2014 Donruss Baseball Factory Set - All the Dodger Cards

I recently became aware of two factory sets recently released by Panini's brand Donruss, and discovered that there are several new and unique Dodger cards within them.  There is the complete Donruss Factory set and the Rookies Factory set.

The Donruss Factory set consist of all the base cards previously released during the season as Series 1 & 2 cards (for a total of 355 cards) plus either a newly created relic or autograph card.  There are two new Dodger autographed cards available (but no new relic cards).  They are cards autographed by Alex Guerrero or Erisbel Arruebarrena.  Check them out below.  Unfortunately, I have yet to run across the Guerrero card at this time.  Go here for a complete checklist.  BTW, these two new cards can also be founded randomly inserted into the Rookies Factory set detailed below.

The Rookies Signatures

#19 Alex Guerrero

(card not yet seen)

#80 Erisbel Arruebarrena

The Rookies factory set includes a 100-card "The Rookies" complete set plus one autographed card (the Guerrero and Arruebarrena cards above can be found).  The first 41 cards of the 100-card base set are repeats of the insert cards found in Series 1 & 2 boxes.  The remaining 59 cards are brand new.  Of those new created cards are two new Dodger players (Withrow and Arruebarrena).  Below is a complete look at all the Dodgers that are found in the 100-card set.  Go here for a complete checklist. 

The Rookies Set

#19 Alex Guerrero                                #34 Onelki Garcia

#60 Chris Withrow                               #80 Erisbel Arruebarrena

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2014 Topps Heritage High Number Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

On Wednesday Topps released their newest set.  Instead of rolling out boxes with randomly inserted packs of cards, they produced a 100-card complete set box that includes one random Real One Autographed card.  The set is called Topps Heritage High Number and an unopened box will cost about $90.  This is an companion set to their Heritage cards released in March.  Check out all of the Dodger cards below.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Set

#H502 Dee Gordon                                 #H530 Onelki Garcia

#H547 Alex Guerrero                           #H551 Erisbel Arruebarrena

Real One Autographs

#ROA-AG Alex Guerrero                    #ROA-EA Erisbel Arruebarrena

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Blog Kiosk: 11/21/2014 - Dodger Links - Vin Scully and Yasiel Puig

Dee Gordon and Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton got together for a photoshoot yesterday for Under Armour.  Photo above via @BillyHamilton on twitter.

BTW, last night the Dodgers executed their first real trade of the winter.  I'll have more on that soon.

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Kevin Roderick at LA Observed, "Vin Scully offers career advice to Zev Yaroslavsky (video)."  The Scully video is a classic and a much see.  (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider)

Yaroslavsky had made it known often that he craved Scully's job. Scully responds in an amusing video I'm told was recorded in one take with no script and no Teleprompter.

• Via Yvonne Carrasco at Dodger Insider, "Kershaw, Ellis enjoying visit to Dominican Republic."
• Via Jeff Sullivan at FanGraphs, "The Weakness That Yasiel Puig Conquered."

Which is not to say that Puig simply eliminated a hole. In working to get better against inside fastballs, Puig subsequently opened himself up a little more against fastballs away. It’s hard to protect against all pitch types in all pitch locations, and adjustments tend to have consequences. So now Puig has just changed the distribution of his weaker areas. But between years, he set his mind to getting better against something, and it appears he mostly pulled it off. That’s not something we often observe, which is what makes this so interesting. 

• The Dodgers have lost reliever Onelki Garcia to the White Sox, via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors.
• Sign-ups for the 2014 LA Dodgers Foundation Youth Camp for the weekend of December 20th are current ongoing.  Go here for information.  Steve Yeager and Mickey Hatcher are just a couple of former Dodgers who will be there to teach the kids.  Also, a current Dodger player will also make an appearance.  It is for boys and girls ages 7 to 12.
• GCRL shares more Steve Garvey oddball cards; including a bunch of postcards.
• Via Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com, "MLB addresses pace of play in AFL."

"I tell people, 'It's more complex than just having the clock,'" Haines said. "All these variables come in, and baseball plays happen. I don't want to speculate for MLB, but I think it's hard to make it that black-and-white. I want the umpire's discretion involved. You don't want a game decided on a technicality."

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2014 Topps Chrome - The Dodger Autograph and Relic Cards

Here is a final look at some of the Dodger cards available in packs of 2014 Topps Chrome.  This time I share the autograph and relic cards that are available.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Unfortunately, a couple of the cards have yet to show up, so I do not have photos of them yet.  There is a Autographed Relic Patch Base Variation card of Clayton Kershaw (#100) that is numbered to only 10 copies, and a Chrome Connections Die-Cuts Relics card of Yasiel Puig (#CCR-YP) that is numbered to 25 copies.

Autographed Rookie Variations Set

#133 Onelki Garcia                         #AG Alexander Guerrero

#EA Erisbel Arruebarruena

Topps Shelf Autographs Set Checklist

#TS-CK Clayton Kershaw

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2014 Topps Chrome - All the Dodger Base Cards

Topps released their 2014 Topps Chrome set last week, and I've got pics of all of the Dodger base cards to share with you.  Check them out below.  Go here for a complete checklist of the set.  As you can tell, this set is just a super-shiny chrome version of the Topps Series 1 & Series 2 flagship Baseball card set, but it does include a new card for Cuban infielder Erisbel Arruebarrena. 

Of special note, there are a couple of new Dodger variation cards for Yasiel Puig and Hyun-Jin Ryu.  You can see those at the very bottom.  The Ryu card is especially funny.  It shows Ryu goofing on BFF Yasiel Puig with a tap on the head with his bat.

#14 Alex Guerrero

#20 Hanley Ramirez                      #26 Erisbel Arruebarrena

Blog Kiosk: 9/1/2014 - Dodger Links - Ryu Returns as Sharp as Ever

Hyun-Jin Ryu made a glorious return from the DL yesterday afternoon.  He went seven strong innings, struck out seven, gave up only four hits and walked none.  At one point he retired 14 straight Padres.  His short stint on the DL may turn out to be fortuitous.  He will likely be depended upon by the Dodger should they go deep into the playoffs, so a well rested Ryu will be important.  The photo above features Ryu preparing for the game with catcher AJ Ellis and translator Martin Kim, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more pics from Jon.

The Dodgers offense finally woke up against the Padres.  They mashed out twelve hits and scored seven runs.  Both Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp continued their hot-hitting ways.  AGon had four hits and Kemp knocked out two; including the eventual winning run in the fifth inning.  Juan Uribe, who also just returned from the DL, was sharp at the plate, as well. He recorded two hits and drove in two runs.

Of note, Matt Kemp made a fantastic slide at home plate to score a run in the eight inning.  On a wild pitch Kemp raced for home and avoided a tag by the pitcher to score.  As Vin would say, "he looked dead to rights."  But with a little bit of quick thinking and fast reflexes, Kemp found a way to touch the plate before getting tagged.  Watch it below.

Video Link:

The Dodgers maintain a 2.5 game lead over the Giants as they enter Labor Day.  Things are starting to get serious.  Now, check out some more links below.

• ICYMI:  Go here to check out homestand information for tonights game against the Nationals.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Haren likely to have next start pushed back."

Dan Haren is still listed as the Dodgers' probable starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals, but there are indications it will instead be rookie right-hander Carlos Frias.

He's likely to start on Friday. Bill Plunket at the LA Register notes that the Dodgers will be going to a six man rotation.  This not only helps keep our big three arms fresh, but also allows us to audition a potential #4 pitcher should one be needed for a playoff run.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Onelki Garcia begins rehab assignment, back on Dodgers' radar."

"I've heard his name. We're running out of games down there, but he's a lefty," manager Don Mattingly said. "A lefty helps us, and Paco's a little bit away."

• The Dodger rookie ball club has made the playoffs.  Via Brandon Hart at the Ogden Raptors, "Raptors Clinch Playoff Berth with Win."  Their AA club also made the playoffs. Via Vince Lennon at WRCBtv.com, "Lookouts Clinch Playoff Berth."
• Check out who won Chucky.  As you may know, Joc Pederson gave away his 1994 Buick Century to one lucky fan on Fan Appreciation Day.

Congrats to Renee on winning @yungjoc650's1994 Buick Century! #GoTopes pic.twitter.com/lHGBQXvCNw
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@AbqTopes) August 30, 2014

• Puig can dance, but if only he could hit right now things would be great.  Doh!

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2014 Topps Finest Baseball - The Dodger Autograph Cards

Here's a final look at the Dodger cards that can be found in 2014 Finest Baseball card boxes.  Take a look at the Dodger autographed cards below.  Of special note, this set features the very first Erisbel Arruebarrena autographed card.  Go here to check out my past post on this set.

Autographed Rookies Set

#RA-AG Alexander Guerrero               #RA-EA Erisbel Arruebarruena

#RA-OG Onelki Garcia

Finest Greats Autographs Set

#FGA-SK Sandy Koufax

Finest Vintage Autographs Set

#FV-DS Duke Snider

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2014 Donruss Series 2 Baseball - The Dodger Insert Cards

Following up on yesterday's post, here are the Dodger insert cards that can be found in packs of Donruss Series 2 Baseball.  Go here to see all of my posts on this set.  Tomorrow, I will share photos of the autograph and relic cards.

Elite Dominator Set

#2 Adrian Gonzalez                             #4 Clayton Kershaw

#12 Hyun-Jin Ryu

Elite Series 2 Set

#14 Yasiel Puig

Face to Face Set

#4 Yasiel Puig & Jose Fernandez

#6 Clayton Kershaw & Andrew McCutchen

#8 Hyun-Jin Ryu & Paul Goldschmidt

The Elite Series Set

#16 Hanley Ramirez

The Rookies Set

#19 Alex Guerrero                                #34 Onelki Garcia

There are numerous parallels available of the below Elite insert cards; including various different kind of die-cut cards.  At the very bottom I've collected pics of some examples.

Elite Set

#23 Adrian Gonzalez                            #24 Hanley Ramirez

#25 Yasiel Puig                                 #26 Clayton Kershaw

#67 Hyun-Jin Ryu                                 #90 Alex Guerrero

Below are the parallels that are available.

Turn of the Century parallel (/#199)                       Black Status Die-Cut (/#1)

Red Status Die-Cut (/#25)                           Gold Status Die-Cut (/#49)

Elite Inspirations Die-Cut                               Elite Status Die-Cut

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2014 Topps Turkey Red Baseball - All the Dodgers' Cards

Last week, Topps released their newest Baseball card set.  It is called 2014 Turkey Red, and it was an internet only offering -  meaning, you could only purchase packs/boxes directly from Topps, via their website.  Each box cost $19.99 and you received 10 cards, plus an autographed card.

There are 7 Dodger players in the 100-card base set, and just 2 Dodger autographed cards available.  Check them all out below.

For those who do not know, Turkey Red is in reference to a early-20th Century card set popular with vintage collectors.  The original cards are commonly known as T-3, and are the size of your typical cabinet card from the era (roughly 5 3/8" x 8").  They were lithograph cards with bright color backgrounds.  A group of boxing cards are also available, and are known as T-9's.  I do not have any of the vintage Baseball T-3's in my collection, but I do have a handful of Boxing T-9's.

#31 Clayton Kershaw

#72 Zack Greinke                                 #73 Hyun-Jin Ryu

#74 Hanley Ramirez                                    #75 Matt Kemp

#76 Yasiel Puig

#100 Adrian Gonzalez

Autographs

#TRA-3 Onelki Garcia #/699

#TRA-4 Matt Magill #/499

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