Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Vintage Topps Baseball Cards as Wall Art


Topps has been making a slow transition towards retail sales.  Right now, you can purchase t-shirts and memorabilia from their archives direct from them.  Heck, you can even buy boxes of cards.

Recently, they took another step towards retail sales by introducing a new product.  You can now purchase large sized archived posters of vintage Topps Baseball cards of your favorite player.  Go here for details.

Posters come in two sizes (17.25” x 21.35” or 23” x 31”) and are printed on 1/64” cotton fine art paper.  They are also embossed with Topps Archives official seal.  There are over 100 different Dodger player posters available.  Go here to see the list.  Below are a couple of my favorites.

I think these posters would look incredible autographed. 

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2013 - Dodgers Links - Allen & Ginter is in Stores, Puig, and Donnie Almost Got Canned


BFF's.  Pic bove via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  See more pics from yesterday's game right here.
  • Check out this pic (on the right) of a 2013 Allen & Ginter cabinet box-loader of Matt Kemp that was shared by Topps on twitter.  BTW, this set officially goes live today, so you should be able to find them at your local store.  Cards are already showing up on eBay.
  • "It’s been 85 starts since Clayton Kershaw was knocked out of a game," via Jon Weisman   at Dodger Thoughts.
  • Via Cut4, "Here are 17 reasons why Yasiel Puig is baseball's most must-watch rookie".
  • Ross Gasmer at Dodgers Nation informs us that recently released Dodger pitcher Ted Lilly has joined the Giants. 
  • Chris Olds at Beckett shares some early pics from Topps 2014 Heritage set that will come out in March of next year.  Check out the Puig and Kershaw cards below.  I love the Kershaw gold embossed card.  Chris has even more preview pics.  BTW, Puig is slated to have an autographed card in the set.
  • Just a brief update on the Puig arrest for reckless driving while in the minors, the court case has been delayed.  Via Chattanooga.com.
  • Baseball America shares their list of Top-3 MLB Best Tools.  Kershaw, Ryu and Puig make the cut.
  • "Giving Yasiel Puig guidance was teacher's extra-credit assignment, via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times.
When Puig was at double-A Chattanooga (Tenn.) earlier this season, his behavior raised concerns. His first assigned caretaker, former major league pitcher Eddie Orospesa, butted heads with him and lasted only a month. Puig’s demeanor was said to improve after Bravo joined him at the end of last school year.
"[Team president Stan Kasten] was really honest, because I think he didn't want to do anything, but he says, 'Donny, at some point I've got to do something,'" Mattingly said of their late May conversation. "If they're not listening and it's not going good, you've got to make a change just to be making a change. And you could be doing the best job you could possibly do and it still wouldn't make a difference. At some point, I get it. I got that."
  • William Regenthal at Foul Bunt shares more pics from his weekend at Cooperstown during Hall of Induction weekend.  This time he has photos from the Hall of Fame parade.


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

I Blame You - Time Warner and CBS


So, the Dodgers were riding a 15-game road winning streak.  We had our staff ace, and arguably the best pitcher in all of Major League Baseball, on the mound.  A batting order, even without Hanley Ramirez, that is as potent as any club in the league. And what happens?

We lose. Streak over.

So, why did it happen?

Was it just time for the team to have a let down?  Has the loss of Hanley to our lineup unveiled a significant weakness that may prove too difficult to overcome?  Were we too quick to champion the reemergence of our relief staff?  Are we about to experience a regression to the mean?

No, I don't think it's any of that.  Instead, I blame last night's Dodger loss on my inability to watch the game.  In fact... and let me go out on a limb here... I think the lack of cosmic karma brought about by the watchful eyes of Dodger fans everywhere hurt our chances.  Yes folks, I understand that I sound like a wasted hippie, but I don't care.

I want my Dodger Baseball, and I'll continue to express my ire at both parties - who are too infantile to realize that we don't care about their reasons.  We just want their bickering to stop.

So, I blame the current rumble between Time Warner and CBS.  Damn you multimillion dollar corporate behemoths! 

I just want my Dodger Baseball!

Video Link:

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Here are July's Dodger Pride Award Winners - Minor League Players of the Month for July

The Dodgers just announced their July Dodger Pride Award Winners.  This award celebrates the franchises best performers in the Minor Leagues.  

Check them out below.

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes


Pitcher - RHP Javy Guerra notched seven saves in as many opportunities and did not allow a run in 10 appearances in July. The right-hander struck out seven and issued only two walks in 11.0 innings pitched, holding the opposition to a .211 batting average (8-for-38) in the month, while allowing just eight hits. The 27-year-old has an overall ERA of 2.32 in 18 games, including four starts, and currently has a scoreless-innings streak of 13.1 that dates to June 6. Guerra has appeared in nine games this season with the Dodgers and originally was selected by the club in the fourth round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013)
Player - INF Dee Gordon posted a .350 (35-for-100) batting average in July, collecting 35 hits, 18 runs, 19 walks and 18 stolen bases. Gordon, who was recalled by the Dodgers Aug. 5, has 44 stolen bases on the season for Albuquerque, which paces the Pacific Coast League. The speedy infielder started a current 17-game hitting streak on July 14, in which he hit .366 (26-for-71). The 25-year-old Florida native is batting .307 in 80 games this season and was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts

Pitcher - RHP Yimi Garcia posted a 2-0 record and did not allow a run in eight July appearances for the Lookouts, striking out 14 batters against five walks and allowing only one hit. The right-hander also notched a save in the month to bring his total to 15 on the season, which ranks third among Southern League closers. On the season, Garcia has posted a 4-4 record with a 2.37 ERA (13 ER/ 49.1) and has not allowed a run in his last 12.0 innings since June 30. The 22-year-old out of the Dominican Republic was signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent on January 29, 2009.

Player - INF Miguel Rojas posted a .280 batting average (25-for-75) with 21 hits, three doubles, four RBI and seven runs to take home the July Dodger Pride Award for Chattanooga. The Venezuela native recorded four consecutive multi-hit performances July 27-30 and recorded his first four-hit game on July 14 at Mississippi. In 2012, Rojas was in the Reds' organization, where he split time between Double-A and Triple-A, seeing action in 102 games. The 24-year-old was signed as a free agent on November 13, 2012.

Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes


Player - RHP Matt Shelton went 1-0 with two saves in as many opportunities and did not allow an earned run in 11 July appearances for the Quakes. In the month, the 24-year-old struck out 17 and allowed only five walks, while limiting opponents to a .148 batting average (8-for-54). Overall, Shelton has posted a 4-1 record with three saves and a 2.64 ERA (9 ER/30.2 IP) and has limited right-handed hitters to a .178 batting average (13-for-73). The Texas native was a four-year letterman with the Sam Houston State Bearkats, where he was named the Southland Conference MVP during the 2009 season. Shelton was selected in the 24th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Player - OF Scott Schebler batted .348 (40-for-115) in 29 July games and topped the California League leaderboard with 29 RBI and 11 homers. On the year, Schebler has 24 home runs, the most in the Cal League and ranks among the league leaders in batting average (.310, 9th), slugging percentage (.622, 2nd), extra-base hits (58, T-1st), runs (75, 4th), triples (10, T-2nd), and total bases (227, 1st). The 22-year-old Iowa native was selected in the 26th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Single-A Great Lakes Loons


Player - LHP Tom Windle went 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA (5 ER/27.0 IP) in six July starts for the Loons. Windle limited opposing hitters to a .221 average (23-for-104) with 24 strikeouts during the month and on the year, the left-hander has yielded just one home run in 31.2 innings, posting a 1.99 ERA. The Minnesota native, who starred at the University of Minnesota, was a second-round selection of the Dodgers in this June's First-Year Player Draft.

Player - INF Corey Seager batted .330 (33-for-100) with four home runs, 22 RBI, 16 runs and 11 doubles in 27 games in July. Seager, who was recently promoted to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, was batting .309 (84-for-272) with 12 home runs and 57 RBI in 74 games for the Loons, ranking fourth among the Midwest League leaders in slugging percentage (.529). The 19-year-old excelled against right-handed pitching this season for Great Lakes, hitting .322 (68-for-211) with nine of his 12 homers coming against righties. The North Carolina native was selected in the first round (18th overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.

Rookie-level Ogden Raptors

(pic via Bill Mitchell)
Pitcher - RHP Victor Araujo posted a 2-0 record with a 5.77 ERA (22 ER/34.1 IP) in his six starts for the Raptors in July. Overall, Araujo has made nine starts and has posted a 3-0 record with a 5.44 ERA (29 ER/48.0 IP) and has limited left-handed hitters to a .220 batting average (13-for-59). On the season, the 20-year-old has 48 strikeouts, which is the third-most among Pioneer League pitchers. The Dominican Republic native was signed as a non-drafted free agent on November 26, 2009.
Player - INF Brandon Trinkwon batted a team-high .361 (29-for-108) with three homers and 21 RBI in 24 games during July. The 21-year-old currently owns a 21-game hitting streak that started on July 9 and is batting .411 (39-for-95) during that span. Overall, Trinkwon ranks among the Pioneer League leaders in several offensive categories, including batting average (.362, 2nd), hits (50, T-3rd), slugging percentage (.587, 6th) and total bases (81, 6th). Trinkwon, who starred at UC Santa Barbara, was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Arizona League Dodgers

Pitcher- RHP Wascar Teodo notched two saves in two opportunities and posted a 0.68 ERA (1 ER/13.1 IP) in his six July appearances. In his 13.1 innings of work in the month, Teodo limited opposing hitters to a .133 batting average (6-for-45), while striking out 12 without issuing a walk. On the year, Teodo is a perfect 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA (5 ER/24.2 IP) and is yet to allow a home run. The 19-year-old Dominican Republic native was signed as a non-drafted free agent on May 18, 2011.

Player- INF Adam Law batted an Arizona League-best .418 (38-for-91) with 11 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 23 July games. Law posted 13 multi-hit performances in the month, including a pair of four-hit games and a pair of three-hit games. Overall, the 23-year-old's 21 stolen bases rank atop the Arizona League leaderboard. Law, who would become a third-generation big leaguer, was selected by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Dominican Summer League Dodgers

Pitcher- RHP Francisco Martinez posted a 3-1 record with a 2.73 ERA (8 ER/ 26.1 IP) in his five starts for the DSL Dodgers, including a complete game shutout (7.0 IP) of the DSL Red Sox on July 18. During the month of July, Martinez limited opposing batters to a .194 clip (20-for-103) while striking out 17 batters. The 21-year-old Dominican Republic native was signed as a non-drafted free agent on June 12, 2012.

Player- OF Ibandel Isabel batted a team-high .351 (26-for-74) in 22 games during the month of July, recording nine extra-base hits to go along with 14 RBI, 12 runs and eight walks. The outfielder has excelled against right-handed pitching this season, batting .336 (37-for-110) with 16 of his 23 RBI coming against righties. The 18-year-old was signed by the Dodgers in April out of the Dominican Republic.

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

A eBay Win! Check Out a New Addition - A Don Drysdale's Club 53 Ceramic Cup


I can't tell you long I've wanted one of these.

Shown here is a Don Drysdale's Club 53 restaurant and bar ceramic cup.  I grabbed it from a large lot of Dodgers memorabilia items a couple of weeks ago.  By far, this was the cream of the find, and the main reason why I bothered to bid on it.

It stands about 5" tall and the Baseball portion is slightly larger than a real Baseball.  On the bottom is a makers mark from DAGA Hawaii.  I have no idea when this was produced, but I do know the restaurant stood for 25 years.  It closed in 2011.

Just to help out other collectors, it really shouldn't cost very much to purchase one of these.  I've seen similar items sell for under $15 - and even less than that.  Based on that, my purchase was a veritable steal.  For about $20 bucks I got this cup and numerous other goodies, delivered.  Over the next few days I will share those other items with you.  There is more there than you can imagine. 


* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *

2013 Bowman Platinum - The Dodger Inserts

Here are various Dodger inserts, relic and autographed cards available in packs of Bowman Platinum.  Unfortunately, autographed cards of Puig and Ryu are not seeded within packs.  A redemption card is in its place.  See the Dodger cards I've been able to track down below.  Go here to see other 2013 Bowman Platinum Dodgers I've shared so far.

Autographed Prospects

#BPAP-MM Matt Magill

Blue Sapphire Refractor “Best Bowman Players of All-Time”

#Clayton Kershaw                                    #Duke Snider

Cutting Edge Stars

#CES-CK Clayton Kershaw                    #CES-HR Hanley Ramirez

#CES-MK Matt Kemp

#CES-YP Yasiel Puig

Cutting Edge Stars Relics

#CESR-MK Matt Kemp

There is a Puig Cutting Edge autographed card, but only a redemption card is available in packs.  It is numbered #CESA-YP.

UPDATE:  Below is a pic of the Puig Cutting Edge autographed card, as provided by the Topps tumblr.


Cutting Edge Stars Autographs

#CESA-HR Hanley Ramirez

Top Prospects

#TP-CS Corey Seager                            #TP-JP Joc Pederson


#TP-YP Yasiel Puig

* Please follow on twitter @ernestreyes *
* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *