Blog Kiosk: 7/6/2018 - Dodgers Links - First Place, Baby!

Woo Hoo! For the first time this season the Dodgers are in first place.

The trepidation that began at the start of the season is now but a distant memory.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 Leo Durocher recorded a "little league" home run that started as an sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning during the All-Star Game played in Cincinnati. Durocher was credited with a bunt single and came around to score on errors by Jimmy Foxx and Joe DiMaggio. In 1979 the Dodgers purchased the contract of pitcher Fernando Valenzuela from Puebla of the Mexican League. In 1980 the Dodgers retired Duke Snider's uniform #4 during that days Old-Timers Day ceremonies at Dodger Stadium. In 2000 Vin Scully is voted the No. 1 sportscaster of the 20th century by members of the American Sportscasters Association. 
• Happy Birthday, Frank Kellert, Willie Randolph & Germán Rivera!

Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Fourth of July!

This scene from The Sandlot is a much watch.

Video Link:

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2018 Topps Now - #409 - 9 XBH in Back-to-Back Games

The Dodgers love Pirate pitching. During a road-trip a month back they collected 28 hits and scored 22 runs during the three-game series in Pittsburgh. Now back home in Los Angeles they continue to rock the Bucs. Over the past two games the Dodgers have punished the Pirates by recording 32 hits and scoring 25 runs. Even more remarkably, the Dodgers accomplished something that they hadn't done since 1929. For the first time in 89 years the Dodgers collected nine extra-base-hits on consecutive games.

2018 Topps Inception - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Here's a look at most of the Dodgers' inserts found in packs of 2018 Topps Inception packs.

Base Rookie and Emerging Stars Autographs

#RES-AV Alex Verdugo        #RES-WB Walker Buehler

2018 Topps Now - #404 - Matt Kemp's Five-Hit Game

The newest Dodgers' 2018 Topps Now card focuses on the man, the myth, the legend, Matt Kemp. He helped spark a Dodgers offense that banged out 21 hits -- five of them Matt's -- and scored 17 runs to defeat Pittsburgh last night. Overall, he recorded three singles, a double and a three-run home run. Per Kaelen Jones at MLB.com:

"Staying in the big part of the field, driving in runs, swinging at strikes, staying off balls -- it was a clinic tonight," Roberts said. "Everyone sort of fed off what he did at the plate. Up and down the lineup, very impressive, but obviously, the centerpiece was Matt." 

Said Kemp of his performance: "Felt good. Take that into tomorrow and we'll try again."

Blog Kiosk: 7/3/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This team astounds.

Per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN:

"As is always the case, when you're winning games, everything is manageable. Everything is a lot better," Friedman said. "When you're not, everything's a lot worse. So right now, we're managing pretty well, just based on the fact that we're playing well. And we're getting contributions from basically the entirety of our roster as we are adding guys back from the [disabled list], which I feel like bodes well for us if we look ahead. But to get to this point has certainly been an interesting path."

We've experienced both heartache and jubilant celebration this season, and we're not even at the All-Star break yet. Fans that were once despondent -- ready to throw in the towel due to a perceived lost season -- are now reaping the rewards that only patience can provide... And what rewards they are.

Last night fans witnessed All-Star bound Matt Kemp go 5-for-5 to drive the Dodgers past the Pirates in a lopsided victory, 17-1. Per Kaelen Jones at MLB.com:

"[Kemp's] been a big part of our lineup in the middle of it," said Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner. "He knows how to drive in runs and that's what you've been seeing the last couple of nights. He's an RBI machine."

Never in my wildest dream did I ever think that Kemp would return to the Kemp-of-old. Photo above of Matt Kemp via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2018 at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1925 Robins (Dodgers) second baseman Milt Stock recorded his fourth consecutive four-hit game -- setting an NL mark. In 1958 the Dodgers, in their 35th home game ever in Los Angeles, reached the one million attendance mark. At Ebbets Field they drew 1,028,258 fans total all season the year prior. In 1974 Dodgers reliever Dr. Mike Marshall appeared in his 13th consecutive game, setting a major league record. The streak also ended on this day when he didn't make an appearance during the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds. In 1991 the Dodgers traded José González for outfielder Mitch Webster. In 1993 Don Drysdale died of a heart attack in Montreal after broadcasting the Dodgers’ game against the Expos. In 2013 Yasiel Puig becomes the first player to be named Player of the Month for the first month he plays in the major leagues in the 55-year history of the award. 
• Happy Birthday, Cliff Curtis, Jack Dalton, Luke Hamlin, Art Fowler, Howie Schultz, Ed Roebuck, Danny Heep, Juan Rivera & Edinson Volquez!