Dodgers Blue Heaven

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

2012 Panini Signature Series- Dodgers Base Cards

Here is the second Panini set recently released. It is a brand new Baseball card set called Panini Signature Series. The Dodgers base cards are featured below.

As you can see, there are no Dodgers logo's anywhere. Panini does not have a MLB license to make cards, but has a MLBPA agreement in place. So, they can feature any of the players, but cannot show their colors.

As you can see, the base cards to the set are close-up player portraits. Check out the Dodgers cards below.

#3 Adrian Gonzales

#10 Andre Ethier

#27 Clayton Kershaw

#46 Hanley Ramirez

#64 Josh Beckett

#73 Matt Kemp

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AJ Ellis and Clayton Kershaw have Too Much Time on their Hands- They went on a Twitter Battle Yesterday

Below is a sequence of events that should forever live on in the intertubes.

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Did the @Dodgers on twitter just goad AJ Ellis and Clayton Kershaw into a little twitter fight?

(twitter link)

Why, yes they did. And Kershaw was the first to take the bait.

(twitter link)

I smell a twitter war! Well, not exactly. AJ Ellis tweets a pic of himself from the 2008 Dodgers rookie hazing party.

(twitter link)

You just can't beat a catcher with a sense of humor.

Then, Marcus Hanel, the bullpen catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, decides to twist that knife.

(twitter link)

Of course, our resident team comedian can't let that stand.

(twitter link)

In the meantime, AJ Ellis decided to up the ante.

(twitter link)

Deciding not to be outdone, Clayton tweets a pic that forces AJ to wave the white flag.

(twitter link)

All the while, a former Dodger decided to chime in. From catcher Paul LoDuca:

(twitter link)

Yeah, catchers are the unsung heroes of any Baseball team.

As a final salvo, I ran into the below pic on twitter @Angry_Albert that should become the newest "hot" meme. Heck, if there is any justice in the world this pic should make AJ Ellis world famous.

(photo link)

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Collection: Willie Davis Archives Autographed Card

Willie Davis had big shoes to fill. He joined the Dodgers farm system in 1958 after graduating from high school in Los Angeles (Theodore Roosevelt High School). By 1960 he joined the big club and soon took over for Hall of Famer Duke Snider in centerfield. There he would stay for 13 years. He recorded 11 consecutive seasons with 20 or more steals, and was a member of 2 World Championship clubs.

In 1969, Willie Davis had a 31 game hitting streak that remains the longest streak in Dodgers franchise history. It eclipsed the record once held by Brooklyn outfielder and Hall of Famer Zach Wheat.

Featured here is a 2001 Topps Archives Willie Davis autographed card that borrows the vintage 1961 Topps design.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 11/19/2012 - Kuroda, Fujikawa, Grienke and Ryu

Dee Gordon shared a photo on twitter of his new glove. He wrote, "My new baby! I can't wait to dirty you up!!!"

Happy Birthday, Roy Campanella. He would have been 91 today. (Hat Tip: Greg Zakwin ArgyledPlaschke)
Be sure to check out Sean Kane's website, Painted Glove Collectibles, featuring his artwork on vintage Baseball gloves. He recently completed an incredible Jackie Robinson glove. I am currently working on a interview with the artist and hope to have it up online after Thanksgiving.
Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness writes about the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
Mark Saxon at ESPN notes that the Dodgers might have the inside track on Hiroki Kuroda.

Previously, teams have been under the impression that Kuroda would either re-sign with the New York Yankees or return to his native Japan to finish his career. But Kuroda has told friends that his first preference is to pitch in Southern California, where his two daughters are attending elementary school.

Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News notes that Japanese free agent closer Kyuji Fujikawa is in America visiting MLB clubs interested in his services; including the Dodgers. In fact, he is expected to be in LA soon. (MLB Trade Rumors)

Fujikawa, considered among the top closers in Nippon Pro Baseball over the last decade, toured the facilities of Arizona and the Chicago Cubs in the last week. He is expected to also visit with the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers, both of whom have expressed interest.

Via Michael Silverman at the Boston Herald, the Dodgers are considered the top contenders for Zach Grienke's services. (Hat Tip: Hard Ball Talk)

According to an industry insider, the Dodgers are the favorites to wind up with top free agent starter Zack Greinke, with the Angels and Rangers on the outside looking in.

Derek Carty at Baseball Prospectus scouts the fantasy value of Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Be sure to follow the updates to the Dodgers Mall Tour this winter. More Dodger players are being announced all of the time.
Congratulations to the LA Galaxy on their return to the MLS Cup Championship. Pic below via twitter @LAGalaxy.

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Legendary Auctions: Wilber "Uncle Robbie" Robinson and Some Vintage Dodgers Cartoons

Legendary Auction is running their last auction of the year, and it (as always) includes some great vintage material.

Check out this 1894 N142 Duke's Honest Tobacco Cabinet card of former Dodgers manager Wilbert "Uncle Robbie" Robinson as a player for the Baltimore Orioles of the National League. You just gotta love that 'stache on him. He was a hipster before there were hipsters.

Uncle Robbie was a beloved Brooklyn manager. He was so loved, in fact, that fans started calling the team the "Robins" in his honor.

The card measures 6" x 9" and starts with an opening bid of $1,500.00

(auction link)

Leo O'Mealia is a famous cartoonist known more for his artwork at Action Comics and Detective Comics in the 1930's. He started out as a political cartoonist for the Rochester Herald in 1907. Then transitioned to sports cartoons in 1912 for the New York Journal. Soon, he started to draw for comic books in the 1930's, and then returned to sports editorial cartoons for the Daily News in 1943. He was known as "Leo the Lion " since he signed his artwork with "By Leo" and drew a small lion by it.

In this auction item there are two pieces focused on the Brooklyn Dodgers. The below cartoon has to do with the Brooklyn borough's love for Leo Durocher. Click on any pic to embiggen.

(auction link)

I don't think this "Leo the Lion" drawing below needs much of a description. I will note that a little lion is clearly present on the bottom right (near the base of the wine glass).

(auction link)

And of course, I couldn't go without showing a Willard Mulling drawing. I'll let the auction description go from here:

Originally bellowed as a derisive term to describe the once-woeful Brooklyn Dodgers, the infamous "Bums" moniker was artfully brought to life for decades to follow by renowned cartoonist Willard Mullin. In this cartoon, the beloved "Bum" is depicted in a thoughtful mood as he prepares - by swinging hard and ostentatiously missing the ball - to get "in shape" for an upcoming season. The original 12" x 19", black-and-white drawing is complete with editorial markings and, of course, Mullin's patented linear signature.

(auction link)

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Topps Five Star Baseball- Dodgers Base Cards

Topps newest Baseball card set is as high-end as they come. It is called 2012 Topps Five Star Baseball and it is priced at about $400.00+ per box. Each box includes only 1 pack of cards with only 5 cards within them, and you are guaranteed 4 different autographed cards. Needless to say, I doubt I'll be opening up any of these boxes any time soon. It's just too rich for my blood.

I love the design, though, so if you have some for trade please let me know.

There is a base set of 80 cards, and 6 of them are Dodgers. They are all numbered to 80 copies each. Check out the Dodger cards below.

#17 Andre Ethier