Blog Kiosk: 8/9/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This is why you know he's the greatest. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I didn't have much of anything tonight. It was pretty much smoke and mirrors," said Kershaw. "That's a good team. I was getting ahead of a few guys, but a lot of hits with two strikes. Didn't have those put-away pitches tonight. This was definitely not one of my most memorable performances, that's for sure."

Even with him being less than his best Kershaw was still able to hold a playoff contending club to only two runs in six innings. Heck, this was only the second start of his career where he was only able to strike out one batter.

Unfortunately, we ended up on the wrong side of the win column last night, 3-2. Photo above via Christine Kroeckel/MLB.com at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1975 Davey Lopes stole his 32nd consecutive base without being caught, breaking Max Carey's 1922 record. He would steal six more bases before getting called out. His record would eventually be broken by Cardinal's speedster Vince Coleman in 1989.  In 1976 Pirates hurler John Candelaria no-hit the Dodgers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. In 1979 longtime Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley died of congestive heart failure at the age of 75.
• Happy Birthday, John Grim, Leo Callahan, Johnny Mitchell, Tom Sunkel, Chuck Essegian, Claude Osteen, Matt Young & Drew Butera!

2018 Panini Immaculate Collection - All the Dodgers Cards

Here is look at all of the Dodger cards found in packs of Panini's 2018 Immaculate Baseball card brand. Go here to check out a complete checklist. Please keep in mind that the numbering indicated below is accurate for the base cards, but is entirely wrong for all of the inserts. For whatever reason Panini does not provide completely accurate checklist, and I don't really have the patience to search around finding the right/appropriate prefixes on the cards.

As always, these Panini cards do not enjoy the benefit of a MLB license, so team logos are nowhere to be seen. Heck, they aren't even allowed to use the Dodgers' red numbers on their uniforms -- they have all been photoshopped to blue. How weird is that, eh?

Base Rookie Patch Autographs

#17 Walker Buehler            #18 Alex Verdugo

Topps Living Set - #66 - Yasiel Puig

Today we get word that the fourth Dodgers' Topps Living Set card is now available and it features the electric and oftentimes enigmatic outfielder Yasiel Puig. Go here to check it out and order. It'll be available for the next week.

Blog Kiosk: 8/8/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers are back in first place in the West -- up half a game over the DBacks -- after defeating Oakland last night, 4-2. The best part, though, was their use of the "safety-squeeze" that scored the Dodgers second run of the game in the 2nd inning. It's like, all of the sudden, old-tyme Baseball is trying to valiantly make a comeback. If this is the case -- if we are about to enter a new age of a newfangled version of "small-ball" -- then this Baseball fan can't wait. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Per Dave Roberts: "The safety squeeze by Barnes was big."

It sure was.

Unfortunately, a second attempt by Barnes in the 6th inning resulted in an out at home. Nevertheless, it was exciting, and I'd love to see teams experiment with different strategies.

Photo above via Lachlan Cunningham/Getty at Dodger Insider. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1903 Dodger pitcher Henry Schmidt is thrown out of the game when he angrily threw the Baseball out of the park. He did this because a run scored while his infielders were arguing a close call. In 1954 Gil Hodges came up to bat in the eight inning three times. He started the inning by tripling, then hit a double his second time up, and finally flied out to center for the last out of the inning. Amazingly, 12 of the 13 runs scored that inning happened with two outs. In 1963 Frank Howard and Bill "Moose" Skowron of the Dodgers become only the second duo in baseball history to hit back-to-back pinch-hit home runs. In 2000 Dodger Stadium got a dose of homophobia. After being seen kissing, a female couple is removed from the stadium and told to never come back due to "lewd behavior". The Dodgers quickly realized what century they were in and profusely apologized -- contributing tickets to various LGBT groups and providing sensitivity training to its employees.
• Happy Birthday, Alanna Rizzo, Clise Dudley, Tot Pressnell & Frank Howard!

2018 Bowman Chrome National Convention - The Dodgers Promos

Now that the National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) is over with I figured now was a good time to share pics of some of the Dodgers' promos available at the show. This year there were no Dodger freebies in the VIP bags, but there sure were some Dodgers' found in the wrapper redemption packs. Here's a look at Topps wrapper program at the show. I hope to have up Panini's promos soon, so stay tuned for that.

As you can see, this years packs featured their Bowman Chrome brand, and it includes a unique "National" identifier on the front of each card. On the bottom right is the NSCC logo. Go here for a complete checklist of this set.

Base

#BNR-AV Alex Verdugo          #BNR-CB Cody Bellinger

Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Wow! This is what I call an action photo.

Featured above is an International News press photo from May 23, 1938 featuring a dramatic play at the plate. Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Something to "get up in the air" about -- Ival Goodman, right fielder for Cincinnati, is "Stopped" by the camera as he scored against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Catcher (Babe) Phelps of the Dodgers is waiting expectantly for Ernie Koy's throw. Note the alertness of umpire. The Reds won the game, 6-4.

Check out the eBay auction for the pic here. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1915 rookie Dodgers pitcher Ed Appleton committed a grievous error due to a bit of trickery by Cardinals manager Miller Huggins. In the seventh inning of a tied game Huggins, while coaching at third base, called for the ball from Appleton -- 'Let me see that ball'. Appleton obliged and tossed the ball, only to see Huggins step aside to allow ball to roll on the field. A Cardinal runner then scored a go-ahead run. The Dodgers protested, but time out hadn't been called, so the run counted. In 2003 Eric Gagne tied the single season record for consecutive saves to start the season at 38. It also marked the 46th consecutive regular-season save overall.
• Happy Birthday, Adonis Terry, Tom Drake, Rocky Bridges, José Domínguez& Jose De Leon!