Blog Kiosk: 9/23/2015 - Dodger Links - RIP, Yogi Berra

RIP, Yogi Berra.

He was an incredible opponent and an even better person.  Roundly beloved by just about everyone, Yogi Berra will be sorely missed.  For sure, his "Yogism's" will live on forever in folklore - told by one generation to another for the next thousand years or more.

In honor of him I dug up the above press photo from the 1951 All-Star Game.  It originally comes from eBay.  As you can see, Yogi is sliding home as the ball sails past the bewildered Dodger legend Roy Campanella.

You should also check out Mark Langill's story at Dodger Insider about the famous steal of home by Jackie Robinson on Berra during the 1955 World Series, here.  Below are more links to check out:

• Dodger writer Howard Cole shares his fantastic story.  Via Howard Cole at CNN iReport, "A 25-year Transplant Survivor Shares His Story, and His Gratitude for the Gift of Life."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers hopeful for return to full health." 

"I definitely would like to play with a full boat, a full complement of players healthy with some type of rhythm and swinging the bat well," (Mattingly) said. "Unfortunately, we've got a few guys banged up, and we're not a lot different than a lot of other teams. We're heading toward 180, 190 games including Spring Training. That's a lot of baseball, and everybody is a little banged up right now."

• This is good news.  Via Vincent Samperio at Dodgers Nation, "Justin Turner Calls MRI Results The ‘Best Case’

After sitting out two games, the 30-year-old underwent an MRI and discussed the results. The MRI showed tendinitis and a bone bruise in his knee. Based on that, Turner believes he will be back in the starting lineup in a couple days. He was happy with what the examination showed. “This was pretty much the best case we could’ve had,” he said. “But, there’s not really a whole lot medicine-wise to speed it up. So, it’s kind of a good-case, bad-case thing.” 

• I would prefer they not use him in Colorado - if it can be helped.  After all, I see no reason to risk anything now.  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen expects to be available to pitch at Coors Field."

Jansen's history of health scares in Colorado could be a problem considering he is far and away their most effective reliever and the Dodgers are hoping to clinch the NL West title there this weekend to make next week's four-game series in San Francisco an afterthought. Jansen said he will be ready if called upon at Coors.

"I'm good to go," Jansen said. "It's not an issue for me there any more."

• ICYMI:  The Dodgers have added Adam Liberatore to the active roster.  Per a Dodger press release:

Liberatore has gone 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 35 games with the Dodgers this year, last appearing on July 20 at Atlanta. After making his big league debut on April 17, Liberatore opened his career with nine consecutive scoreless appearances and, overall, he has limited opposing hitters to a .222 batting average with 26 strikeouts in 26.0 innings in the Majors this year. He did not allow a run in his last five appearances with Oklahoma City, last pitching in a postseason game against Round Rock on Sept. 11, and went 0-1 with three saves and a 3.74 ERA in 19 Triple-A games.

• I thought I would pass this link on.  For a bunch of great memorabilia photographs from the recent National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago go to the Sports Antique website, here.  There are hundred of great pics to go through.
• Here is something fun.  Check out a custom made Lego build of Dodger Stadium available for sale at Stadium Brick.com, here.  It consist of over 2,500 bricks.  

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Chatting with AGon on the Tweet Seat #AGonChat

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month Adrian Gonzalez sat behind the computer this afternoon to talk directly with fans on twitter. As you can imagine, he received hundreds of questions, but only had enough time to answer a few.  Check some of my favorite exchanges below.

BTW, the Dodgers have put together a "Tweet Seat" session with either a player or someone from behind the scenes numerous times over the past three years.  Go here to check out my past post about them.  Previous guest include Farhan Zaidi, Vin Scully and Corey Seager.

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Adrian Gonzalez started promptly by letting us know what his backup plan was had a career in Baseball not work out.   

My plan during high school was to attend college to be a mechanical engineer. https://t.co/J2Y8PrjVro

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 22, 2015

Have you ever wondered what's going through his head before a game.  His tweet below provides a small glimpse.

Topps First Pitch Cards of Jessica Alba and Elle Fanning

One of my favorite inserts from this season is Topps "First Pitch" set, so imagine my delight when some new cards came to light.  Check out the Jessica Alba and Elle Fanning cards below.

I ran into these cards while perusing eBay and I'm now scratching my head wondering where the heck they came from.  I now for a fact they have yet to be included into Topps flagship sets, but based on their existence it seems likely they'll be in the upcoming "Update" set coming out next month.

For the moment, the Alba and Fanning cards are available only as 5"x7" jumbo cards and are limited in number, so they must have come directly from Topps online.  Over the past year Topps has been selling limited edition 5x7 cards to collectors.  Oftentimes, they are larger size versions of cards already found in packs, but sometimes they offer entirely new and unique sets.

With regards to the "First Pitch" set they recreated the 25 card set found in Topps Series 1 & 2 in 5x7 form, and have them for sale right now (check them out here).  As you know, first pitches featured at Dodger Stadium in Series 1 & 2 include Jeff Bridges, Jermaine Jones, Suzy, Kelsey Grammer and Melissa McCarthy, but no Alba or Fanning.  So, what gives?

Are these cards a part of that set Topps is currently selling, or was there a second set of cards Topps created that is no longer listed on their website?  Since the checklist provided at Topps doesn't include either of these actors I hesitate to assume they are a part of that set.  If you happen to know where these come from please let me know.

In the meantime, take a gander at these ladies throwing the ball.

2015 Topps Heritage Minor League - All the Dodgers Cards

Here is another new Baseball card set from Topps.  It is a part of their Heritage brand and focuses on minor league prospects.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Called Topps Heritage Minor League it features the best and brightest young stars in the game.  Both Julio Urias and Corey Seager are included.  Unfortunately, autographed cards of either of them are not available.  As you can see, its design is based on the vintage 1966 Topps Baseball set.  Check out all of the Dodger cards available in packs below.

Of note is the Corey Seager Base Short Print card.  That Oklahoma City Dodgers uniform he's wearing is sharp looking.

Base Set

#1 Julio Urias                                       #9 Jose De Leon

Blog Kiosk: 9/22/2015 - Dodger Links - Anderson, Jansen and Jaime Jarrin

Brett Anderson got knocked around pretty good last night.  He went 4.2 innings, giving up ten hits, five runs and two round-trippers.  Anderson struck out only one batter.  It was not his best game and an worrisome loss as we head towards the end of the season.  Hopefully, this is just a minor speed bump.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"My stuff was fine," he said, rejecting a suggestion that he is fatiguing. "They were swinging early in the count and just hit me. Only a handful of times I feel I just got beat and today was one of those times. They had a good game plan, like they were angry at the baseball or something, hitting rockets. It was just a bad outing. I only have a couple more and I expect to pitch better."

He also wants to pitch regularly. While management has been trying to give him extra days of rest, especially after he suffered a calf cramp three starts ago, Anderson feels whatever benefit is negated by messing with routine.

"I would like to be on normal rest to get back in the rhythm," Anderson said. "It's tough, trying to get me extra rest. I'm in uncharted territory with starts and stuff; still, I'd like to get in a normal routine. That's when I was pitching the best, every four or five days and knowing what I'm doing day in and day out."

Photo of Anderson above via @SportsNet LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest shares his "2015 Dodgers All-Prospect Team."
• ICYMI: Jaime Jarrin has signed a three-year deal to remain the voice of the Dodgers in Spanish.  He is currently 79-years old and in his 57th year with the franchise.  Per a Dodger press release:
  

  “I’ve been so blessed,” said Jarrín of his tenure with the Dodgers and his broadcasting career.  “It has been such a special time sharing the broadcasts with our fans and having my son, Jorge, join me in the booth.  I started thinking about the number 60 in my mind this season.  I sat down with the Dodgers and agreed on three more years to get to my 60th year and then we’ll see about the future at that time.  I’m still having a great time and I love what I am doing.  And the Dodgers and our fans have been very supportive.”

• Kenley Jansen has been fantastic.  Via Owen Watson at Just a Bit Outside, "When one pitch is all you need."

And so we have Jansen. We know he’s great. He’s been great for a few years now; with his almost sole use of a hard cutter, it’s easy and fun to compare him to a version of Mariano Rivera. With that lofty comparison made, it might not be surprising that he’s putting together a very unique, special season.

Consider this fact: Jansen went the first month and a half of his season without walking a batter. He was injured for April, but after he debuted in mid-May, he didn’t issue a walk until June 28th. During that time, he struck out 26 batters in 15.2 innings. That’s a mind-boggling mix of dominance and control, and it’s formed the basis of what Jansen has become in 2015.

• I totally missed this.  Via Jason Foster at the Sporting News, "Dodgers owner Magic Johnson doesn't know what time his team plays."
• Even though this is the Pittsburgh Pirates enjoying themselves at Dodger Stadium I though I should pass it along.  Via Extra Mustard on Sports Illustrated, "Pirates dressed up like superheroes after beating Dodgers."  There are some fun pictures to enjoy.

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Look at the Earliest Clayton Kershaw Cards - A Rookie Card Checklist

I had so much fun putting together a listing of all the rookie Corey Seager cards earlier this month, I decided I should do the same for our homegrown staff ace Clayton Kershaw.  I've focused on cardboard from the years 2005 to 2006 - his primary rookie collecting years. 

Like Seager, Kershaw has an officially licensed Baseball card while he was still in high school.  He was a member of the Team USA Junior National team, so Upper Deck included him in a box set they release in 2005.  They were initially sold as a complete 25-card set and included a random autograph card, a game-used autograph jersey relic card, a dual signed autograph card and an insert card (a "Vision of the Future" acetate card).

Check out all of the available Kershaw cards in this set below.  BTW, there are several different variations available for each of the autographed cards based on the color of the ink he used to sign them.  They come in black, blue and red.  Also, I seem to remember there being green ink cards, but I have yet to find a good checklist indicating that.

UPDATE:  I thought I would add that his teammates on this team who also made it to the Majors include Brett Anderson, Greg Peavey, Shawn Tolleson and Bellin Betances.

2005 Upper Deck USA Junior National Team Box Set

Base Card #86 Clayton Kershaw