Blog Kiosk: 3/18/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a look at the Dodgers 2020 on-field cap. As you can see, it includes a patch for the upcoming All-Star Game. Pic above via New Era on twitter. BTW, below is a look at the St. Patrick's Day Dodger cap for this year, below (via Dodger Blue)

(Emmett Kelly by Art Rogers/LA Times)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1942 two African-American ballplayers, Jackie Robinson and Nate Moreland, showed up at the White Sox spring training home at Brookside Park in Pasadena and requested a tryout. They met manager Jimmy Dykes and were allowed to hit the field, but as you know nothing would come of it. In 1958 famed clown Emmett Kelly, signed by the Dodgers to play the teams mascot in Brooklyn, announced that his contract had not been renewed to join the team in LA. The veteran circus performer believes the size of the Coliseum, the club's new home on the West Coast, is just "too big for one clown".
• Happy Birthday, Oscar Walker, Johnny Cooney, Gerónimo Berroa & Scott Podsednik!

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!

Blog Kiosk: 3/9/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Just some Dodgers' having some fun at Camelback Ranch, pics via @Dodgers on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1943 the Brooklyn Dodgers received soon-to-be Hall of Fame centerfielder Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner and Al Glossop from the Phillies in exchange for veteran infielder Babe Dahlgren. Although, Waner did not join the club for the 1943 Baseball season. Instead, he asked to be placed on the voluntary retirement list and took a wartime job at the Douglas Aircraft plant in Oklahoma City. Lloyd would eventually join Brooklyn for the 1944 season (playing briefly with his brother Paul -- also a fellow Hall of Famer), but would eventually be released by mid-June -- He slashed .286/.412/.286/.697 in just 14 at-bats, primarily as a pinch hitter.
• Happy Birthday, Rube Yarrison, Arky Vaughan, Terry Mulholland, Koyie Hill, Daniel Hudson & Willy Aybar!

Blog Kiosk: 1/22/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I know I've shared this photo before, but it's so great it's worth another look. This vintage 8/16/1938 ACME press photo is available at RMY Auctions. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Dodgers' Quartette Eludes the Heat with Song -- New York City -- Despite the broiling sun, this Brooklyn Dodgers' quartette burst into song and fogot about the heat as they relaxed at the Polo Grounds, August 16th, where the Dodgers beat the Giants, 7-3. Left to Right: Tuck Stainback, Buddy Hassett, Kiki Cuyler and Babe Ruth.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1988 seven ballplayers are declared free agents as a result of an Players Association's 1985 collusion lawsuit against the owners. Kirk Gibson is one of those players, and this event would eventually lead to him signing with the Dodgers seven days later. The rest, as they say, is history. In 2007 the Dodgers signed amateur free agent Pedro Báez as a 19-year old third baseman out of the Dominican Republic. He would eventually convert to a relief pitcher in 2013.
• Happy Birthday, Jay Hughes, Jeff Treadway, Chone Figgins, Wayne Kirby & Carlos Ruiz!

2017 Bowman Chrome Mini - All the Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released a complete factory set of 2017 Bowman Chrome Mini cards, and it includes cardboard of many of the top rookies and prospects in the Dodgers system. Go here for a complete checklist.

None of the Dodger cards found here are new us. We've seen both the designs and photo selections available in either their Bowman or Bowman Chrome sets released earlier this season. The only thing unique about this product is that they are miniaturized versions of those cards. Check out all of the Dodger cards below.

Base -- 2017 Bowman Rookies

#55 Rob Segedin

2017 Bowman High-Tek - All the Dodgers Cards

Last week Topps released their inaugural version of their High-Tek brand to Bowman -- focusing the brand on the rookie/prospect ballplayers so often found in Bowman card. Go here for a complete checklist. Below are all of the Dodger cards that can be found in packs. Thankfully, there are no redemption cards for any of the Dodgers'.

Base

#BHT-CB Cody Bellinger      #BHT-WC Willie Calhoun

2017 Topps Heritage Minor League - All the Dodgers Cards

Even as the season comes to close, the Baseball card hobby doesn't stop. In fact, this Fall is proving to be one of the busiest. This week alone Topps has released three card sets to keep collectors busy, and next week three more are scheduled to hit the public.

The first set I'll make note of is the 2017 Topps Heritage Minor League brand. It focuses on prospects and soon-to-be Major Leaguers on the vintage 1968 Topps Baseball card design. Go here for a complete checklist.

There are eleven Dodger youngsters in the 220 card base set (including a card for the recently traded Willie Calhoun). Additionally, three Dodgers are also a part of the league leaders subset. Check out all of the Dodger cards found in packs of 2017 Topps Heritage Minor League below.

Base

#5 Andrew Sopko                #36 Yusniel Diaz

#45 Will Smith             #87 Alex Verdugo

2017 Bowman Chrome - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

I had failed to previously mention that both Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge appear on the boxes of Topps 2017 Bowman Chrome cards. Check out an example on the right.

Below are all of the Dodgers insert cards found in packs. Unfortunately, there are a ton of redemption cards inserted instead of the actual autographed cards. Cody Bellinger and recently traded prospect Willie Calhoun are only available as an redemption.

Also, there are a couple of short printed Calhoun cards available that feature him holding the MVP trophy for the Arizona Fall League Falls Stars Game in 2016. That evening he went 3-for-3, with a two-run homer.

Chrome Prospect Autographs

#CPA-JSB Josh Sborz        #CPA-MW Mitchell White

2017 Bowman Platinum - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards, here are the rest of the Dodgers' 2017 Bowman Platinum cards found in packs. There are a couple of Cody Bellinger autographed cards, but they are only available through a redemption card.

Top Prospects

#TP-AS Andrew Sopko          #TP-AV Alex Verdugo

#TP-GL Gavin Lux             #TP-WC Willie Calhoun

Blog Kiosk: 6/29/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

You gotta admit, last nights game was incredible. Sure, the Dodgers ended up on the short end of the stick, but that's okay. Next time we'll be the folks that are laughing. Per Maria Guardado and Joshua Thornton at MLB.com:

"Speed kills. That's the game of a baseball, and that's what happened tonight." -- Revere

"We haven't lost games like that. Unfortunately, things like that are going to happen. The kid, Meyer, competed. Really couldn't put anything together. That's a tough way to lose." -- Roberts

I would say that that was a fun way to lose. Last night was just a case of "Baseball being Baseball". BTW, Pantone 294 once again made their presence known in another stadium. This time they took over Angels Stadium, as evidenced by the photo on the right by Jon SooHoo.

Photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game. 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.  Via Tommy Lasorda, at the time: 

"And it couldn't have happened to a tougher, more competitive guy," Lasorda said. "You look at Fernando and he has done everything in his career except a no-hitter. And now . . . this."

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 becomes 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!

Blog Kiosk: 6/12/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It was a glorious Saturday afternoon as many Dodgers' from the past came onto the field to play some ball. Per an AP story at ESPN:

"I think that the fans enjoy it, the alumni and old players enjoy it, and it's entertaining. For a short period of time -- because we can't play it like we used to. But we try," said catcher Steve Yeager, who played 14 seasons for the Dodgers and was co-MVP of their 1981 World Series win.

"It's always nice for the fans to get the opportunity to see some of the players that they saw and grew up with around Dodger Stadium," Yeager said.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Go here to check out more pics by Jon from this weekends Old-TimersGame. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1940 the Dodgers made one of the biggest trades in their history. They received 1937 Triple Crown winner Joe "Ducky" Medwick and pitcher Curt Davis from the Cardinals for outfielder Ernie Koy, pitcher Carl Doyle, two minor leaguers and $125k in cash (a huge sum in those days). The Dodgers would win the pennant the following season for the first time since 1920. In 1955 Don Newcombe, having won his first ten decisions of the season, lost his first game of the year when Brooklyn loses to the Cubs, 9-5. In 2005 first baseman Hee-Seop Choi hit home runs in his first three at-bats this evening against the Twins to propel the Dodgers over Minnesota, 4-3. Watch all three here.
• Happy Birthday, Jack O'Brein, Roger Bernadina & Damon Hollins!
  

2017 Bowman Mega Box Chrome - All the Dodgers Cards

Some time in the past week or so Topps issued an Target-exclusive Baseball card product called the 2017 Bowman Mega Box. For $14.99 a collector will receive seven packs -- five Bowman retail packs (exactly like the packs released in late-April) and two exclusive Mega Box Chrome Bowman packs.

The Mega Box Chrome Bowman packs include five cards not available anywhere else. The cards include 2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects cards, along with several other inserts found in 2017 Bowman, with a uniquely patterned "pulsar" prism in the background on all of them.

2017 Topps Pro Debut - All the Dodgers Base Cards

If you're interested in taking a look at some of the top prospects within the game then Topps Pro Debut Baseball brand is your set. This product is basically Topps flagship card set for the minor leagues, and it officially hits stores today. Featured here are all of the Dodger base cards in the set. Go here for a complete checklist.

As a testament to how productive our farm system has been this set includes ten Dodger youngsters in a base set of 200 players -- 5% of the total cards in the base set.

All of the top prospects are here -- Verdugo, Alvalrez, White and even Bellinger. A name not seen is Julio Urias, but you can easily forgive Topps for believing that his minor league days were over (obviously, they erred in that assumption). Another big prospect missing is Walker Buehler, but I suspect he had yet thrown a pitch (post-Tommy John surgery) when the checklist was put together. So, I'll give Topps a pass for now for not including him.

Base

#6 Andrew Sopko             #42 Yadier Alvarez

Blog Kiosk: 5/23/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last Night Yasiel Puig hosted a Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament at Dodger Stadium in benefit of his Wild Horse Foundation -- an nonprofit dedicated to helping underprivileged children and families in the Dominican Republic. Per Chad Thornburg at MLB.com:

"I wanted to do this event for the kids, because when I was a little bit younger, 8 or 9 years old, I know how hard it is [to get] the stuff -- baseball, bat, glove -- to go play baseball," Puig said. "I'd be asking my friends, 'Hey, can I use your glove?' I want to give to the kids baseball supplies and school supplies, too. ... [Making] life more easy for the families and the kids."

Photo above via Steve Garvey on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1944 the Dodgers and Giants play the first night-time game in metro New York since 1941 at the Polo Grounds due to the easing of wartime restrictions. Brooklyn defeated Bill Voiselle and the Giants, 3-2. In 1981 Ron Cey hit his 200th career home run. It was against the Reds in Cincinnati. In 1995 the Dodgers traded Henry Rodriguez and Jeff Treadway to Montreal for Joey Eischen and Roberto Kelly. In 2002 Shawn Green hit four home runs in one game against the Brewers in Milwaukee, and set a major league record for total bases at 19. Overall, Green went 6-for-6 with a single, double, six runs scored and seven RBI's.
• Happy Birthday, Zach Wheat, Augie Galan, Clyde King & Ramon Ortiz!
  

2017 Bowman Baseball - The Top 100, ROY Favorites and Pipeline Cards

Following up on the Dodger base cards found in packs of 2017 Bowman Baseball, I now share the Dodgers' available in the Bowman Scouts Top 100, ROY Favorites and Talent Pipeline insert sets. Notably, former Dodgers pitching prospect (since traded to the Tampa Bay Rays) Jose De Leon is still shown as a Dodger.

Bowman Scouts Top 100

#BTP-17 Cody Bellinger           #BTP-62 Alex Verdugo

2017 Bowman Baseball - The Dodgers Base and Prospect Cards

Topps Bowman Baseball card set is now officially in stores. As you know, this brand focuses on the top prospects in the game, and includes first-cards for many rising future stars. For instance, this set provides Dodger collectors with the first licensed card for right-handed pitcher Dustin May. Go here for a complete checklist. Below are all of the Dodger base and prospect base cards.

Base Cards

#2 Kenta Maeda               #50 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 3/2/2017 - Dodgers Links - Kazmir, Calhoun, Oaks, Ryu and Kershaw

Scott Kazmir made his first spring start last night and didn't last two innings.  No matter, though.  As Scott said later on, via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“It’s a matter of getting reps to go out there and get some consistency”

Obviously, he's still working on consistency.  He began the evening by blowing through the Giants lineup in the first inning, but then got into trouble during the second.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I had a long [pregame] bullpen and it was on point, but as the night was going on, I kind of got lazy with the stuff I was working on," Kazmir said. "The first inning I was able to sync some stuff up."

BTW, the Dodgers defeated the Giants in their first match-up of Spring, 7-6.  Joc Pederson slammed a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

Photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out more pics bu Jon from yesterday.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1956 the Dodgers sold pitching prospect Tommy Lasorda to the Kansas City A's.  In 1976 the Dodgers traded outfielder Willie Crawford to the Cardinals for infielder Ted Sizemore.
• Happy Birthday, William Fischer, Moe Berg, Woody English, Cal Abrams, Chico Fernandez, Jay Gibbons & Bud Norris!
  

Blog Kiosk: 2/7/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Who could forget that weekend last season when several thousand Dodger fans arrived at Yankee Stadium to overtake a demonstrably demure New York fanbase.  Angelenos had come to scream, holler and chant for the men in Blue.  Then they made their presence known to a shocked Baseball public by performing a Dodgers "roll call" during the game -- to the consternation of Yankees' bleacher-creatures.

Of course, this act of invasion is nothing new to Dodger fans.  As proof check out the above ACME telephoto press pic of a group of boisterous Brooklyn fans invading Philadelphia's Shibe Park on the last day of the 1949 season.  (eBay Auction Link)

The Dodgers were sitting one game above the Cards for the pennant, and needed a victory to lock it up.  Naturally, their legions of fans came to support their team.  The Dodgers wouldn't make it easy, though.  They had to win the game in the tenth inning to capture the 1949 pennant.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1958 the Dodgers officially became the Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc.  In 2006 the Dodgers signed Japanese pitcher Takashi Saito to a free agent contract.
• Happy Birthday, Tom Daly, Cy Moore, Art Jones, Johnny Werhas & Burt "Happy" Hooton!
  

2016 Elite Extra Edition Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

Here is a look at all the Dodger cards found in packs of Panini's 2016 Elite Extra Edition Baseball card set.  Go here for a complete checklist. 

This set was released last week and focuses solely on top prospects from throughout the minor leagues, college and the Team USA Baseball team.  So, it's likely there are a few more Dodger players in this set who are still playing prep ball.  In the meantime, we have the Dodgers 2016 first round pick (Gavin Lux) and several other high-flying prospects to chase after. 

#20 Gavin Lux                                        #32 Will Smith

Blog Kiosk: 12/16/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

(AGon in Dubai, via his twitter)

Once again, the Dodgers prove that they are willing and able to spread the gospel of Baseball to far off places.  This weekend, both Adrian Gonzalez and Dave Roberts are in Dubai visiting the Dubai Little League.  They will inaugurate the Emirates Airline Dubai Little League Park, hold a players clinic, sign autographs and watch a friendly match between the Dubai Dodgers and another local club.  Per an Emirates press release:

John Fekete, President of the Dubai Little League commented: “The objective of the Dubai Little League is teach our 500 players the fundamentals of baseball and foster a team environment that gives them the opportunity practice good sportsmanship and we have no better partners than the Los Angeles Dodgers and Emirates Airline to help us achieve these goals. We are thrilled that our youth will have the opportunity to enhance their skills through the mentorship of some of the most respected players in Major League Baseball and we are looking forward to more visits from the Los Angeles Dodgers.”

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1990 the Dodgers signed free agent infielder Juan Samuel.  In 2007 the Dodgers signed Japanese free agent pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a three year/$35.3 million contract.  In 2014 the Dodgers signed free agent pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a four year/$48 million contract.  In 2015 the Dodgers received Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson in exchange for Brandon Dixon, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler in a three way trade with the Reds and White Sox.
• Happy Birthday, Paul DePodesta, Pete Hotaling & Sammy Strang!