2014 Bowman Chrome Mini Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

Recently, Topps released a complete factory set of Bowman Chrome Mini's, and I thought I would include some photos for informational purposes.  Other than being slightly smaller than a normal Baseball card, these cards look just like cards already released in past Bowman sets.  Go here for a complete checklist.

There are 12 Dodger prospects in the set.  Check them all out below.

Prospect Mini Base 

#2 Julio Urias                                       #28 Alex Verdugo

Blog Kiosk: 1/19/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig Buys Home in Sherman Oaks

Tommy shows the kids how it's done.  Yesterday, Tommy Lasorda shared this fantastic spring training photograph of himself on instagram and I can't stop laughing at it.  He added the below inspirational caption, but I still can't get this smile off my face. 

Sometimes if you want something done right you got to do it yourself. Championship teams are made in #SpringTraining

Tommy looks as graceful as Wile E. Coyote chasing after the Road Runner.  Better yet, his team looks so concerned for his well-being.  Is that reliever Steve Howe, over his left shoulder, ready to jump in to save his soon-to-be ailing manager?

Below are some more links to check out:

• The Dodgers have now agreed to terms with all the Dodger players who had filled for arbitration:

juan nicasio settles at $2.3M with dodgers
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 16, 2015

Kenley Jansen and the Dodgers avoid arbitration, agree to $7.425 million salary for 2015.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) January 16, 2015

Justin Turner and Dodgers avoid arbitration, settle on $2.5 million salary for 2015.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) January 16, 2015

• Via Mark David at Variety, "Dodgers Star Yasiel Puig Buys Home in Sherman Oaks."

A stone-floored center hall entry has beige walls, beige inlaid stone tile
floors and curved, wrought iron railed staircase that sweeps up to a circular second-floor gallery with domed sky light. The pretty much all-beige, open-plan living spaces at the rear include a built-in wet bar, a roomy dining area, formal sitting area and family room with bookshelf flanked and television-surmounted fireplace and a built-in aquarium. The (also very beige) adjoining kitchen has a sizable center island, room for a breakfast table next to a sizable center island, speckled granite countertops, completely average although probably custom-crafted raised panel cabinetry and medium-grade stainless steel appliances.

• Here is a must read if you want to know what this young stud prospect can throw.  Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Julio Urias’ illustrated guide to pitches."
• Now that the Dodgers' Winter Development Program is over Matthew Mesa at Dodger Insider writes, "Through the eyes of the prospects," which includes social media post by some of our young prospects.
• Dodgers add some depth to starting pitching minor league staff.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers ink Bedard to Minor League contract."
• Dodger Penguin shares his experience at Frank & Sons this past Saturday getting Chan Ho Park's signature.

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Dodgers FanFest Autograph Schedule and Events have been Announced!

The Dodgers have just announced the player autograph schedule for their main fan event to kick in the new season.  FanFest will be on Saturday, January 31st at Dodger Stadium starting from 10:00 Am to 4:00 PM, and it is free for all.  For the first time it will be held within the stadium itself (instead of the parking lots like in years past).  Go here for more information.

Like last year, fans must purchase autograph voucher tickets online in order to get autographs.  Vouchers are $20.00 each, and the sale begins the week of January 19th (next week).  For each voucher you will get an autograph from each signer in your line.  For instance, if you get a voucher for Session 1, Line 1 you will get an autograph of both Paco Rodriguez and Eric Karros.  Go here for more information.  Below is the announced schedule:

Also, for the first time the Dodgers are offering special VIP experiences for FanFest.  This includes a clubhouse tour, press box tour and several different meet & greets with the newest players to join the club.  Tickets will also be sold next week online.  I do not know what the prices are for these events.  Go here for more information.  Below are descriptions of each one.

This should be an absolute blast, and if you're aching to get some Dodger signatures I suggest making this coming Monday open for you to go online.  BTW, there will once again be a Dodger Foundation Mystery Bag sale that includes a mystery Dodger autograph.  Also, the Dodger Foundation will hold a yard sale that will include jerseys, T-shirts and more.

Take a look back at my past post on this event from prior years below.  There are plenty of photos to look through.

• 2014 Fan Fest
• 2013 Fan Fest

Here is a video from the Dodgers.

Video Link:

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2014 Panini National Treasures - The Dodger Base Cards

Here is a final look at 2014 National Treasures.  Go here to check out all of my previous post on this set.  This time I share pics of the various base relic/autograph cards that can be found.  Unfortunately, I have yet to see the Jackie Robinson card, so I'll update this post when it pops up.  Unlike most card sets the base cards in National Treasures are not the most common.  Instead, they can be just as scarce as any other relic or autographed card.

The base portion of the set are numbered to 224 cards, and consist of either a relic piece or autograph & relic.  There are also a handful of variations available that include nicknames.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Set

#25 Jackie Robinson

#31 Roy Campanella                                   #46 Duke Snider

Blog Kiosk: 1/16/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig the Gamer and Sweeney to the Next Level

Yasiel Puig has been tearing up the interwebs lately.  He's been posting up pics and videos on almost a daily basis on his instagram account, and the above vintage B&W is my favorite.  Yesterday, on #Throwback Thursday, he put up proof that he's been a gamer since he was a little tyke, and like many folks he started out with a Nintendo.

Below are some more links to check out:

• This is not great news for non-TW customers.  Via Bill Shaikin and Meg James at The LA Times, "Getting Dodgers' SportsNet LA to new viewers affected by media mergers."
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "An energizing moment for the Dodgers."

But beyond that, the WDP (Winter Development Program) has also struck me as a major organizational retreat, a moment for the Dodgers’ new leadership to stamp its open-minded, thoughtful direction throughout the franchise.
...
“Some of it is a little new as far as what they’re really looking for, (but) when you hear Alex and you hear these guys talk about it and you get further in depth about the numbers, you start putting things together,” Dodger pitching prospect Zach Lee said. “I kind of had a little problem with last year, trying to get over some things mentally, when errors or things didn’t necessarily go the right way, rather than taking three or four pitches to reset, kind of resetting right away. And you realize that those things don’t really matter in the long run. Just continue to execute, continue to do things the way you’re taught to do, and things will work themselves out.”

• Via Marc Hulet at RotoGraphs, "Top 5 Prospects for 2015: Los Angeles Dodgers."
• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Dodger prospect Darnell Sweeney gets next-level training from Barry Larkin and Dee Gordon."

From Larkin, he said he’s learned the following:
“His thing is it’s definitely a physical game, but you need to exercise the mental part of it, too. You have to make sure you visualize yourself being successful. Make sure before the game you visualize what you have to do, and after the game you go through the game, play it back in your head (and think), ‘I could have done this better.’ ”

From Gordon:
“How he reads pitches. His jumps. (And) have fun. He’s one of those guys who always has a smile on his face. That’s what I always want to do is play the game right and have fun.”

• Via Dan Espstein at Just a Bit Outside, "Bloop Hits: Terry Forster's musical feast."  (Hat Tip: Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider - BTW, Jon provides a whole bunch of worthwhile links to check out).
• Per Jon Heyman on twitter, Chris Heisey and the Dodgers agree to a contract before arbitration.

Chris heisey, dodgers settle at $2.16M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 16, 2015

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Bradley University names school for Steiner."
• Via Ben Marks at Collectors Weekly, "Flipping Out Over Handheld Movies, a Century Before Smartphones."  I must admit that I absolutely love flip books.

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Plenty of Dodger Goodies at Goldin Auctions - Pedro's Dodger Glove and Jackie's Contract for Souvenir Baseballs

Goldin's 2015 winter auction is current ongoing and it includes so many great Dodger memorabilia items.  Check out my favorites below.

With his recent inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame this glove couldn't come to the market at a more appropriate time.  Featured below is purported to be an early 90's game-used glove of Pedro Martinez.  You'll notice bright Dodger Blue leather can be seen throughout.

(Auction Link)

Here is a fantastic original vintage photograph taken by legendary photographer Charles Conlon of Dodger Hall or Famer Wee Willie Keeler. 

(Auction Link)

I thought this was a fun little contract between Jackie Robinson and an facsimile autograph baseball manufacturer.  This was penned in 1948, after Jackie was named the Rookie of the Year for the 1947 season, and it promises to pay Jackie the sum of $0.01 for each baseball sold with his signature stamped on it.  

(Auction Link)

Here is another Dodger World Series trophy.  This time it's from the 1981 season and it was originally given to Dodger executive Bob Schenz.  As you may know, Schenz worked for the club for 30-years and was primarily responsible for team travel.

(Auction Link)

Below is an original painting of Jackie Robinson playing football for UCLA by famed Baseball artist Dick Perez.

(Auction Link)

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