Blog Kiosk: 4/11/2016 - Dodgers Links - Stripling, Robinson and Vin Scully Avenue

Just a friendly reminder, the Vin Scully Avenue dedication ceremony is today.  It all begins at 11:15 AM at the main entrance to Dodger Stadium.  Go here for information.  Pic above via a screengrab from a tweet by KTLA reporter Eric Spillman.  As you can see, they have already started changing the signs.

Below are more links to check out:

• Via Doug Padilla at ESPN, "Stripling family respects Dave Roberts' decision."

"One of the cool things that I experienced this morning was Ross' dad was down in the lobby today and just sought me out," Roberts said "He came up to me and, really kind of emotional, just thanked me for him and his wife for looking out for his son."

When you meet Ross Stripling you see a kid with a good head on his shoulders. When you hear a story like this it becomes clear where it came from.

Blog Kiosk: 4/9/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Ken Burns and Ross Stripling

It's the Brady Bunch!

Featured above is most of the cast of the classic television sticom at Dodger Stadium for Hollywood Stars Night in 1973.  Originally taken by Globe Photos, it is currently on auction at eBay through Hyee.

Below are more links to check out:

• There isn't much more that I can say that hasn't already been said about last night's game.  Suffice to say, sometimes the right decision doesn't lead to a win.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"He just said it was a tough decision, but it's your first outing and you've got the whole season ahead, your whole career," Stripling said. "I said, 'No problem, it's the right call.' I keep saying the right thing to do."

Stripling is two years removed from Tommy John surgery and Roberts said the right-hander was on a short leash after his velocity dipped in the seventh inning. Stripling said he understood.

Vin Scully Avenue Public Dedication on Monday

This is the place to be on Monday.

The Vin Scully Avenue dedication ceremony is scheduled for this coming Monday, April 11th at Dodger Stadium.  Festivities begin at 11:15 AM (rain or shine) and it is open to the public.  It will happen at the Gate A entrance to Dodger Stadium -- at the corner of Stadium Way and Vin Scully Avenue (formerly Elysian Park Avenue).

Fans are encouraged to attend.  You may park in Lots 13 & 14 (located to the east of the main entrance on Stadium Way (the lots outside of the stadium).

Vin Scully, Stan Kasten, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and First District Councilman Gil Cedillo will be in attendance. 

BTW, Street signage will begin to go up at 6:30 AM, with the last sign going up at the 11:15 AM ceremony.

Photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.

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2016 Topps Gypsy Queen - The Dodgers Variation Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards, here are all the Dodgers variations that are available.  I've also included pics and a checklist of the framed and mini clear parallels that are available. 

Photo Base Variations

#7 Corey Seager 

Normal Base                                         Photo Variation

Jackie Robinson Baseball Card/Memorabilia Checklist - Part I - 1940's

With the 2016 Baseball season now in full steam and Jackie Robinson Day coming just around the corner, I thought I would take a moment to put together another Dodgers player collectibles checklist.  This time I decided to focus my attention of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson.

This checklist is broken up into three different parts, and I include everything from cards, photos, postcards and other miscellaneous oddball items.  I also include some of the more well known team photos/cards showing Jackie Robinson.  Part I (as seen below) focuses on cards from the 1940's.  Part II (Link Here) looks at items from the 1950's and an handful of newer products I thought worthy of mentioning. Part III (Link Here) includes a bunch of oddball Jackie Robinson memorabilia.  I think it's fair to say that this list will be far from complete, so let me know of anything I've missed.  Also, I'd like to acknowledge the assistance from two fantastic websites: Old Cardboard and the Trading Card Database.  They are fantastic resources.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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1946

#NNO - 1946 CHLP/CKAC Parade Sportive

This is clearly the earliest Jackie Robinson card-like collectible available in the hobby.  I say card-like because this is actually little poster printed on thin paper that was given out by a local sports radio show hosted by Paul Stuart called Parade Sportive. CHLP and CKAC are call signs for two different radio stations.  There are two different versions of this measuring about 5 1/4" x 9 1/2" and 7" x 10". The CHLP posters are 5 1/4" x 9 1/2".  The CKAC posters are 7" x 10" and feature an advertisement on the bottom.

CHLP                                                  CKAC

Blog Kiosk: 4/8/2016 - Dodgers Links - LeCure, Jackie Robinson and the Streak is Over

I want these so bad!

Check out these awesome cleats from Adidas.  Apparently, they were given to ballplayers who have endorsement deals with the company, in advance of Jackie Robinson Day.

Via a Tweet from Darren Rovell: "Adidas giving these Jackie Robinson cleats to their players for Jackie Robinson Day."  Per a Rovell story at ESPN:

Two quotes from Robinson are on the cleats' sock liner: "Above anything else, I hate to lose" and "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

You can get more detail on the cleats here.  No word yet on whether they will be made available for sale to the public.  Below are more links to check out:

• BTW, the Dodgers finished one inning short of tying the Major League record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched to start the season - the 1963 Cardinals set it at 32.  At the same time, they did set a Dodgers franchise record at 31 innings.  
• In case you didn't know, the Dodgers not only missed out on a new MLB record, but they lost in spectacular fashion - giving up twelve runs to the Giants.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"It's just baseball," (Alex) Wood said. "They've got a good lineup. They don't strike out a lot. They put a lot of balls in play. They just got the better of me today."