2012 Topps Museum- Dodgers Relic Cards

Following up my past post focused on 2012 Topps Museum Dodgers base cards and autographed cards, below are a handful of Dodgers related relic cards.

I'm starting to fall in love with the set. Heck, I even like some of these relic cards. (Personally, I'm not much of a relic collector, so saying that is a big step for me)

Why am I loving these so? Well, when pairing the phenomenal design of the cards with a large relic game-used memorabilia piece, I can't help but believe that they would look great with an autograph. Just check out the cards below to see what I mean.
These two cards (above & below) are relic book cards. Considering how accessible these players are I think it would be fun and fairly easy to have them sign these cards. After all, that large wooden space is begging to be signed.

Again, getting these cards signed would be incredible looking.

Duke Snider

This is a large piece of game-used fabric from Andre Ethier.

Here are a couple of different quad relic cards below.

Meh. I'm not a fan of these cards. Multiple relic cards do not do much for me.

Blog Kiosk: 4/13/2012

Not only will Bear Grylls drink his own urine to entertain you, but he'll throw out the first pitch while the Baseball is on fire. That's a true entertainer, folks! (pic via, Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012) Big League Stew has a story on it that includes video.

• GCRL continues to show a bunch of great Sportcaster cards from the 70's. Here is one I've never seen before. It's called "Forever Blowing Bubbles" and features Davey Lopes with a giant Bazooka style bubble while at the plate. Just Awesome!
  
• Here is a new Tumblr account that you need to see. It's called A. J. Ellis Facts.
  
• Via Fox, Dodgers Off To Best Start Since 1981.
• This sounds like a great event. The LA Times has been hosting a monthly program called "Thursday @ the Globe," and this time they feature Bill Shaikin and Bill Plaschke on a hour long tour and discussion about the Dodgers and Baseball. It's free. All you have to do is register. Information is here.
  
• Shorpy comes through again with a vintage, 1924, photo featuring Washington DC as Baseball fans mingle at a giant outdoor scoreboard awaiting details of the next play in an American League Pennant game. Could you imagine having to get your up-to-the-minute sports news like this?
  
• Check out this great video snippet from the MLB Network of a show they aired recently called, "Showcasing Dodger Stadium." It's just a 5 min clip, but features interviews with many different ballplayers talking about Dodger Stadium. I'm sure they'll re-air it soon. Here's a quote from Joe Torre:

  “When I used to come and get into the batter’s box to hit, I could hear Vin Scully. Now it wasn’t that I could hear the booth, which was obviously behind me, but I could hear it because everybody brought transistor radios because they wanted to have Vin Scully tell them what was going on.”

• Cardboard Junkie gives us a tour of the Braves Museum & Hall of Fame at Turner Field.
  
• If you are a local LA area hockey player and happen to play the goalie position, then you need to check this out. The Kings and Jonathan Bernier will be giving away a full set of goalie equipment. Details are here.

  Coaches, friends and/or family members are encouraged to tell Bernier in 500 words or less why your young goalie is deserving of new RBK goalie pads, blocker and goalie stick. Nominees must be between 4 and 10 years old.

• Filed under, "I shoulda gone to one game," the Lingerie Football League is closing shop til 2013, via Busted Coverage.
• Kings Game 2 Stanley Cup Playoff game is tonight at 7:00 PM on KCOP 13. The Kings won Game 1 in convincing fashion. Hopefully, they continue to baffle the whiners from up north. I just loved this hit Kings forward Mike Richards laid on Alexandre Burrows. That Burrows guy is a punk!

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Autograph Alley, Some Lakers, Clippers and Jim Abbott

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.

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Autograph Alley at Dodger Stadium gets busy for the 1st weekend series of the young season. The "Alley" is located through the centerfield entrance in the outfield and can be accessed from the outside of the stadium. This weekend one former Dodger star will be on hand to sign for fans before the game. Check out the schedule below. As always, signatures are free for all. (Please note that the Sunday signing will be at Viva Los Doyers- in the Dodgers parking lot)

Friday, April 13:
5:10 PM - 6:30 PM
Tim Leary

Saturday, April 14:
4:10 PM - 5:30 PM
Kenny Landreaux

Sunday, April 15:
11:10 AM- 12:30 PM (at Viva Los Doyers)
Derrel Thomas

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Also on Saturday will be a book signing by former Olympian, Angels and Yankee starter Jim Abbott. He will be signing his new book title, "Imperfect: An Improbably Life" at a Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach. Go here for details.

Date: Saturday April 14, 2012 3:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Bella Terra
7881 Edinger Avenue, #110
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714-897-8781

Special Notes: One item of memorabilia allowed per book purchased from Barnes & Noble HB. Limit of five books per person. Personalization may be allowed. No posed photos.

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A couple of Lakers will be signing at free events. Below are some details.

Lakers Guard Steve Blake will be at a Metro PCS Store on Saturday. Details can be found here.

Date: Saturday, April 14; 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
MetroPCS
2118 West 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(714) 730-2884

Hat Tip: LA Inspiration



Lakers Forward Matt Barnes will be at the Westfield Culver City. Details are here and here too.

Date: Saturday, April 14th; 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Adidas/Champs
(Westfield Culver City)
6000 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City, 90230

Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

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Clipper players Caron Butler and DeAndre Jordan will be making an appearance on Sunday. They will sign autographs and take photos with fans. Details are here.

Date: Sunday, April 15, 2012; 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Commerce Casino
6131 E. Telegraph Road
Commerce, CA 90040

Hat Tip: LA Inspiration

Collection: 2005 Edwin Jackson Leaf Certified

I recall seeing this kid pitch on the mound at the tender age of 20 in 2003. In fact, his very first Major League game was on his 20th birthday. Anyway, the kid was raw, but filled with tons of promise. He was regarded, at the time, to be a potential future ace and a can't miss prospect, and for one day, at least, he proved many of those scouts right.

Edwin Jackson was a September call-up during a season that can be best described as forgettable. The Dodgers were 10.5 games out of first place, and had nothing to lose by testing out a young arm in a season already considered lost.

So, they threw the kid out to the wolves, and witnessed a pitching duel they did not expect (but hoped for). Edwin Jackson allowed just one run in six innings while out-dueling future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks. He was as good as advertised, and much of Dodger Nation rejoiced at the thought of having a future ace on our hands.

Unfortunately, that feeling would not last long. The next season he looked overwhelmed and unsure of himself. His strike out rate plummeted as his ERA climbed. Edwin Jackson was looking like a flash in the pan. Soon, he was traded away to Tampa Bay for a couple of relievers not worth mentioning. He has since bounced around the league, and recently signed on with his 7th different club for this season.

Featured in this post is my 2005 Leaf Certified Materials Red Mirror Parallel autographed card of Edwin Jackson numbered out of 250.

Kings Hockey: Stanley Cup Playoffs

This truly is the best time of year.

Not only has a new Baseball season started, but hockey is about to begin its second season. That's right, it's the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

This year the Kings got in by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin. They took the the 8th and final spot in the Western Conference, and hope to move on past the 1st round of the playoffs for the first time in ages.

This time they face off against their 2010 playoff foes, the Vancouver Canucks. The first game is tonight at 7:30 and can be seen on Channel 13.


To get you in the mood check out this great video.

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Here is another video to get you excited. (Hat Tip: Surly & Scribe)

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If you are looking for some positive prognostication then go no further than the always reliable Kings cheerleader Barry Melrose while on ESPN. I realize the Kings are far from being a favorite this year, but ya know... who cares? The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about upsets, and the Kings certainly have the pieces to make Vancouverites riot once more.

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Blog Kiosk: 4/11/2012

Be sure to check out Jon SooHoo's pics from Opening Day. Above, members of the Los Angeles Dodgers 1962 roster meet for photograph Tuesday, April 10, 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles,California. © Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers 2012.

• From Deadspin: "Guys Who Spent $2Billion on Dodgers Do Not Have $2Billion." Worrisome, but I am not surprised. I never believed it was a true "All Cash" offer. The offer was based on their high level of confidence that they can achieve the desirable financing; therefore, there was little need for a financing contingency. Unfortunately, this report seems to throw some cold water on that plan.
  
• Security at Dodger Stadium is a no. 1 concern, via AP at ESPN.

  "At every game this season, we're going to have undercover officers in the opposing team jerseys," Sgt. Mitzi Fierro said. "If somebody is going to harass a fan from an opposing team, it increases the possibility of them coming in contact with a police officer. It kind of requires people to be on their best behavior."

• Joe Torre on Matt Kemp, via Tony Jackson at ESPN.

  "I think he was embarrassed by what happened a couple of years ago," Torre said. "He grew up. I think (it's a matter of) maturity, and the start he has gotten off to this year to obviously build on what he did last year."

• Sons of Steve Garvey has a nice recap of their day at Dodger Stadium yesterday.
  
• LA Brew Crew also has some nice pics from Opening Day.
  
• I found this utterly fascinating. Via Grantland, "The Lost Founder of Baseball Video Games." (Hat Tip: The Trolley Dodger)

  In January 2009, just shy of his 80th birthday, John Burgeson logged on to Wikipedia and edited the entry for fantasy baseball to include this: "An early form of fantasy baseball was coded for an IBM 1620 computer in 1960 by John Burgeson, IBM Akron."

• Filed under "just take my money," here is a coffee table any gamer would drool over, via Etsy.com. It is an actual fully functioning game controller!
• Are you fearful of a Zombie Apocalypse? Then you need to check out the Zombie Survival Map. It points out danger zones throughout the country, as well as, the locations of various resources humans on the run will have to look out for in order to survive.