2020 Bowman Sterling -- All the Dodger Cards

Here is a look at all of the Dodgers found in packs of Topps 2020 Bowman Sterling brand. Go here for a complete checklist.

Many of the Dodgers top prospects are a part of this set; including Dustin May and Gavin Lux. It is also notable that Andy Pages, the ballplayers who had been traded to the Angels as part of the Joc Pederson trade that was cancelled, also has an autographed card available here.

As you know, this is a mid to high-end product that will cost you about $300 for a box of five packs. Each pack consist of six cards and you are guaranteed at least five autographs per box.

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#BSR-55 Brusdar Graterol         #BSR-63 Tony Gonsolin

Blog Kiosk: 8/19/2020 - Dodgers Links & news - Some Odds and Ends

Seven in-a-row, Baby!

Last night Tony Gonsolin not only extended his scoreless innings streak (14.2), he also helped the Dodgers win their seventh consecutive game. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I think I’m just feeling a lot more comfortable up here,” Gonsolin said. “I’m trying to go out there and take advantage of every opportunity that I get.”

Photo above via Tony Gonsolin on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1983 the Dodgers traded for Rangers starting pitcher Rick Honeycutt. As you know, he would go on to have a long career with the franchise. In 1990 Jose Offerman became the first Dodger in franchise history to hit a home run in his very first Major League plate appearance. In 2008 the Dodgers traded for Greg Maddux (for a second time) to help the team during their playoff run. In 2015 the Dodgers traded for "DAD" Chase Utley from the Phillies in exchange for John Richy and Darnell Sweeney. In 2017 the Dodgers received veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson from the Mets for pitcher Jacob Rhame. He would slash just .161/.288/.366/.654 in 36 games for the Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday, Tex Carleton, Lance Cormier, Josh Fields, Chris Capuano and Ron Roenicke! 

2020 Topps Now - Keibert's Debut and Negro Leagues Anniversary - #114 & #116

Is Keibert Ruiz the future at catcher for the Dodgers?

Only time will tell, but for the moment he is the cat's meow. Yesterday afternoon he collecting his first career hit by whacking a solo home run in his first career at-bat. Hilariously, his teammates decided to have a little fun with him afterwards. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Dugout ribbing about how “baseball's easy” could barely wait until Ruiz finished his first home run trot.

Blog Kiosk: 8/17/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

We are in the midst of experiencing a Dodgers' catching renaissance. First, we saw Will Smith wow the fans. Now, it's Keibert Ruiz's turn. In his first career at-bat yesterday afternoon he smashed a home run. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“It was very exciting,” Ruiz said after the Dodgers’ 8–3 win that swept the series in Anaheim. “First time being in the big leagues, I just was focused on getting a fastball and making contact. Happy to be here with all these guys and keep learning.”

You can also watch him speak with the press after the game, via SportsNet LA on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1982 the Dodgers and Cubs played a 17 inning game that was temporarily halted at a tie, 1-1, because of darkness (this was before Wrigley Field had lights). The next day they begin where they left off. The Dodgers would eventually win on a sacrifice fly by Dusty Baker in the 21st inning. In 1992 Dodgers hurler Kevin Gross no-hit the Giants at Dodger Stadium, 2-0. Watch the last out of the game, as called by Vin Scully, here. Per a NY Times article:

"The later it got, the more the adrenaline started pumping," Gross said. "It was just a blur when that last out was made."

• Happy Birthday, George Harper, Doug McWeeny, Joe Bradshaw, Boog Powell, Brad Wellman, Jeff Fischer & Kyle Farmer!

Blog Kiosk: 7/8/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I've been absolutely swamped lately, so I apologize for the lack of recent post.

Check out the always cheery Joc Pederson showing his love for the game, via a tweet from the Dodgers.

We're so close to watching Baseball -- I can almost taste it. In fact, the Dodgers are holding an intrasquad game this afternoon, at 6:40 PM, that will be streamed live on the Dodgers’ Twitter and Facebook with commentary from Alanna Rizzo and Nomar Garciaparra. It’s expected to last 3 innings.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1901 the Brooklyn Superbas defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-5, as a result of a questionable call by the umpire. This act infuriates Cardinals fans, to the point of rushing umpire Hank O'Day and giving him a split lip. He has to be rescued by the police. In 1907 Cubs manager Frank Chance, after being pelted with pop bottles, hurls a bottle back at the crowd that cut's a boy's leg. This resulted in a mob that forces Chance to leave the park in an armored car witha police escort after the Cubs defeat the Dodgers, 5-0 (boxscore). In 1949 Giants infielder Hank Thompson faced Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe at the plate -- marking the first time a black batter hit against a black pitcher in Major League history (boxscore). Thompson would hit a pop fly to third in his first at-bat, and go 0-for-2 with a walk overall In 1980 the All-Star Game is played at Dodger Stadium. The National League wins, 4-2 (boxscore), for the ninth consecutive time.
• Happy Birthday, George Hunter, Rowdy Elliott, Tex Wilson, George Fallon, Charlie Gilbert, George Culver, Lerrin LaGrow, Mike Ramsey, Danny Ardoin & Ferdinand Abell (one of the original founders of the Dodgers)!

2020 Topps Pro Debut -- All the Dodger Prospects

Do you love Dodger prospects? Well, if you do then this set is for you.

Featured below are all the Dodgers' found in packs of Topps 2020 Pro Debut Baseball card brand. It includes everyone from Andy Pages (subject of trade rumors to the Angels over the winter) to Diego Cartaya (a catcher believed to have the highest ceiling in our system). Best yet, it includes the very first card of late-blooming slugging outfielder Zach Reks -- a guy who could very well be next in line to follow Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and Max Muncy as a ballplayer who came out of nowhere.

Go here for a complete checklist. Check out all the Dodger cards below.

Base & Chrome

#PD-9 Andy Pages - Ogden Raptors

Normal Base                                     Chrome Card

2020 Panini Prizm Baseball -- All the Dodger Cards

Last week saw the release of Panini America's Prizm Baseball card brand. Fetured below are most of the Dodgers' available. Go here to check out a complete checklist.

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#27 Tony Gonsolin            #28 Cody Bellinger

2020 Bowman Mega Box Chrome - All the Dodgers'

Early June saw the release of Topps 2020 Bowman Mega Box Chrome -- available exclusively at Target stores both online and at their brick & mortar locations. As you know, these retail exclusive boxes feature 2020 Bowman cards as chromium parallels and includes "mojo" refractors collectors have been going mad over. Go here to see a complete checklist. Check out the Dodger cards below.

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#BCP-3 Jacob Amaya       #BCP-4 Kody Hoese

2020 Panini Select Baseball -- All the Dodger Inserts

Here is a look at all of the Dodger inserts cards available in packs of Panini's 2020 Select Baseball brand. Go here for a complete checklist.

There are a ton of prospects here; including five Gavin lux cards -- two of which are autographed. Other rising stars include Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Keibert Ruiz. There is also another Mookie Betts cards, but it once again shows him wearing Boston Red Sox gear.

Signatures

#S-CS Corey Seager

2020 Bowman Baseball -- All the Dodger Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the Dodger base cards, check out most of their inserts below. As you would expect, this set includes numerous autographed cards of our best prospects -- Andy Pages, Kody Hoese, Josiah Gray and Gavin Lux. There is even a signed card from Jeter Downs -- a fellow traded to the Red Sox as part of the Mookie Betts deal. A complete checklist of this set can be found here.

Chrome Prospect Autographs

#CPA-AP Andy Pages          #CPA-JA Jacob Amaya

2020 Bowman Baseball -- All the Dodger Base Cards

After a little delay Topps 2020 Bowman Baseball brand is now heading out to collectors. Unfortunately, not everyone who ordered in advance will get their cards right away -- the recent pandemic has caused some delays. That said, plenty of cards are already showing up on eBay, so I've been able to gather up pics of all the Dodger base cards to share here with you. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

BTW, our very own Gavin Lux, along with Blue Jays star Bo Bichette, grace the cover of all the boxes. Check out what the blaster box looks like on the right.

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#9 Max Muncy

2020 Bowman 1st Edition Baseball -- All the Dodger Prospects

As you likely know, COVID-19 has affected the Baseball card hobby in many ways -- one of which is the delay of various card brand releases. One of those products is the very popular Bowman Baseball set. As you know, this brand ushers in many of the future young stars found in the game. So, Topps decided to create an online-only version of the set to satisfy collector demand, and it caused quite a stir in the hobby. In fact, collectors on social media complained mightily.

The online-only set is called 2020 Bowman 1st Edition and it sold out instantaneously. Go here for a complete checklist.

Topps made limited packs available over three consecutive days, limiting each buyer to only 24 packs (costing a collector $359.76 overall). Unfortunately, it's limited nature and potential high resale value meant that the packs would sell out fast -- I just don't think Topps realized how fast it would be.

Their website quickly crashed and fans got locked out.

Blog Kiosk: 3/10/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out the cover of Sports Illustrated's Baseball Preview magazine above, via @MLB on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1983 longtime Dodger manager Walter Alston is elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee vote. Detroit infielder George Kell was also elected. In 2012 the Dodgers signed 27-year old former NFL defensive back Jarrad Page to a minor league contract after impressing scouts during an open tryout in Arizona. Page played six season in the NFL, but decided to tryout during the Dodgers spring camp when he realized his pro football career was coming to an end. 
• Happy Birthday, Gene DeMontreville, Art Herring & Steve Howe!

2020 Bowman Next -- Wave 3 -- May, Gonsolin and Ruiz

Wave 3 from Topps 2020 Bowman Next online exclusive set is now available and there are three Dodger prospects found in the 15-card set. They are Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Kiebert Ruiz. Check their cards out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Wave 3 Base

#T33 Dustin May

2019 Bowman Heritage -- All the Dodger cards

The 2019 Bowman Heritage cards are finally arriving in collectors' mailboxes. Apparently, there was a several week delay due to the inability of some ballplayers to sign their cards on time. As you can see, this set pays homage to the 1953 Bowman Baseball card design -- which basically consist of a color photo, a white/off-white border and no other identifying marks on the front of the card. So, it's kind-of a boring looking set. Go here for a complete checklist.

Additionally, boxes of this brand were initially pre-sold to 2019-20 Topps 582 Montgomery Club members online, but should now be available at your local hobby shop. Check out all the Dodger cards below.

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Veterans / Rookies

#53VR-60 Clayton Kershaw    #53VR-101 Cody Bellinger

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.

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#25 Kody Hoese

2019 Bowman Chrome X Baseball - The Dodger Cards

I believe this product is destined for failure -- the same way eTopps eventually failed several years back. Featured here is a brand new product from Topps called '2019 Bowman Chrome X Baseball', and it is being sold as a sort-of investment grade product. Basically, boxes and cases were offered in a kind-of IPO (Initial Public Offering) setting, then a clearing price would be set and collectors would own that product. BTW, these cards were only offered through Topps partner, StockX. You may know that company as a big player in the sale of deadstock sneakers vintage, used and new sneakers -- deadstock being authentic, new and unworn pair of sneakers. Apparently, they've branched out to also sell memorabilia and collectibles on their stock market-like website.

The boxes sold at the original strike price of $50 each and five-box cases initial sold at $300. Also, initial buyers had the option of having the cards shipped to them or kept within the StockX coffers for future trading on their website. Currently, a box has a current "ask" and "bid" of $84 and $74, respectively. Cases are at $499 and $405, respectively. Go here to learn more about these cards at StockX. You can check out a complete checklist here.

Only two Dodger prospects are available here -- pitcher Mitchell White and catcher Keibert Ruiz. Check them both out below.

On a side note, I've compared this brand to an older Topps product launched in 2000 called eTopps. As you may know, eTopps provided a similar real-time online marketplace through eBay. Individual cards, rather than unopened boxes, were sold through an IPO process, and could either be shipped to you or kept at Topps for future trading on eBay. Individual card sales lasted through early-2012, and a total of 2,974 unique eTopps cards were produced. Additionally, a total of 3,986,192 cards were printed. You can still check out the eTopps website here (it still exist).

Prospects Green X-Fractor

#BCP-172 Mitchell White       #BCP-235 Keibert Ruiz

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2019 Bowman Topps Holiday -- All the Dodger Cards

A couple of weeks back Topps released their 2019 Bowman Topps Holiday Baseball cards -- exclusively available at local participating hobby stores. There are five Dodgers' in the base set; including prospects Cristian Santana, Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

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Veterans and Rookies

#TH-CB Cody Bellinger       #TH-MMU Max Muncy

2019 Futera Unique Onyx Prospects & Legends Baseball -- The Dodger Cards

Earlier this month Onyx and a company named Futura (who is totally new to me) released a card collaboration non-licensed Baseball card set that features both prospects and some living legends -- called 2019 Futera Unique Onyx Prospects & Legends Baseball. As is typical, there are no team logos anywhere. Go here for a complete checklist.

Only three Dodgers are available -- Gavin Lux, Keibert Ruiz and Mike Piazza. Unfortunately, not all of the individual cards have been revealed. The product is limited to only 75 cases (900 boxes or 3,600 packs). Nevertheless, I've got pics of some of the Dodger cards that are available.

Base Prospects & Legends

• #20 Gavin Lux -- Not Yet Seen

#30 Mike Piazza              #32 Keibert Ruiz

2019 Topps Heritage Minor League -- All the Dodger Cards

This week Topps released the Heritage Minor League Baseball card brand, and I've got pics of most of the Dodgers' that are available. Go here to check out a complete checklist.

Two of our biggest young stars are available here -- Gavin Lux and Dustin May. Additionally, if you think Will Smith is the 'cat's meow' then wait til you get a look at our other top catching prospect -- Keibert Ruiz. He's got ten different cards available in this set (more than any other Dodger), and is considered to have a much better bat than the the 'fresh prince of Chavez Ravine."

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#21 Mitchell White