2018 Sportkings - All the Dodgers Cards

Here is a look at all the Dodgers' available in the multi-sport 2018 Sportskings brand made by Sage. Go here for a complete checklist.

There are cards from Dodger legends Don Newcombe and Don Drysdale, and I included cards from Don's wife Ann Meyers Drysdale -- who happens to be a legendary UCLA basketball player. Heck, she was the first and only woman to have every signed a professional contract with an NBA team - Indiana Pacers.

Check out all the cards below.

Base

#20 Ann Meyers Drysdale

#24 Don Newcombe           #30 Don Drysdale

Blog Kiosk: 6/9/2016 - Dodgers Links - Scully, Maeda and the Draft

Kenta Maeda was outstanding.  Through the first six innings he was pitching shutout ball.  Maeda had only allowed three hits, walked one and struck out nine Rockies batters.  Then a couple of well-placed hits in the seventh inning drove in the evenings only run.  The Dodgers lost last night, 1-0.  Per Jack Baer and Ken Gurnick at MLB.com: 

"The way Maeda pitched, we have to win that game," said Roberts. "I think our hitters are trying too hard."

I think it's more like the Dodgers offense decided to take a nap.  Doug Padilla at ESPN adds more:

“I think that guys are, again, trying to do too much,” Roberts said. “There are some empty at-bats and some tentativeness to the swings when you get into a good hitter’s count. We’re missing fastballs, whether we’re swinging through them, fouling them off or we’re late on them. We’re putting extra pressure on ourselves.”

The photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  BTW, today is the first two rounds of the MLB Amateur Draft.  It all begins at 4:00 PM, and the Dodgers have four picks (#20, #32, #36 & #65).  Their bonus pool money is at $9,336,500.  Check out Ken Gurnick's story at MLB.com about the draft and the Dodgers strategy this evening (link here).

"I know everyone judges on the first five picks and they're probably not as strong as people would like," (Billy Gasparino) said. "For us in the middle portion of the first round and on, it's really strong. Player 10 to 50, we feel really good about that group. Better, I think a whole grade higher than last year in depth and talent."

Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1919 Dodgers starter Rube Marquard breaks his leg running the bases during the game against Cincinnati.  In 1990 Eddie Murray hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the game against the Padres in San Diego.  Having done this for the tenth time in his career, he ties a MLB record with Mickey Mantle.

Dick Perez Paintings of Dodger Hall of Famers at Legendary Auctions

For a couple of years now, Legendary Auctions has been selling original paintings created by famed Baseball artist Dick Perez.  He had previously released a book featuring his newest works entitled, "Immortals Collection," and made the paintings he used for it available for auction.  Below are some of the Brooklyn Dodger paintings available in Legendary's newest auction.

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Rube Marquard was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1971.  He was a standout pitcher for the New York Giants for eight years, but did spend six years of his career in Blue.  Per the auction description:

(auction link)

Purchased in 1908 for the then-unprecedented sum, Rube Marquard struggled miserably in his first two seasons with the Giants until mentor Wilbert Robinson joined the coaching staff. Then Marquard embarked on a stellar three-year run where he averaged almost 25 wins (including his extraordinary record of 19 straight in 1912) en route to a trio of N.L. pennants. Toast of the town, he also starred in the silent movie Rube Marquard Wins and performed on stage nationwide with vaudeville leading lady Blossom Seeley in a popular song-and-dance show. (Seeley scandalously left her husband to marry Rube and they had a child together in 1913.)

Following Robinson to the eponymously named Brooklyn Robins, Marquard donned this iconic plaid uniform style during his renaissance years of 1916 and 1917—when he won a combined 32 games and played in his fourth of five World Series over an eventual 18-year career. Alone on the dugout steps, eyes trained on the admiring viewer, one could hardly imagine a more classic depiction of the Hall of Famer's matinee-idol looks, mischievous grin, and confident swagger.

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Dazzy Vance spent twelve of his sixteen Major League years as a Brooklyn Robin.  He won 190 games for us from 1922 to 1932, and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1955.  Vance is noted for being a late bloomer.  Per the auction description:

Dazzy Vance's life was fit for the silver screen. Nicknamed for his dazzling fastball, Vance toiled in the minors for nearly a decade, then discovered a long-hidden arm ailment thanks to a fluke poker-game injury, and subsequently parlayed his recovery into meteoric major-league success!

In his third season with Brooklyn, the 33-year-old drank from the fountain of youth to capture the 1924 Major League Triple Crown with 28 wins, 262 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA—taking home the N.L. MVP to boot. Vance also holds the distinction of being the only National Leaguer ever to lead the circuit in strikeouts for seven straight seasons (1922-1928). What's more, he had a no-hitter, an immaculate inning, a 15-strikeout game, and a 15-game win streak to his credit. Then, of course, there were his off-field hijinks as the fun-loving ringleader of the "Daffiness Boys"—along with cohorts Babe Herman and Chick Fewster.

Why the Dodgers have not retired his number (#15) I will never understand.  I get that he (and the Dodgers for that matter) had only worn a number for one year while he was a Dodger, but why deny the Hall of Famer who spent most of his career in Brooklyn the honor. 

(auction link)

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Roy Campanella needs no introduction.  He was one of the best.

Here is what artist Dick Perez said about the legend, via the auction description:

Dick Perez on "Roy Campanella - 'Campy'": "I always believed that any professional athlete to be good you have to have a little boy in you." Roy Campanella, one of the Boys of Summer, spoke these words during his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame. Although he never wanted to be considered a pioneer, Campanella was the 6th African-American player to make an appearance as a Major Leaguer in the 20th century in 1948. Like Jackie Robinson, he was a product of the Negro Leagues where he became a first-string catcher at the age of 16.

(auction link)

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2014 Panini Golden Age Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

Panini America released their 3rd Baseball themed card set last week.  It is called Golden Age Baseball, and it includes numerous old-tyme players.  Due to a lack of an MLB license these cards do not include either team logos or even team names.  Instead, the city that each player represents in noted. 

In my opinion, the base card design is horrible.  On the other hand, the insert cards that borrow designs from several relatively unknown vintage card sets are phenomenal.  I especially love the Darby Chocolate cards I show at the very bottom.

Base Set

#32 Zack Wheat

#66 Tommy Lasorda

#120 Dusty Baker

#138 Steve Yeager

#139 Davey Lopes

The Frank Robinson card is the only known Dodger variation card in the set.  As you can see, the only reason he is regarded as a Dodger in the card below is the city notation of "Los Angeles" underneath his photo.  In the normal base card "Baltimore" is indicated underneath Robinson's photo. 

Base Variations Set 

#102 Frank Robinson

1913 National Game Set

#8 Zack Wheat

Historical Signatures Set

#BAK Dusty Baker

#RMO Rick Monday

#LOP Davey Lopes

#STV Steve Yeager

Museum Age Collection Set

#35 Tommy Lasorda

Star Stamps Set

#12 McGraw, Gleason, Mack & Stengel

#28 Mathewson, Young, Jackson & Wheat

All the remaining cards below are box-toppers.  Each box of cards comes with a large sized pack that contains either a 5x7 super-sized card, or a 3-card strip of Darby Chocolate themed cards.  Below are the Dodger players included.

BTW, There is a 5x7 memorabilia card (#9) of Duke Snider available, but I have yet to see a photo of it.  Directly below is the non-memorabilia card of Snider that is available.

5x7 Box Topper

#9 Duke Snider

I just love the design of these Darby Chocolate themed cards.  The vintage versions are super rare, and can sell for thousands in VG condition card.  Below, I highlight two Dodger players from the set.  Zack Wheat, of course, is known as a Dodger Hall of Famer; whereas, Rube Marquard is known more for his years as a NY Giants Hall of Famer pitcher.  Still, Marquard pitched 6 years in Brooklyn; recording 56 wins and helping the club to 2 National League Pennants.

Darby Chocolate 3-card Panel Box Toppers

#23 Zack Wheat & #24 Rube Marquard

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REA: A Couple of Rare Brooklyn Dodgers Programs

Robert Edwards Auctions, known for its once-a-year sports cards and memorabilia auction gala, is holding (to my surprise) their 2nd auction of the year right now, and as always it is incredible.  Although not exactly comparable to its big summer auction, it does include numerous vintage items worth taking note.

For instance, take a look at this 1919 "Peace Souvenir" program issued by the Brooklyn Dodgers, below.

(auction link)

Per the auction description:

The special eight-page program was specially produced to honor all of the members of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization, both players and executives, who served in the military during World War I. All of the members are pictured (many in their respective military uniforms), and the rear cover unfolds to reveal a large team photo of the 1919 Brooklyn club. Included among the individual portrait images are Burleigh Grimes (pictured in his sailor's uniform), Zack Wheat, Wilbert Robinson, and Rube Marquard (pictured in his sailor's uniform).

Click on any pic to embiggen.

(auction link)

(auction link)

Since we are in the midst of the 2013 Baseball postseason, I though it would be fun to take a look at this 1920 World Series program issued at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. Dodgers manager Wilbert Robinson is on the cover.  BTW, the Brooklyn team was nicknamed the Robins due to their love of their portly skipper.  Unfortunately, the Indians defeated the Robins five games to two in the 1920 World Series (it was a best-of-nine affair). 

Per the auction description:

Today, the Series is best known for two famous firsts, each of which occurred in Game 5. In the first inning Indians outfielder Elmer Smith hit the first grand slam in Series play. Four innings later teammate Bill Wambsganss did him one better by completing the first and only unassisted triple play in the history of the fall classic.

(Auction Link)

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A Vintage Brooklyn Dodger Exhibit Card- 1922 Walter Ruether

Here is another vintage Brooklyn Dodgers Baseball card in my collection.  This time I show you a 1922 Exhibit card of Walter "Dutch" Ruether.

These cards are much larger than your typical Baseball card (about the size of a modern postcard), and were produced by the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago.  They were distributed solely in vending machines.  For the price of a penny you pulled out a couple of cards.  The back of this card is blank, although in subsequent years a postcard back was added.

Dutch Ruether - notice the card above misspells his name - was a starting pitcher for the Brooklyn team from 1921 to 1924.  He came to the Brooklyn Robins (as they were known back then) by way of a trade with Cincinnati for future Hall of Famer Rube Marquard.  Overall, he compiled 54 wins, with a 3.97 ERA, and a 99 ERA+ with Brooklyn.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball-Reference.

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2012 Panini Cooperstown Baseball Card Set- Dodgers Inserts Including Vin Scully

This Panini Cooperstown set is looking really good.  Heck, when you look at the inserts checklist it gets even better.  There are 4 Dodgers autographed cards to chase after and a bunch of other Hall of Famer cards.  Check them all out below.

These are the cards worth salivating over.  Directly below are the autographed inserts card in the Cooperstown set.  It features a great card of Vin Scully, and all cards have been signed "on-card;" with exception of the Duke Snider (for obvious reasons).

Cooperstown Signatures

#25 Tommy Lasorda – Los Angeles Dodgers /149

#47 Don Sutton – Los Angeles Dodgers /788

#55 Duke Snider – Brooklyn Dodgers /25*

Unfortunately, a Duke Snider autograph card has yet to make an appearance online.  With only 25 copies available that really isn't a surprise.

#76 Vin Scully – Announcer /100

This insert card is made of wood.  It is called HOF Classes Induction Year.

#9 Jackie Robinson

Cooperstown Bronze history Inserts

#58 Rube Marquard

#64 Walter O'Malley

#73 Wilbert Robinson

Cooperstown Famous Moments Insert (#4 Roy Campanella & #9 Jackie Robinson)

Credentials Inserts (#4 Don Drysdale & #9 Don Sutton)

With Honors insert

#1 Jackie Robinson - US Army WWII

Field Generals Insert

#6 Roy Campanella

Voices of Summer inserts

#5 Red Barber

#9 Vin Scully

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