2013 Topps Heritage Baseball - Dodgers' Insert Cards

Here is a final post featuring Dodgers' cards within Topps recently released 2013 Heritage Baseball set.  This time I focus on the insert cards, autographs and relics.  To check out all of the Heritage cards I've shown so far go here.  

Only Maury Wills and Sandy Koufax have autographed cards in the set, and Koufax's card can only be attained through a redemption program.  Hopefully Sandy can get those out to fans quicker than Matt Kemp.  (Doh!) 

1964 Bazooka:

#64B-SK Sandy Koufax

New Age Performers:

#NAP-CK Clayton Kershaw                    #NAP-MK Matt Kemp

Baseball Flashbacks:

#BF-SK Sandy Koufax

Then and Now:

#TN-KK Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw

Real One Autographs:

#ROA-MW Maury Wills

 Flashback Autographed Relics:  The Sandy Koufax card autographed card is available through a redemption.

#FAR-SK Sandy Koufax

Clubhouse Collection Relics:

#CCR-DG Dee Gordon

1964 Oversixed Boxloader Relics:  Unfortunately, I have yet to see a Clayton Kershaw 1964 Giants boxloader relic card.  It is numbered: #64GR-CK Clayton Kershaw.  Below is Matt Kemp's card numbered to just 25 copies.

#64GR-MK Matt Kemp

1964 Mint:

#64M-CK Clayton Kershaw

#64M-MK Matt Kemp

#64M-MW Maury Wills

#64M-SK Sandy Koufax

1964 Stamp Relics:

64US-MW Maury Wills

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Download a Comprehensive Guide on Topps History

For card collectors, especially vintage Topps collectors, this is a must download.  Better yet, it's free!

David Hornish, the writer of 'The Topps Archives', has recently shared his The Modern Hobby Guide To Topps Chewing Gum: 1938-1956.  It's free to download and is filled with more Topps history than you can imagine.  

It's available on Scribd, and a companion blog can be found here that will include updates and corrections.  Again, go here to download this monumental effort.

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Koufax Impacts More Than Just the Dodgers, Players Give Big to B.A.T.

B.A.T., Baseball Assistance Team, is a great organization that helps folks who are a part of the Baseball family.  As you probably know, most of the elder members of game never earned the kind of salaries players make today, so they focus on helping them when needed.  Considering the importance history plays in the game, it's a great way to give back to those who contributed to Baseball.

Today, B.A.T. announced a record level of contributions:

More than 1,400 players, coaches and managers from all 30 MLB Clubs have collectively pledged a record donation of $2,457,710 to the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) during the organization’s eleventh annual Spring Training Fundraising Tour to raise money for members of the Baseball Family in need of assistance.

Heck, they even made note of how important Sandy Koufax's recent return to the Dodgers was to the cause.

“The current players were overwhelmed by the attendance and participation of the managers, coaches and Hall of Famers during our presentations,” said Joseph Grippo, Executive Director of B.A.T. “The impact of seeing Sandy Koufax sit alongside Dodgers players, for example, is immeasurable and a major reason why so many players at all levels of the organization contributed.”

And once again, the Dodgers proved to be ready to lend a helping hand.

B.A.T. is also announcing that the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are the recipients of the 2013 Bobby Murcer Award. Named after the former B.A.T. Chairman who introduced the Spring Training Fundraising Tour, the award is given to the team in both the American League (Yankees) and National League (Dodgers) whose players commit the most amount of money to B.A.T. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Yankees have won the award and the third time in four years for the Dodgers. Both Clubs will be presented with the Bobby Murcer Award at the 25th annual “Going to Bat for B.A.T. Fundraising Dinner” in 2014.

Go here to find out more about this organization.

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Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 3/11/2013

What a great early 90's photographed shared by Dodgers' photographer Jon SooHoo of Vin Scully in the press box hanging out with Gordon Verrell, Jay Lucas, Derrick Hall, Broderick Turner, Terry Johnson, Lew Price.  Check it out here on his photo blog.

• Bernie Pleskoff at MLB.com, a former scout with the Astros and Mariners, tells what he saw in Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Although two outings may not be conclusive, what I have seen has me wondering about Ryu serving as a starter. For now, I think he is best suited to pitching out of the bullpen and continuing to prepare for a role as a starter. At this early stage of his transition, I think he is very hittable and needs more time to adjust.

• Kim Tong-hyung at Korea Times also has some critical things to say about Ryu.

Heo Koo-yeon, a former baseball manager and current MBC television color commentator, was underwhelmed as well after watching Ryu in person.

''The velocity on his fastball isn’t there yet. It’s slower than the fastballs he has thrown in the KBO the past few years,’’ Heo told Korean reporters in Arizona.

''To be effective against major league hitters, Ryu’s fastball has to sit comfortably at around 148 kilometers per hour. He has to bring his condition up.’’

• Craig Minami at True Blue LA profiles Dodgers' prospect Jeremy Moore.
• Lyle Spencer at MLB.com shares his interview with Vin Scully.  It's a must read.

"After the third out, Johnny Podres having shut them out, I was taken in a car to the Lexington Hotel with some other Dodgers people," Scully said. "I had a date, and I left the group to get my car and go pick her up. We drove over to Brooklyn for the party at the Bossert Hotel.

"It was like V-J Day and V-E Day rolled into one when we came out of the tunnel. There were thousands of people on the sidewalks leading to the hotel. There were policemen, and parking attendants who took your car about a block from the hotel. Walking down that street to the hotel, that was an unforgettable scene."

• Luis Cruz admits he lost it over the weekend, via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times.
• Chris Olds at Beckett has the 8 other Jackie Robinson movie "42" posters that have recently been released.  Check them out here.  Below is one of my favorites.

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Greinke Sidelined, but it's not Expected to be Serious

As you may already know, Zack Greinke experienced some discomfort in his throwing elbow over the weekend, so out of an abundance of caution he will miss todays start.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Greinke missed a bullpen session nine days ago because of elbow stiffness, missed a start four days ago because of the flu, then threw an impressive bullpen session on Friday.

But the discomfort in the back of his elbow has persisted and -- with seven other starters in the current rotation -- club officials are considering holding him out for precautionary reasons.

We know now that Zack will definitely miss todays scheduled start based on a tweet from the Dodgers this morning.

(tweet link)

After reading that you've got to be a little worried.  On the other hand, based on early reports this move appears to be a precautionary.  From a Bill Shaikin tweet:

(tweet link)

JP Hoornstra adds more:

(tweet link)

Unfortunately, as a Dodger fan I am always prepared to be shocked.  Hopefully, we can laugh about this episode when the season starts.

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Dodgers' 1956 Goodwill Tour of Japan Magazines on eBay

The mid-50's marked the height of popularity for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  They were coming off their very first World Series championship in 1955, so an invitation to travel to Japan several months later for a Baseball Goodwill Tour was a natural fit.  Following the 1956 season, the Brooklyn boys headed overseas in search of extending the teams reach and to improve international relations.  After all, Baseball was becoming a national sport on the island nation, and what could be better than to share our love of the game as a way to build bridges.

As you can imagine, all sorts of collectibles were made to celebrate the occasion.  Recently on eBay, a couple of these items popped up that caught my eye.  In fact, I placed a bid on both of these items, but I came woefully short of winning.

First, here is a 1956 magazine produced by Japan Pro Baseball Association that includes photos and biographies of the Dodgers.  The cover features Don Newcombe.  Also, check out the biography pages for Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, and a team photo below.  This vintage magazine sold for a $63.78.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

This next item is a roster card for the games played at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo.  Jackie Robinson is featured on the front cover, and both the Dodgers and Japanese All-Stars rosters are printed in Japanese.  This piece sold for a healthy $145.05.

(Auction Link)

(Auction Link)

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