2016 Panini Flawless - The Rest of the Dodgers Cards

Here is a last look at Panini's 2016 Flawless Baseball card set.  Go here to see my previous posts on this brand.  Featured below are some of the relic, autographs and rarities.  Unfortunately, there are numerous cards that have yet to surface.  Once they do I will update this post.

Flawless Cuts

• #9 Jackie Robinson (#/1) (not yet seen)

Flawless Cuts Memorabilia

#9 Jackie Robinson (#/1)

Blog Kiosk: 6/30/2016 - Dodgers Links - Brock Stewart's Start, Kershaw to the DL and More

Dodger pitcher Brock Stewart has had quite a year.  He began the season in Single-A and immediately impressed.  Quickly, he was advanced up the ladder.  First to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, then to Oklahoma City a few weeks back.  Yesterday, his quixotic journey put him on a Major League mound, and from what I understand his whole family was there.  Unfortunately, his day as the Dodgers starting pitcher didn't go as planned.

Stewart got shelled, but the shellacking was short lived.  In fact, if not for a flurry of six hits and a bit of bad luck that drove in five runs in the second inning we would be looking at his start as a rousing success.  As it were, Brock Stewart gave up eight hits, five earned runs and two walks in five innings of work.  He also struck out seven Brewers batters.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“I think once we decided to get him up here we wanted to see how he would handle himself,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s definitely worthy of discussion. I mean, really. Five innings, seven [strikeouts] and I thought he composed himself well. You look at a couple pitches -- it could have been a completely different outing. As I sit here right now, I think [another start] is a high possibility.”

Brock Stewart added:

“I think I’ve grown as a pitcher,” Stewart said. “I haven’t been pitching long but I definitely have come a long way since I started. I wanted to go out there for the sixth, honestly. I wanted to keep putting my team in a position to win. It didn’t happen tonight, but I definitely want to see how far I can go into a game and compete my butt off.”

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1962 Sandy Koufax threw his first career no-hitter.  He defeated the Mets 5-0.  BTW, in the first inning he struck out the first three batters he faced with only nine pitches - an Immaculate Inning.  In 1985 Pedro Guerrero hit his 15th home run in the month of June to tie a Major League record.
• Happy Birthday, Chan Ho Park and Mark Grudzielanek!

Vintage 1938 Newsletter "Brooklyn Dodger Doings" at Brockelman and Luckey Auctions

Here is something you don't see everyday.

Featured is a vintage 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers newsletter called, "Brooklyn Dodger Doings." Starting that season the Dodgers began sending fervent fans throughout the country a newsletter explaining the goings-on with the franchise.  The four-page periodical included biographies, news and rare photographs of the Dodgers.  Shown here is the July 30-31, 1938 issue, #7, and it is currently on auction at Brockelman and Luckey (auction link here).  Click on any pic to embiggen. 

2016 Topps Now - #190 - a Julio Urias Card

This marks his second 2016 Topps Now card of the season for Julio Urias.  In late May Topps issued a card to commemorate his Major League debut (see it here), and it sold a whopping 2,992 copies.  This time they celebrate his first Major League victory and hit.  I wonder if this card will sell as many copies as the first one.  Go here to check it and to order.

BTW, his win last night was on his seventh try as a starter and he happens to wear #7 on his uniform.  Additionally, his single to drive in the fifth run of the evening for the Dodgers was the first hit by a teenage pitcher since Dwight Gooden in 1984.

UPDATE:  The print run for this card is 872 copies.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Pedro Guerrero on Sunday

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Pedro Guerrero just turned 60 years old, so why not come over and visit with him this coming Sunday, July 3, 2016 at Ultimate Pastime in Ontario for an autograph.  He'll be signing for fans from 1:00 PM - 2:00PM.  Go here for information.

Ultimate Pastime
1614 S. Carlos Ave., Ste. K, 
Ontario, CA 91761
909-575-8772

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UPDATE!

I thought I would also add the event below.  Steve Garvey is hosting three Hall of Fame ballplayers at the Sycuan Casino in Chula Vista during All-Star Game weekend (or just prior).  Go here, here or here for more information.

Sycuan Casino – Live & Up Close
5485 Casino Way
El Cajon, CA 92019

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Blog Kiosk: 6/29/2016 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, Pederson and Julio Urias

Wouldn't you know it.  On his seventh try as a starter, while wearing his favorite number seven on his uniform, Julio Urias earned his first Major League victory.  Via Doug Padilla at ESPN:

“It’s beautiful, incredible; it’s one of the best days of my life,” Urias said through an interpreter. “What more can I say?”

Not only that, he recorded his first Major League hit that happened to score Joc Pederson for the fifth run of the game.  As for what he did on the mound, I think it's best to characterize it as being effectively wild.  In six innings he gave up two hits, two earned runs, six strike outs, picked off one and walked a whopping six batters.

“You know what, he made pitches when he needed to,” Roberts said. “That’s one of the things with Julio is that as he continues to make major league starts and continues to try to be efficient; the walks tonight are something he needs to get better at, but when he needed to make pitches and throw strikes, he did that. The fastball had life, the breaking ball; he threw some really good changeups tonight.”

As relieved as he was afterward to be in possession of not one game ball for the victory but also a second one for his first career hit, Urias also knows he was fortunate.

“I struggled with some pitches, and obviously the walks were too many for any starter, but the good thing was that we could get the win and we could get the results we needed,” Urias said.

Watch Julio Urias speak about his evening with Alanna Rizzo here.

Pic above via SportsNet LA on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History: In 1990 Fernando Valenzuela no-hit the Cardinals, 6-0, at Dodger Stadium.  With 119 pitches he struck out seven and walked three.  Also, on this same night, former Dodgers starter Dave Stewart threw a no-hitter against the Blue Jays; thereby marking the first time in modern Baseball history that two no-hitters were thrown on the same day.  Via Tommy Lasorda, at the time: 

"And it couldn't have happened to a tougher, more competitive guy," Lasorda said. "You look at Fernando and he has done everything in his career except a no-hitter. And now . . . this."

In 1995 Hideo Nomo struck out thirteen Rockies to give him a then team record of 50 strike outs in four consecutive starts.  In 1996 Mike Piazza hit three home runs against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.  He is the fifth Dodger to hit three homers in a game.

• Happy Birthday, Pedro Guerrero, Rick Honeycutt and Wilbert "Robbie" Robinson!