2017 Topps MLB Stickers - All the Dodgers Stickers

Along with the Heritage Baseball card brand Topps also released their MLB Stickers to the collecting public.  Check out the sticker album featuring Mike Trout above.  Go here for a complete checklist.

There are nine Dodger players available and a Dodger logo team card shared with the Angels.  As always, there are no short prints, variations, inserts, relics or autographs.  This is just an honest product that doesn't try to bait you with any bells or whistles.  What you see is what you get.

#166 Dodgers Team Card           #212 Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 3/8/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

Clayton Kershaw is so good he even dominates during spring training.  So far he has thrown in three games, pitched a total of six innings and has allowed no hits.  Sure, I get that these games don't really count, but you gotta love the results.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"To see him work both sides of the plate with his fastball, that was good to see," said manager Dave Roberts, who noticed that Kershaw pitched out of the stretch to the final batter he faced with nobody on base, just for practice. "Even when he's not right from pitch to pitch, he expects perfection. That's the competitor that is Clayton. We all have expectations, but none higher than himself."

Kershaw adds:

"I feel good physically and feel like the ball is coming out OK, so I think I'm where I need to be," said Kershaw, who walked the first batter he faced on a 3-2 pitch. "Results really don't matter, but I guess it's good to see how hitters react to certain pitches, and if you're not giving up hits, that's a good thing."

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1966 former Dodger player and manager Casey Stengel is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Happy Birthday, Ollie O'Mara, Carl Furillo, Al Gionfriddo, Dick Teed, Marv Breeding, Willard Hunter,  Dick Allen & Juan Encarnacion!
  

Thank You, Bob Miller!

It has been a tough couple of years for LA sports fans.  Not only did we lose Vin Scully to retirement last year, but we are poised to lose longtime LA Kings broadcaster Bob Miller, as well.  As you know, Bob Miller announced last week that he would be retiring from the job he's held since 1973 due to health concerns.

In honor of Bob and his many years as the voice of the Kings I have created a group of fantasy cards of him.  Unfortunately, I do not have any hockey card templates, so all you see here are Baseball card designs. 

2017 Topps Heritage Baseball - The Dodgers Base Variation Cards

Below is a last look at the Dodger cards found in packs of 2017 Tops Heritage.  Featured are all of the known base card variations.  If any more are discovered I will update this post.  Go here to check out a complete checklist of variations.  Go here to see my past post on this set. 

Base Variations

#400 Clayton Kershaw
Base Card                     Action Variation

Blog Kiosk: 3/7/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

Adrian Gonzalez got into his first spring game yesterday and celebrated the occasion by sharing a comic strip featuring himself with Dave Roberts and Justin Turner (see it above).  Batting fourth, Gonzalez grounded out to second base in the first inning and hit a fly-out to left in the fourth.  Per Owen Perkins at MLB.com:

"My swing's fine," Gonzalez said. "I was just trying to get a few at-bats before I head out, and today was a good start. They weren't that great of at-bats, but they were productive, I guess. The fact that everything feels good is all that really matters right now."

Comic graphic above via Adrian Gonzalez on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Doc Scanlan, Dan Griner, Merwin Jacobson, Dick Loftus, Joe Gallagher & Jeff Kent!

2016 Leaf Trinity Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

Why do you do this Leaf?

We are already in the mist of spring training for the upcoming 2017 season, and Leaf (for whatever reason) sees fit to release a brand new Baseball card set that they call 2016 Leaf Trinity.

2016?

Come on, now!

I get that many of the players in the set were drafted by their teams in 2016, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate to call this a 2016 Baseball card set when it actually hits stores the following year. 

Anyway, here are the Dodger cards found in packs of Leaf's newest set called 2016 Leaf Trinity.  Like in years past, this set focuses on some of the top prospects in the game.  It includes three Dodger fast-risers: Alex Verdugo, Gavin Lux and Jordan Sheffield.  Go here to see a complete checklist.

BTW, the signature cards (as seen at the very bottom) include personally written scripts by the players, and it seems likely that each player will have at least three different phrases available.  They appear to be:

• Go Dodgers!
• Can't Wait to Play at Chavez Ravine!
• #xx Draft Pick in 2016 MLB Draft!

I don't currently have pics for all of them, so I will update this post periodically.

Clear Autographs

#BA-AV1 Alex Verdugo                         #BA-GL1 Gavin Lux