can ease the grief.

Featured above is a vintage, circa June 1956, photograph that captures Dodger legends Duke Snider and Gil Hodges on the verge of "tomahawking" former Giants hero Bobby Thompson. As you know, in 1951 Thompson hit "The Shot Heard Round the World" that ended the Dodgers chances for a world title that season. This pic recently sold at an RMY Auction for a very affordable $34. On another note, I'm extremely angry at myself for missing this item, as well as several others, from this auction. It closed this past weekend and I just plain forgot about it.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945 the Dodgers opened their spring camp at Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York due to wartime travel restrictions. There were real worries that German U-boats would attack the eastern coast of America During WWII. This is the third straight year the Dodgers would practice here. In 1975 the Dodgers signed 37 year-old former Giants Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal to a free agent contract. He would retire from the game a little over a month later on April 17th. 
• Happy Birthday, Doc Casey, Ralph Miller, Rosy Ryan, Lou Fette, Dick Scott, Mickey Hatcher & Trayce Thompson!

Blok Kiosk: 3/8/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It's all about practice.

Featured above are Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges and catcher Roy Campanella stretching out to make a play during a spring workout at Vero Beach, dated Feb 26, 1952. (eBay auction link) Per the descriptor on the reverse:

TWO-WAY STRETCH---Vero Beach, Fla........Catcher Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers tries to match the stretch of Gil Hodges at first nbase as they reach for a wide throw in spring training workout at the Dodgers camp in Vero Beach. The Flatbushers who were as close to the pennant as one minute to twelve last season say this is the year.".

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 teammates Joe Medwick and Pee Wee Reese wear protective headgear during a spring exhibition game in Havana, Cuba. They placed plastic inserts -- dubbed an  “Brooklyn Safety Cap” -- inside their hats. Both players had missed significant time the previous season due to head injuries; including a scare that sent Medick to the hospital for fear of a cracked skull. You can see a patent design for the cap on the right, via Baseball Hall of Fame. Click pic to embiggen. In 2011 former Dodger Assistant General Manager Kim Ng is named by MLB as the Senior Vice-President of its baseball operations, making her the highest-ranking woman in the major leagues.
• Happy Birthday, Ollie O'Mara, Carl Furillo, Al Gionfriddo, Dick Teed, Marv Breeding, Willard Hunter,  Dick Allen & Juan Encarnacion!

2017 Panini Flawless - All the Dodgers Cards

Panini's Flawless Baseball cards came out just before Christmas, but I am only know able to post up pics I've been able to find all over the 'net. As you know, Flawless is a super-premium card brand that will cost you about $1,400 for a single box of ten cards. In that pack you are guaranteed six autographs, two memorabilia cards and two gem cards (a real embedded precious jewel). Go here for a complete checklist. Please note that the numbering, as has been the case with Panini's publicized checklist, is inaccurate (with the base set as an exception).

Check out all of the Dodgers cards below. BTW, all base cards have an embedded gem in the card.

Base 

#9 Jackie Robinson              #20 Clayton Kershaw

#25 Corey Seager             #39 Mike Piazza

2017 Topps Definitive Collection - All the Dodgers Cards

Here is a look at most of the Dodger cards found in packs of Topps newest Baseball card brand -- known as 2017 Topps Definitive Collection. It hit stores last week. Go here for a complete checklist.

This is a high-end product that consist of only hits -- all cards either have an autograph, relic or both. A single box has one pack of eight cards, and it'll cost about $1,000 for that pack. Obviously, these boxes are not for the weary.

I especially like the Autograph Inscription cards that include a personal note written by the player. From what I can tell, Clayton Kershaw has at least two different inscription cards available. I am unsure if the other players available have multiple inscriptions in packs.

Base Autograph Relic

• #ARC-JU Julio Urias -- Redemption Card

#ARC-CK Clayton Kershaw             #ARC-CSE Corey Seager

2017 Topps Clearly Authentic - All the Dodgers Cards

The newest Topps Baseball card product has just hit stores. It is called Topps Clearly Authentic and it features cards made of acetate, instead of cardboard. As you may know, this means the cards are transparent. (I know it's hard to tell in the pics, but I promise you they are see-through) Go here for a complete checklist. There is no base set to chase after -- every card available is autographed (on-card).

Below are all of the Dodger cards available. Only the Julio Urias card comes with a redemption card. The obviously key card here is the 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax reprint autographed card. You can see that at the very bottom.

Autographs

• #CAAU-JU Julio Urias -- redemption card

#CAAU-AT Andrew Toles

2017 Topps Chrome - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Below are all of the Dodger inserts found in packs of 2017 Topps Chrome; including the lone Dodger base variation card of Clayton Kershaw. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Base Variations

#25 Clayton Kershaw

Base                               Variation

2017 Topps Chrome - All the Dodgers Base & Rookie Autograph Cards

New in stores is the super-shiny version of Topps flagship Baseball card set -- 2017 Topps Chrome Baseball. Below are all of the Dodger base and autographed base cards. Go here for a complete checklist.

Of note, we see Cody Bellinger in the Topps flagship set design for the very first time, and it's likely the exact card we'll see of him in the upcoming Topps Update set.

Base Cards

#14 Kenta Maeda            #25 Clayton Kershaw

#34 Andrew Toles

2017 Donruss Optic Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

New in stores is Panini America's 2017 Donruss Optic Baseball card brand, and it includes plenty of subsets and inserts that are very recognizable to an old fart like myself. There are Diamond Kings cards, but they don't include actual drawings like what we saw in the 80's. Rated Rookies is back and Cody Bellinger is our rep in the set. There are even Dominator, Elite and The Rookies inserts to chase after. Go here for a complete checklist.

Below are all of the Dodger cards found in packs. As you likely know, Panini operates without a Major League license (they do have a MLBPAA license), so there are no team logos anywhere -- which is a major drawback to this set. It's awefully weird looking seeing a Dodger cap without the Dodger logo on it.

Diamond Kings

#14 Corey Seager

2017 Topps Stadium Club - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards, here are all of the Dodgers inserts available in packs of 2017 Topps Stadium Club. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Unfortunately, several Dodger autographed cards are available only through a redemption; including Corey Seager, Julio Urias and Sandy Koufax. Strangely, the aforementioned signers do appear to have auto'd Base Chrome Autographed cards available in packs -- they are all sticker autographs. If I am not mistaken, all the normal base autographed card are signed on-card; whereas the Chrome autographs include sticker autographs.

Instavision

#I-CK Clayton Kershaw

2017 Topps Tier One - The Dodgers Autograph Cards

Here's a look at many of the 2017 Topps Tier One Dodger autographed cards. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Tier One Autographs

• #T1A-SK Sandy Koufax -- not yet seen

#T1A-CK Clayton Kershaw

2017 Topps Tier One - Dodgers Break Out, Prime Performers and Prodigious Patch Cards

Here is a look at more Dodger inserts available in packs of Topps 2017 Tier One brand. Featured below are the Break Out, Prime Performers and Prodigious Patch Cards. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Break Out Autographs

• #BOA-JU Julio Urias - redemption card

#BOA-JD De Leon          #BOA-TTH Thompson

2017 Topps Museum Collection - Archival Autograph and Canvas Collection Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards here are a handful of the Dodgers inserts available in packs of Topps 2017 Museum Baseball. Below are the Canvas Collection Reprints and Archival Autograph cards. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

I should note that the original art used to create the Canvas Collection Reprints directly below are also available in packs. So far, I've only seen one of the Dodgers original art cards on eBay. Check that out here. It is the Kershaw #CCR-CK card and has an opening bid of $999.99.

Canvas Collection Reprints

#CCR-CK Kershaw            #CCR-CKE Kershaw

#CCR-CKR Kershaw                #CCR-CS Seager

2017 Topps Series 2 - The Dodgers Insert Cards Part 2

Here is a look at some of the Dodgers' insert cards found in packs of 2017 Topps Series 2. Below are the 1987 Topps throwback, Memorable Moments and Topps Salute cards. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

1987 Topps Rookie & All-Star Edition Autographs

#1987A-AT Andrew Toles         #1987A-JDL Jose De Leon

2017 Topps Finest - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards, here are all of the various Dodgers' inserts available in packs of 2017 Topps Finest. Go here for all of my past post on this set.

The best thing about this product is that not only are there no redemption cards for the Dodger players and all autographs are on-card.

Finest Autographs

#FA-CK Clayton Kershaw       #FA-CS Corey Seager

2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome - All the Dodgers Cards

Some time in the past week or so Topps issued an Target-exclusive Baseball card product called the 2017 Bowman Mega Box. For $14.99 a collector will receive seven packs -- five Bowman retail packs (exactly like the packs released in late-April) and two exclusive Mega Box Chrome Bowman packs.

The Mega Box Chrome Bowman packs include five cards not available anywhere else. The cards include 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects cards, along with several other inserts found in 2017 Bowman, with a uniquely patterned "pulsar" prism in the background on all of them.

2017 Bowman Inception - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base card here is a look at most of the Dodgers' inserts that are available in packs of Topps 2017 Bowman Inception.

Base Rookie Autographs

#107 Jose De Leon 

Emerging Star Autographs

• #BSA-JU Julio Urias - redemption card

#BSA-CS Corey Seager

2017 Bowman Baseball - The Dodgers Cards - Sketch, Autograph and '48 & '92 Bowman's

Here is a last look at some of the Dodgers' insert cards found in packs of Topps 2017 Bowman Baseball cards. Below are the numerous autograph, sketch and vintage fantasy Bowman Dodgers' cards. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

BTW, we find the very first licensed autographed cards for Dodger prospects Edwin Rios and Mitchell White.

Chrome Prospect Autographs

#CPA-AS Andrew Sopko

Paper Prospect Autographs (Retail Only)

#PA-ER Edwin Rios            #PA-MW Mitchell White

2017 Bowman Baseball - The Top 100, ROY Favorites and Pipeline Cards

Following up on the Dodger base cards found in packs of 2017 Bowman Baseball, I now share the Dodgers' available in the Bowman Scouts Top 100, ROY Favorites and Talent Pipeline insert sets. Notably, former Dodgers pitching prospect (since traded to the Tampa Bay Rays) Jose De Leon is still shown as a Dodger.

Bowman Scouts Top 100

#BTP-17 Cody Bellinger           #BTP-62 Alex Verdugo

2017 Topps Tribute Baseball - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Featured below are all of the Dodger insert cards found in packs of 2017 Topps Tribute.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set. Unfortunately, there are a ton of redemption cards in this checklist.

Tribute Autographs

• #TA-JU Julio Urias -- redemption card

#TA-CSE Corey Seager               #TA-FV Fernando Valenzuela

2017 Topps Gypsy Queen - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Here is a last look at Dodgers' cards found in packs of 2017 Gypsy Queen.  Below are all of the Dodger insert cards. Notably, the "Laces Around the League" inserts include MLB certified game-used baseball relic pieces. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Gypsy Queen Autographs 

•  #GQA-JU Julio Urias -- redemption card

#GQA-CSE Corey Seager        #GQA-JDL Jose De Leon