Topps Living Set - #162 - Enrique "Kiké" Hernández

The first 2019 Topps Living Set card and ninth overall Dodger available for sale is super-utilityman Enrique "Kiké" Hernández. Go here to check it out and order.

I'm surprised that Kiké gets the honor of being the first of the year. I had figured they'd give the honor to a Hall of Famer like Koufax, or a ballplayer likely playing his last season in Dodger Blue -- like Rich Hill or Hyun-Jin Ryu. Nevertheless, I'll consider his selection to be a sign of good luck. Kiké's been on fire this spring, and I think we all hope that his hot hitting will extend into the regular season.

Blog Kiosk: 3/19/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Above is a spring pic I ran across featuring a bunch of Dodgers' in front of the Bear Mountain Inn in New York. As you know, during the wartime 40's the club spent their spring in upstate New York. Unfortunately, I do not know when the photo was taken and the only person I recognize is Leo Durocher -- he's the fellow in the middle wearing the white sweater and unbuttoned coat.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1998 the major league baseball owners approved the sale of the Dodgers to Rupert Murdoch's Fox Group. In 2018 Justin Turner suffered a major setback during spring training when he suffered a small non-displaced fracture of his left wrist after being hit by a pitch during Cactus League play by Oakland hurler Kendall Graveman. He would not require surgery.
• Happy Birthday, Ed McKeever, Roy Evans, Paul Powell, Jeff Hamilton, David Ross & Clayton Kershaw!

2019 Topps Opening Day - Dodger Insert Cards

Below is a look at most of the Dodger inserts found in packs of 2019 Opening Day. Go here to check out the base cards.

As you'll notice, several of the insert sets are basically photo variation cards that use the same base card design but puts in a unique photo. The one twist is that these cards are not short-printed. My favorite of which is they Clayton Kershaw 'Rally Time' card. As you'll see further down, that card not only featured Kershaw, but also includes Manny Machado, Matt Kemp and Chase Utley.

BTW, there are two Max Muncy autographed inserts available, but I have yet to see either.

Opening Day Relics

#ODR-CK Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 3/18/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Happy belated St. Patrick's Day!

Photo above of Hyun-Jin Ryu via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1958 famed clown Emmett Kelly, signed by the Dodgers to play the teams mascot in Brooklyn, announced that his contract had not been renewed to join the team in LA. The veteran circus performer believes the size of the Coliseum, the club's new home on the West Coast, is just "too big for one clown".
• Happy Birthday, Oscar Walker, Johnny Cooney, Gerónimo Berroa & Scott Podsednik!

2019 Topps Opening Day - The Dodger Base Cards

Topps answer to an entry-level card brand has now hit stores. It is their 2019 Opening Day set, and as you may know it uses the exact same design as their flagship brand released a couple of weeks ago. To distinguish itself from that set they add an Opening Day logo on all the cards. Furthermore, this brand is far cheaper than the flagship set. You can find a hobby box of Opening Day (with 36 packs) for $20-$25; whereas, a box of hobby Series 1 cards (with only 24 packs) will run you about $50-$60. Go here for a complete checklist.

Five Dodgers' can be found in the base set of 200 cards -- three of whom can be found in the Series 1 flagship set with the exact same photos (Seager, Jansen & Kershaw). Max Muncy and Matt Kemp are the other two Dodgers in this set, so we get an early peek at what their card will look like. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last time we see a Matt Kemp card as a Dodger on this flagship design.

BTW, Muncy also has a photo variation available and it happens to feature a pic from a recent walk-off homer. Check it out at the very bottom of this post.

Base

#5 Corey Seager                #21 Kenley Jansen

Blog Kiosk: 3/15/19 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Yasiel Puig faced the Dodgers and Hyun-Jin Ryu for the first time yesterday afternoon. In his first at-bat he singled to right off Ryu. He then grounded out his next two at-bats.

Photo above via David Vassegh on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945 the Dodgers opened their spring camp at Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York due to wartime travel restrictions. There were real worries that German U-boats would attack the eastern coast of America During WWII. This is the third straight year the Dodgers would practice here. In 1975 the Dodgers signed 37-year old former Giants and future Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal to a free agent contract. He would retire from the game a little over a month later on April 17th. 
• Happy Birthday, Doc Casey, Ralph Miller, Rosy Ryan, Lou Fette, Dick Scott, Mickey Hatcher & Trayce Thompson!