Blog Kiosk: 6/19/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I'm just as confused as Dodger coach Jake Pitler in the photo above, taken by Barney Stein (eBay auction link). It features skipper Walter Alston in the midst of digging a hole. Unfortunately, there isn't any background information describing the event.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1965 (OT) Union army general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform everyone that all people held as slaves in Texas are free. This event is celebrated as Juneteenth -- a celebration of emancipation within the confederacy. In 1938, a day after signing a contract with the club, Babe Ruth puts on a Dodger uniform for the first time. In 1952 Carl Erskine threw a no-hitter against the Cubs in the Dodgers' 5-0 victory at Ebbets Field. This is the first of two no-no's he would throw in his career. The only Cub to get on base was the opposing pitcher, via a walk. In 1973 Dodger outfielder Willie Davis collected his 2,000th career hit at Dodger Stadium when he two-run home run. In 1990 Dodgers catcher Gary Carter broke a National League record for career games caught at 1‚862. He passes former Dodger Al Lopez who set the record in 1946.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Swift, Larry Miller, Bob Aspromonte, Jerry Reuss, Butch Davis, Doug Mientkiewicz & Claudio Vargas!

Blog Kiosk: 6/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a couple of old Dodgers' shaking hands after witnessing the Brooklyn clubs first World Series Championship in 1955. Featured is Dodger skipper Walter Alston and current Yankees/former Dodger manager Casey Stengel (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

The Victor and The Loser -- New York: Yankees Manager Casey Stengel (right) congratulates a smiling Dodger Manager Walt Alston in the Brooklyn dressing room after the Dodgers won the rubber game of the World Series to win their first championship. The Dodgers whipped the Yankees, 2-0, to take the 7th and final game of the series at the Yankee Stadium Oct. 4th. 

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 the Dodgers sign their newest coach, Babe Ruth, to a contract. He hopes that he'll be installed as manager of the club the following season. As you know, that would not occur. Instead, it becomes clear that he is signed for publicity reasons -- he takes batting practice before the start of each game to guarantee high attendance. In 1988 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent Pedro Martínez. In 2014 Clayton Kershaw no-hit the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, 8-0. He recorded a career high 15 strike outs, no walks and missed a perfect game when Hanley Ramirez committed an error in the 7th inning. Watch Vin Scully's call here. 
• Happy Birthday, Sandy Alomar!

2020 Panini Diamond Kings -- All the Dodger Insert Cards

Last week I shared pics of all the Dodger base cards found in packs of Panini's 2020 Diamond Kings brand. Below are photos of all the various inserts that are available. Go here for a complete checklist.

DK Signatures

#DKS-TO Tony Gonsolin      #DKS-DM Dustin May

#DKS-BG Brusdar Graterol         #DKS-GL Gavin Lux

2020 Panini Diamond Kings -- The Dodgers Base Cards

Officially arriving in stores today is Panini's 2020 Diamond Kings Baseball cards, and I've got pics of all the base cards to share with you right now. Check them out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

As you can see, there's a nice Mookie Betts card, wearing a Dodger uniform. There are also a bunch of inserts available to chase after.

Base

#4 Walter Alston              #24 Carl Erskine

Blog Kiosk: 5/6/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

He's all smiles!

Check out this vintage United Press Photo taken shortly after the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the 1955 World Series (eBay link).

The Victor and the Loser
New York: Yankee manager Casey Stengel (right) congratulates a smiling Dodger manager Walt Alston in the Brooklyn dressing room after the Dodgers won the rubber game of the World Series to win their first championship. The Dodgers whipped the Yankees, 2-0, to take the 7th and final game of the series at Yankee Stadium Oct. 4th.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1937 Baseball fans at both the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field see the Hindenberg zeppelin fly overhead - just a few hours before it infamously exploded into a fireball in Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 1947 NL President Ford Frick threatens seven Cardinals players at Ebbets Field with banishment from the league should they follow through with their planned boycott to protest Jackie Robinson. In 1978 Dodger super-utilityman Lee Lacy becomes the first Major Leaguer to hit pinch-hit home runs in consecutive at-bats. On May 17th he would make it three-in-a-row.
• Happy Birthday, Les Webber, Mike McCormick & Mike Kincade!

2019 Topps Dynasty - The Dodgers Cards

Several weeks back Topps released their 2019 Topps Dynasty brand, and I finally have pics of many of the Dodgers available in it. Go here for a complete checklist. This is a high-end product -- costing about $300 for one single encapsulated autographed card per box. So, every pack should have a big hit in it.

For Dodger fans, this set is notable since it includes two former Dodgers in Blue -- Adrian Beltre and Rickey Henderson.

Autographed Patches

#Adrian Beltre
#DAB-ABE4

Blog Kiosk: 11/5/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Just another vintage Spring Training AP press photo to get you excited about the upcoming season. (eBay auction link) Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Vero Beach, Fla., Feb 27, 1963 -- Alston Likes What He Sees -- Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Walter Alston (left) is all smiles as pitcher Sandy Koufax gives assurances at spring training camp his left hand is in good shape. The Dodgers sagged in last year's pennant race when Koufax came up with an ailing finger. 

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1936 the Dodgers named former Brooklyn spitballer Burleigh Grimes as their manager. In 1940 former Dodger lawyer Wendell Willkie loses to third term American President Franklin D. Roosevelt in today's Presidential election. He would later on become VP and legal counsel for Brooklyn in the early 40's and would then be replaced by Walter O'Malley. In 2008 Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux wins his 18th career Gold Glove. 
• Happy Birthday, Tommy Sheehan, Pryor McElveen & Ralph Birkofer!

2019 Panini National Treasures - The Dodger Cards

A couple of weeks back Panini America released their 2019 National Treasures brand. As you know, this is a high-end product that will cost you about $500 to $600 for one box of eight cards -- all of which has either an autograph or game-used relic piece embedded within it. Go here for a complete checklist. Unfortunately, I have yet to see every Dodger card available, so there are numerous omissions below. Also, as always this product has no team logos, so there's a bunch of airbrushing on the cards.

Rookie Material Signatures

#6 Dennis Santana                         #42 Caleb Ferguson

2019 Topps Luminaries - All the Dodger Cards

A couple weeks back Topps released their premium all-autograph brand, Luminaries, to the collecting public. For the price of about $150 you are guaranteed one autographed card. Additionally, every card comes encapsulated in a hard case -- with exceptions being the booklet cards. Go here for a complete checklist.

Below is a look at most of the Dodger cards that are available.

Home Run Kings Autographs

#HRK-MPI Mike Piazza

2019 Panini Diamond Kings -- Dodgers' Inserts Part 1

Now that you've seen the Dodger base cards, here are some of the inserts you can find in packs. Featured below are many of the Diamond King signature and relic cards. Notably, this set includes a Vin Scully autographed card -- his first signed card available since 2016.

DK Signatures

#4 Caleb Ferguson            #15 Dennis Santana

2019 Panini Diamond Kings - All the Dodgers Base Cards

Panini's Diamond King brand is now in stores, and I've got pics of all the Dodger base cards below. Go here for a complete checklist.

I want to note that the biographies on the reverse of the cards are fantastic. Many of them include fascinating tidbits I've never heard before. For instance, here is what Kershaw's write-up says:

Actress Mila Kunis threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles game in June 2018, firing a big breaking ball to Kershaw behind the dish. The twirler had run into Kunis at a local "Mommy & Me" class he attended with his wife (Ellen), and had no problem sharing tips with the awestruck Hollywood star.

And Cark Erskine:

Though he later starred in the big leagues, Erskine was actually rejected from the local Navy team during World War II. In a game in Brooklyn, however, the officer who had turned him down found him and said, "Shake hands with the dumbest so and so in the world. With guys like me, I'm surprised that we won the war."

Base

#7 Walter Alston

1958 Packard Bell Dodgers Regional Set - The Dodger Cards

I was recently checking out the current Lelands Winter Classic auction and came across the above 1958 Packard-Bell poster advertising "pictures" of three Dodger players. (Auction Link) Featured are skipper Walter Alston, beloved player and future coach Jim Gilliam and should-be Hall-of-Famer Gil Hodges.

As you know, 1958 was an important year for the club. It marked the franchise's first season in Los Angeles, and as you can imagine it fueled plenty of interest throughout the Southland. West coast baseball fans without a Major League hometeam to root for came out of the woodwork, so businesses were eager to latch their name/product to the team. The poster featured above is an example of one those early efforts.

Blog Kiosk: 12/20/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

During his two terms as President, Dwight D. Eisenhower attended 13 Major League Baseball games -- all of which were at the Senators home field in Washington DC, with exception of just one time. To open the 1956 World Series he gracefully threw out a ceremonial first pitch at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Featured above is a Osvaldo Salas photograph of the event, via the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. As you can see managers' Casey Stengel and Walter Alston were by his side.

On a side note, following the series loss for the Dodgers Ike spoke with Don Newcombe, saying:

"I think I know how much you wanted to win a World Series game. I for one was pulling for you, but I suggest that when you think over this past season you think of the twenty-seven games you won that were so important in bringing Brooklyn into the World Series."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1976 the Dodgers traded Ted Sizemore to the Phillies for catcher Johnny Oats and a minor leaguer. In 1989 the Dodgers traded Mike Marshall and Alejandro Peña to the Mets for infielder Juan Samuel. In 2005 the Dodgers signed free agent outfielder Kenny Lofton.
• Happy Birthday, Branch Rickey, Erik Goeddel, Harry Stovey, Bob Hall, Butch Henline, Fred Merkle & Snooks Dowd!

2018 Topps Five Star Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

Topps newest high-end product, Five Star, hit stores this week, and below are pics of most of the Dodger cards. As you know, this is an all on-card autograph product. Boxes will run you about $120 and you'll get two cards in each box. For a set that includes only stars and top prospects, it's strange that Clayton Kershaw cannot be found anywhere in this years set. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Autographs

#FSA-AV Alex Verdugo         #FSA-AW Alex Wood

2018 Panini National Treasures - The Dodgers Base Cards

Panini's National Treasures Baseball brand hit stores last week and it's filled with nothing but hits. Heck, even the base set consist of either an autograph, relic, or both. Below are all of the Dodgers' found in that base set. Go here to see a complete checklist.

Rookie Materials Signatures

#18 Walker Buehler                      #19 Alex Verdugo

2018 Topps Diamond Icons - All the Dodgers Cards

The super high-end Topps Diamond Icons brand is now in stores. Available at roughly $1,500 a box for one pack of ten cards, this product is not for the squeamish. Each ten card pack includes seven on-card autographs and a couple of relics. Go here for a complete checklist.

Below is a listing of all the Dodgers' that are available. For the most part, Clayton Kershaw is found throughout the checklist.

Base Autographs (#/25)

• #AC-SK Sandy Koufax -- Redemption Card

#AC-CKE Clayton Kershaw

Gil Hodges in "The Geisha Boy"

Steiner Sports, the famed retailer of sports memorabilia, is currently running their Winter Classic Auction, and it happens to include a very unusual item that is notable to both Dodger fans and fans of Jerry Lewis. Featured above is a 1958 Day Player Agreement between Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges and Paramount Pictures (auction link here).

As you can see, the agreement is for his appearance in an Jerry Lewis 1958 comedy called "The Geisha Boy." Having never seen the flick and being the curious sort, I decided to do some research and share that here. Per IMBD, we find out what this movie is all about:

Gilbert Wooley (Jerry Lewis) is a second-rate magician who is sent to entertain the troops in the pacific. During his time in Japan he becomes attached to a little orphan boy.

2017 Topps Dynasty - The Dodgers Cards

Released a couple of weeks back, I am only know able to share some of the Dodger cards found in boxes of Topps 2017 Dynasty set. This is a high-end brand that will cost you about $300 for one box, and there is only one card in the box. So, this is very pricey. On the plus side, you are guaranteed an on-card autograph. Go here for a complete checklist.

For Dodger fans only the cards of Kenta Maeda and Mike Piazza are inserted into packs. Clayton Kersahw, Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger cards can only be found as a redemption.

Kenta Maeda

#AP-KM1 Kenta Maeda            #AP-KM2 Kenta Maeda

2017 Topps Luminaries - All the Dodgers Cards

A couple weeks ago Topps released a brand new card product called "Luminaries". It is a super-premium set that features no base cards, and includes only a single encapsulated on-card autographed card in each box for about $200. Go here for a complete checklist.

There are a bunch of different Corey Seager cards available to chase after. Check out most of them below.

Hit Kings Autographs

#HK-CS Corey Seager                #HK-CSE Corey Seager

Hit Kings Autograph Relics

#HKR-CS Corey Seager

2017 Panini National Treasures - The Dodgers Base Cards

Here are the Dodgers base cards found in packs of Panini's 2017 National Treasures Baseball card set. Go here for a complete checklist.

This brand hit store shelves a couple of weeks ago, but I am only now getting to it. As always, this set includes no team emblems or logos. The base set includes both relic and autographed cards (both Dodger signatures require a redemption card), and as you can see it's filled with a bunch of Brooklyn Dodgers. Although I'm not a huge fan of this set, it is refreshing that cards are still being made of some ol' time Dodgers'.

Base 

#3 Don Drysdale                    #9 Gil Hodges