Original Topps Artwork of Duke Snider's 1959 Thrilling Catch Card at REA

Many Dodger collectors know the above card well.  It is a 1959 Topps #468 card of Duke Snider making a leaping catch in centerfield.  It is titled, "Snider's Play Brings LA Victory," and it features a three-panel drawing of the Duke of Flatbush.

I don't believe the card represents a specific play or game.  But I do know that there is an original painting of it, and it is available for sale in REA's current Fall auction.  Check it out here.

It measures 4.75" x 3" and is the original flexichrome artwork with standard production-related remnants on its blank reverse.

Over the next few day's I'll share more Dodger related items available from REA.

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Puig Benched, Ethier In

This afternoon's most shocking news is that Yasiel Puig has been benched for this afternoon's Game 4 against the Cardinals.  In his place will be Andre Ethier in centerfield.  Below is the announced lineup for the Dodgers.

Gordon 2B
Crawford LF
Gonzalez 1B
Kemp RF
Ramirez SS
Ethier CF
Uribe 3B
Ellis C
Kershaw P

Here is what Mattingly had to say, via a tweet from Ken Gurnick:

Mattingly said Puig is healthy. "This is our best chance to win today," he said of lineup change.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) October 7, 2014

Admittedly, Puig has struggled mightily at the plate, but this move seems a bit extreme to me.  I always figure that you go down with the ship you got.  On the other hand, maybe a change of pace might do the Dodgers some good.  Should we expect to see Justin Turner inserted into the game if the Dodgers fall behind early?  We could really use his wondrous bat.

BTW, if you're wondering what Ethier has done against Cardinal's starter Shelby Miller in the past, he has two hits in six at-bats; including a three-run home run.  He hit that home run earlier this season in a late-June game at Dodger Stadium.  Watch it below:

Video Link:

Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.

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Stay Classy, St. Louis!

Just to fan those flames further, here's a more politically slanted story by Salon writer Joanna Rothkopf entitled, "St. Louis Cardinals fans yell racist slurs at Ferguson protesters in shocking new video."

On Monday night, mostly white St. Louis Cardinals fans clashed with a group of mostly black protesters peacefully demanding justice for slain teenager Michael Brown. The Cardinals fans were super racist and horrible.

At one point, an older white man starts yelling at the protesters, shouting, “That’s right! If they’d be working, we wouldn’t have this problem!” Then, the Cardinals fans begin chanting “Let’s go Cardinals!” which morphs into “Let’s go Darren!” referring to Darren Wilson, the police officer who fatally shot Brown.

Later on in the video, a woman shouts, “We’re the ones who gave all y’all the freedoms that you have!” which is a tidy way of identifying with slavers and Abraham Lincoln at the same time, covered in a thick layer of modern racism.

No doubt these folks represent the best fans in Baseball.

The Salon story has a video, so go here to check that out.  Deadspin (no surprise, really) also has the story and provides a point-by-point rundown of some key details from the video.  Check that out here.  Below are a few items they point out:

• At 9:05 one of the Cardinals fans starts telling one of the protesters that if he ever "saw him in the street" he would "look at the ground." They argue for a bit about who would and would not whip whose ass.
• At about 10:25 a small blonde lady starts yelling at the protesters: "We're the ones who gave all y'all the freedoms that you have!"
• At 16:43, a female Cardinals fan begins chanting "Africa! Africa! Africa!" at the protesters.

Yeah, awesome!

Pic at the very top via Robert Cohen of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on twitter.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/7/2014 - Dodger Links - Time to Sink or Swim

It was a good game - It just didn't give us the results we wanted.

Hyun-Jin Ryu was great in his six innings of play.  He scattered five hits and made only one mistake.  Unfortunately, that mistake resulted in a third inning home run by newly minted Dodger killer Matt Carpenter.  Nevertheless, he kept us in it and gave us an opportunity to win.  Photo above of Ryu via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to see more pic from him of last nights game.

Like in life, though, it takes two to tango.  The Dodgers offense took a nap against the Cardinals last night.  They strung together seven hits, but could only muster a single run.  Furthermore, they left five runners in scoring position in five separate innings. 

Or, it takes at least three to do a conga line dance.  The Dodger relief staff disappointed again, and if not for some remarkable lucky plays (like the one in the gif below) it would have been much worse.  Scott Elbert, in his second postseason appearance this year, struggled in St. Louis.  He had struck out two in his brief appearance in Game 1, but gave up a two-run home run to Kolten Wong that proved to be the game winner.  Oy Vie!

(gif via Dodgers on tumblr)

The Dodgers lost a tough one at 3-1, but have an opportunity to right the ship this afternoon.  Game 4 starts at 2:07 PM PST and I have a feeling much of Los Angeles will be on pins and needles most of the afternoon.  I know I will be.

BTW, I'm sure you're hearing plenty of complaints about the inconsistent strike zone by the home plate umpire Dale Scott.  And believe me, I hear ya.  I ain't that happy about it either... But, ya know what.  There's no use crying over spilt milk.  It's time to put our big boy pants on.

Now, below are some links to check out.

• Check out Don Mattingly's postgame interview here.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Kemp irked by strike zone in Dodgers' Game 3 loss."

"Terrible strike zone," Kemp said, knowing he likely will hear from the Commissioner's Office. "Never seen anything like it. It's disappointing. You've got guys battling, two good teams going at it and it's supposed to be about the teams, not about the umpire. He took the bats out of our hands."

• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Clayton Kershaw to start Game 4, Dan Haren part of nine-man bullpen in Game 3."
• Steve Sax spoke with Kevin Wheeler on 101ESPN in St. Louis to talk about the Dodger/Cardinals series.  Go here to hear it.
• What this guy says!  Via Gustavo Arellano at OC Weekly, "VIDEO: ¡Ask a Mexican! On Whether Saying "Los Doyers" is Racist!" 
• Here's the best tweet of last night, via former Dodger Pedro Guerrero.

I would break every bone in my body for the cardinals.  But I would die for the dodgers. @dodgers
— PedroGuerrero (@PedroGuerreroLA) October 7, 2014

• Panini release some more preview pics of their upcoming 2014 Hall of Fame 75th Anniversary Baseball set.  Go here to check those out.  The set officially comes out on tomorrow.  Below is a Don Sutton autographed card and a card of Brooklyn Dodger Burleigh Grimes.

• The LA Kings received their Stanley Cup rings last night in a private ceremony, and they are glorious.  Check out a tweet by Kings winger Trevor Lewis with it on.  Wow!  The LA Kings website shares more photos here.

pic.twitter.com/9Q8figMoWN
— trevor lewis (@trevorlewis22) October 7, 2014

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2014 Topps Stadium Club - The Dodger Insert and Autograph Cards

Here is a final look at 2014 Topps Stadium Club Baseball.  Check out all of the Dodger Insert and Autograph cards below.

Beam Team

#BT-3 Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 10/6/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends

So sharp!

The Dodgers boarded their bus, got on a plane and landed in St. Louis yesterday, and Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014 of the Dodgers has photos to prove.  Go here to check them out.

As you might expect, it was a family affair.  Wives and kids came along to accompany the 'Boys in Blue'.  Then, later in the afternoon the Dodger had their first workout at Busch Stadium.

Tonight's Game 3 of the series starts at 6:07 PM and pits Hyun-Jin Ryu against former Angels starter John Lackey.  I expect this will be the pivotal game of the series.

Below are some links to check out:

• Here are a bunch of Game 2 postgame interviews:  Don Mattingly; Zack Greinke; and Matt Kemp.  Here are some intereviews during yesterday's workout in St. Louis: Hyun-Jin Ryu and Don Mattingly.
• Funny!  Sarah at We're born again... does, "A frame-by-frame analysis of Hyun-Jin Ryu’s new ramen commercial."
• Via Dan Weigel at Beyond the Boscore, "Clayton Kershaw and the worst postseason pitching performances of all time."
• Via Barry M. Bloom at MLB.com, "Dodgers banking on healthy Ryu for Game 3."

"If it wasn't Hyun-Jin, I would probably be a lot more nervous," Mattingly said before Saturday night's Game 2 at Dodger Stadium. "But he seems to be able to not throw a whole lot and be pretty sharp. I watched him throw his 'pens and stuff and it's like he doesn't really miss the glove that much. And he could be out 20, 21 days, that's usually the length before he pitches again, but in the middle he's pitching or throwing and he just seems sharp. He's got such a simple motion and delivery that it seems like he's playing pitch and catch."

• Via Michael Lananna at MLB.com, "Ellis a leader for Dodgers in clubhouse, at the plate."

"It's kind of the story of the last two years. We got written off last year. Some really smart sportswriters wrote us off early this year, but we were able to bounce back, and it's been a long climb for us to get back to this spot, but we know with the odds stacked against us, we're able to come through."

• Via a MLB Network press release: "MLB Network Sets Audience Records for Dodgers' NLDS Game Two Win Over Cardinals.

MLB Network’s exclusive coverage of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Game 2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals last night set records as the most-watched and highest-rated program in the network’s history. MLB Network’s game telecast, which began at 9:30 p.m. ET, drew 1.8 million viewers and a 1.7 coverage rating, marking increases of 38% and 31% over the previous highs for its telecast of the 2012 ALDS Game Two between the Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics. Last night’s game viewership peaked with 2.2 million viewers from 12:45-1:00 a.m. ET. 

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers hoping Puig can break out against Cardinals."

"A day off like today is the time we all talk to Yasiel, tell him to take a step back, think about what has happened, that they're doing this to get to you," Mattingly said.

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