Topps Archives Coming Back in 2012

The Topps Archives set was one of my favorites. It has been a decade since a set was released, so finding out recently that it will be unearthed again has been a nice surprise. Unlike in the past, it will not only feature vintage players on reprinted cards. It will also include current players in the mix. Recently, Topps unveiled some preview pics on their Facebook page. Check them out here. Below is the Sandy Koufax on a 1966 Topps card design with a brand new period photo.

(Pic Link)

Blog Kiosk: 12/18/2011

A GIBBY does not make up for the MVP.

• Weird rumor of the week. This is a little strange. Rumors are swirling indicating that Ryan Braun initial positive test was due to medication related to herpes medication prescribed by doctor. Via TTF.

  But that’s not what this is about, it’s about Braun’s new rumor. Apparently, he allegedly failed the test due to medication. Usually a steroid is given for those type of things.

• No jail time for Barry Bonds, via Big League Stew.
  
• Josh at DodgerBobble points out a attraction at the Marlins new field- a Bobblehead Museum. How awesome is that?
  
• A Halos Heaven writer shares his experience at the Winter Meetings job fair and accepts a job with a team.
  
• This sounds like a bunch of horse puckey. This ESPN report claims we are in the running for Fielder. Yhea, right!
  
• Kobe and Panini wish you a Happy Holidays.

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A musical interlude with ZAZ- Les Passants. Lyrics in English, here.

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1972 Hollywood Stars Game

From vintage press photos of Koufax to fan taken pics of the Penguin, eBay never fails in unearthing wonderful photographs of Dodgers from the past. Sometimes, it even shares Dodger events that have been long since forgotten. For instance, check out the below two photographs from a long since abandoned tradition at Dodger Stadium.

The Hollywood Stars game was a wonderful event that allowed your favorite TV stars to hack it out on the field. Fans would cheer and players would live out their dreams on the diamond. It use to be that they played actual hardball, but recent games was just softball. Unfortunately, the Dodgers have not had one of these games in quite sometime. Hopefully, they can bring it back.

Here, I captured a couple of pics available on eBay from the 1972 Hollywood Stars game featuring Bob Newhart and Walter Matheau.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

Blog Kiosk: 12/16/2011

Dee Gordon is bored. Pic via twitter: @SkinnySwag9.

• RIP: Christopher Hitchens.
  
• Bill Shaikin helps calm my restless mind. "Why McCourt Won't Renege on Selling the Dodgers"
  

  "There is an agreement, publicly announced by Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers, to sell the team," Siegfried said. "That is the process being undertaken."

  Here's why McCourt is not planning to reverse course and try to keep the Dodgers: He would put hundreds of millions of dollars at risk to try a "hail Mary" strategy.

• Check out Dodger Blue Forever for his recap of the Justin Sellers signing at Valley Sports Cards last weekend.
  
• Scott at Lasorda's Lair writes about Hee Seop Choi who ranks #7 on his list of Top 10 LA Dodgers Bums.
  
• Panini has just secured the rights to produce Baseball cards of 12 CMG Worldwide legendary Baseball clients; including Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella.
  
• Mike Napoli likes Hooters, via Larry Brown Sports.
  
• This story is just too unbelievable. A Senior League Hockey player has been suspended for pooping in the equipment of an opposing player. That's right! I said pooping! Via Deadspin.
  
• Oh yhea! Top 12 Jackie Chan fight scenes of all time, via flixist.com.
  
• Letters of Note has slowly become one of my favorite blogs. Check out this post featuring a vintage Groucho Marx letter addressed to US Troops in Suriname in 1943.

  So far, I have raised a family of moles, enough snails to keep a pre-French restaurant running for a century and a curious looking plant that I have been eating all summer under the impression that it was a vegetable. However, for the past few weeks, I've had difficulty in remaining awake and this morning I discovered that I had been munching on marijuana the whole month of July.

A Dodgers Shield and Coins

I've always thought this was the coolest vintage Dodger collectible out there. It causes me to imagine a great Dodger superhero with a mask and a cape. Our blue suited hero would fight crime with the powers of this mighty shield adorned with the images of the great Dodgers of the past. No one can defeat the collective powers of Koufax, Snider, and the rest. The orange clad villains from the northern bay, and the upstart red step-children to the south would be no match for us. He would jump out of the shadows and crush them with the power of the great Dodger in the sky and with the craftiness that make Dodger pitchers the stuff of legends. He would be invincible, and all of Los Angeles would rejoice in his honor.

Yhea, I've got one crazy imagination.

Anyway, this a 1962 Salada Coin set with shield display that I ran into on Ebay. It's a great little item. Check out some close-up pics below. All of the stars of the time are there. I've yet to add one to my collection, but it is definitely on my want-list.

(Auction Link)

Weekend Autograph Opportunities

This is the last weekend of the year for autograph hounds to capture signatures of your favorite sports stars. As you can imagine, not much of anything is planned for the Christmas and New Years weekends. As always, check out my Blue Heaven Calendar for listings of sports related events throughout the southland, here. Unfortunately, there isn't a Dodger opportunity, but there sure is football galore at LA Live! all weekend long and some vintage Angels in Orange County.

This weekend is the Verizon Training Ground football event at LA Live. It will be from Saturday to Monday and features everything from games to free autographs of some legends. Go to this link for more information.
Here is a list of the autograph guest.

• Saturday 12/17= Marcus Allen 2pm – 4pm
• Sunday 12/18= Ronnie Lott (1pm – 3pm) & Junior Seau (3:45pm – 5:30pm)
• Monday 12/19= Tim Brown (3pm – 5pm)

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For the Orange County based fans there are a couple of free signings at the Angels Store at Angels Stadium. OC Register has some details, here. One free autograph per person, and no bats or jerseys will be signed. On Saturday, gritty second baseman Bobby Grich will be on hand, and on Sunday Doug DeCinces will be signing. They will both be there from 10:30 AP to 12:30 PM, on their respective days.