2019 Leaf Trinity Baseball - All the Dodger Prospects

I really hate Leaf sometimes, and this set is an example of why. Featured here are cards from their recently released Trinity brand of baseball cards -- except it's not designated as a set from 2020. Instead, Leaf is calling this their 2019 Leaf Trinity baseball set. Considering that we are already in the eighth month of 2020 makes Leaf's dating absurd. Nevertheless, I've got pics of the three Dodger prospects in the set. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Clear Autographs

#CA-GL1 Gavin Lux      #CA-GL2 Lux-Alt Image

2019 Leaf Valiant Baseball -- All the Dodger Prospects

I don't know why Leaf does this. Once again they release a new card set (just last week), but claim it is a 2019 product. Why? I dunno. Nevertheless, here's a gander at the Dodgers' included in this prospect set. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Autographs

#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux        #BA-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

Blog Kiosk: 6/29/2020 - Dodgers Links & Mews - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fantastic 1913 vintage photographs featuring a "Bloomer" girl -- a female ballplayer/team who would barnstorm around the country taking-on all competition. The photographs is via the Shorpy blog -- easily my favorite of all vintage photography websites. Check it out here.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1990 Fernando Valenzuela no-hit the Cardinals, 6-0, at Dodger Stadium. With 119 pitches he struck out seven and walked three. Also, on this same night, former Dodgers starter Dave Stewart threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays -- thereby marking the first time in modern Baseball history that two no-hitters were thrown on the same day. In 1995 Hideo Nomo struck out thirteen Rockies to give him a then team record of 50 strike outs in four consecutive starts. In 1996 Mike Piazza hit three home runs against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. He became the fifth Dodger to hit three homers in a game. In 2012 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent Yasiel Puig. 
• Happy Birthday, Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson, Farmer Steelman, Bobby Morgan, Rick Honeycutt & Pedro Guerrero!

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.

Base

#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.

Base Chrome Mojo Refractor

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

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.

2019 Leaf Flash Baseball -- All the Dodger Prospects

I too wish it was still 2019.

As you may know, Leaf Trading Cards has this penchant for turning back the clock on their products. For instance, check out this new card set that just arrived on collector doorsteps. It is their Leaf Flash brand and it focuses on top-end MLB prospects on super-sparkly designed cards. Also, Leaf has designated this set as a 2019 product -- even though we are well into the fourth month of 2020. Why! I do not know.

The Dodgers cast of prospects available in this set are Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. Lux is currently with the Dodgers and is slated to be their Opening day second baseman. Lewis, Hoese and Busch were all drafted by the club in 2019 and are several years away from stepping on a Major League field. A complete checklist of the set can be found here.

Check out the cards below.

Base Autographs

#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux         #BA-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

Blog Kiosk: 4/29/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

This is the best photo I've seen all year, via former Dodger GM Fred Claire on twitter. From L-R: Ron Roenicke, Mike Scioscia, Vin Scully, Fred Claire and Mickey Hatcher.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2005 closer Eric Gagne is suspended for two games and fined -- even though he was on the disabled list. He had been ejected on April 6th for heckling home plate umpire Bill Hohn. Per league rules, any player on the DL may not take part in any activity during the game. In 2011 Casey Blake is placed on the DL with a staph infection in his left elbow. He would have surgery and be out of commission for a month.
• Happy Birthday, Pat Deisel & Ron Washington! 

Blog Kiosk: 2/28/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Today marks the anniversary of the greatest Baseball contract holdout in history. Thirty-two days later Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale ended it. Featured above is a 1966 UPI Telephoto of the dynamic duo board a plane to begin their spring workouts. Per the descriptor:

Dodgers pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale wave goodbye as they board an airliner bound for Phoenix, Ariz. to join their teammates after a much celebrated and publicized 32-day holdout in which the pair asked for a million dollars combined salary over a three year period. They signed for a one year contract and and undisclosed salary.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 the great Koufax/Drysdale contract holdout commences. They are seeking a collective three year $1MM contract -- to be split evenly. In 2002 the Dodgers signed free agent Japanese starting pitcher Kaz Ishii after posting a $11.26 million bid to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for the right to negotiate with him. He would eventually sign a four-year $12.3 million contract with the team.
• Happy Birthday, Al Humphrey, Orlando Alvarez & Trent Oeltjen!

Blog Kiosk: 2/25/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here are three custom fantasy Baseball cards I made featuring the Dodgers version of the "Killer B's" -- Mookie Betts, Walker Buhler and Cody Bellinger. All photos were taken by Jon SooHoo during Photo Day this spring. Go here to check out a bunch of pics from the day. Below are some notes from spring training, as provided by a Dodgers press release:

• The Dodgers and the White Sox played to a tie Monday afternoon as Chicago rallied from a one run deficit to end the game in a 2-2 draw. The Dodgers had another impressive showing from All-Star Mookie Betts as the newly acquired outfielder went 2-for-3 with two put outs. Right-hander Ross Stripling made his Spring debut, firing one inning and striking out two. Dylan Floro, Adam Kolarek, Edubray Ramos, Kyle Lobstein, Edwin Uceta and Michael Boyle helped the cause tossing scoreless frames, while the offense was paced by solo homers from Cody Thomas and Omar Estévez.
• Dodger left-hander Victor González will make his Spring Training debut and his first ever appearance in a Cactus League game this afternoon. González, 24, has been with the Dodgers’ organization since 2013 after signing with the organization at 17 years old from Tuxpan, Nayarit, Mexico. In six seasons with the organization, he has combined to go 17-27 with a 4.34 ERA (182 ER/377.0 IP) and 364 strikeouts against 138 walks. He put together his best campaign in 2019, going a combined 5-2 with a 2.31 ERA (23 ER/89.2 IP) and 93 strikeouts across three different levels. The lefty was added to the 40-man roster on October 31, 2019.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1994 former Dodger Leo Durocher is is elected by the Veterans Committee to the Hall of Fame. In 2002 84-year old broadcaster Ernie Harwell announced that this season would be his last as the Tiger's play-by-play man. As you may know, Harwell is the only announcer to have been traded for a ballplayer. Branch Rickey, in 1948, needed a substitute for an ailing Red Barber, so he traded catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association for his services. Ernie would broadcast in Brooklyn for two years.
• Happy Birthday, Al Hollingsworth, Andy Pafko, Cesar Cedeno & Xavier Paul!

2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball -- All the Dodgers Cards

Leaf has recently issued a new Baseball set, but for whatever reason they continue to pretend it's a brand from 2019. Featured here are their 2019 Leaf Ultimate Baseball cards and it includes several Dodger prospects found within packs. They include Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. Go here for a complete checklist. Check out all the Dodger players below.

Rookie Signatures

#RS-GL1 Gavin Lux        #RS-JL1 Jimmy Lewis

2019 Leaf Metal Draft -- All the Dodger Cards

To Leaf 2019 is not over. In fact, there are at least two products they are releasing during the first quarter of 2020 that will carry the "2019" moniker -- the first of which came out last week. It is their Leaf Metal Draft brand and like always it's filled with some of the games top prospect. Go here for a complete checklist.

Featured Dodger farmhands include the #2 prospect in the land, Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. See all of their cards below.

Base

#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux

Blog Kiosk: 1/9/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out who made it to a Kings game last night. Rams running back Todd Gurley III is wearing the Kings jersey in the middle. To his left is Gavin Lux, Matt Beaty and Dodger prospect Kody Hoese (on the bottom right). I believe the guys to the right of Gurley are also Rams players, but I'm not all that familiar with the team. Photo via @Dodgers on twitter.

Unfortunately, these guys couldn't help the Kings on the ice. They were defeated by the Dallas Stars, 2-1 -- their third loss in a row.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1918 the Brooklyn Robins trade Casey Stengel and George Cutshaw to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Burleigh Grimes, Al Mamaux and Chuck Ward. In 1927 the Brooklyn Robins then trade Burleigh Grimes to the NY Giants, as part of a three team trade. New York sent Jack Scott and Fresco Thompson to the Philadelphia. The Phillies send George Harper to the Giants, and Butch Henline to the Brooklyn. In 1961 Leo Durocher returns to the Dodgers to become their third base coach in Los Angeles.
• Happy Birthday, Ray French, John Hall, Stan Javier, Harley Payne, George Crable, Ivan de Jesus, Ferrell Anderson & Otis Nixon!

2019 Bowman’s Best -- All the Dodgers Cards

Bowman's Best, a prospect-centered Topps brand, was released this week for collectors to hoard. It once again features some of the top youngsters in the game today, and includes on-card autographs that have been so popular with collectors. Overall, there are five Dodgers' available in the 'Veterans and Rookies" part of the base set, but no Dodgers' highlighted in the 'Top Prospects' portion. There are, however, five Dodgers' prospect autographed cards to chase after. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#11 Hyun-Jin Ryu              #14 Clayton Kershaw

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

2019 Bowman Draft -- All the Dodger Cards

2019 Bowman Draft Baseball cards are now in stores and it's filled with some of the top up-'n-comin' Dodger prospects in the minors. Go here for a complete set checklist.

Overall, there are seven Dodgers' in the 200 card base set; including the very first Topps-produced cards of Brandon Lewis, Jack Little and Michael Busch. Notably, five of the seven Dodgers here are listed (according to MLB Prospect Watch) in their top-30 rankings. Check that listing out below:

#5 Jeter Downs
#7 Kody Hoese
#8 Michael Bucsh
#19 Jimmy Lewis
#23 Christian Santana

Base

Base                                Base Chrome

#BD-40 Brandon Lewis     #BDC40 Brandon Lewis

2019 Panini Prizm Draft Picks - The Dodger cards

Panini's Prizm Draft Picks brand hit the collectors market last week, and I've got pics of most of the Dodger prospects to share. Go here for a complete checklist.

There are three recent Dodger draftees in this set, and each one has at least one base card and an autographed card to chase after. In 2019 the Dodgers had two first round draft picks and both of them are represented here. Kody Hoese, the 25th overall pick, has two base cards and an autograph card in the set.  Michael Busch, our other 1st round pick (31st overall), has a base an auto'd card available. The third Dodger is right-handed high school hurler Jimmy Lewis -- who had apparently signed with the club as their second round pick from the 2019 Draft, but has not yet pitched in a minor league game. He has both a base and autographed card available.

On a side note, Jimmy Lewis is currently in the early stages of a throwing program. An MRI by the Dodgers showed there to be a slight labrum tear. Fortunately, surgery was deemed not necessary at this time. Lewis should hopefully be on the mound next season.

Base

#22 Kody Hoese              #32 Michael Busch