Welcome to the Blue, Tyler White!

The Dodgers made a trade, but it was not for a reliever -- although, he has come out of the pen before. As you likely know by now, the Dodgers picked up first baseman Tyler White from the Houston Astros, and hopefully we didn't trade a future star in return (like Yordan Álvarez). Per a Dodger Press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that they have acquired infielder Tyler White from the Houston Astros in exchange for right-handed pitcher Andre Scrubb.

A Gorgeous Fazzino Painted Baseball of Sandy Koufax

Fantastic!

As you know, there are very few things I love more than Dodger-related artwork. Over the years I've written about and shared numerous pieces that I've found online and in my own collection. Unfortunately, this item I'm featuring is not something you can find on my bookshelf. Instead, you can go to eBay and make a bid (bid link) -- it's likely to be way out of my reach anyway.

An Early Peek at the 2020 Topps Baseball Card Design

Are you ready for 2020?

Featured above is an early look at the 2020 Topps flagship baseball card design, and I'm not sure if I like it. Go here to check it out at Topps website. It once again includes full-bleed photos -- unfortunately, flagship cards with a border appear to be a thing of the past -- and an unusual placement of the players name and position. As you can see, it is sideways -- perpendicular to the placement of the photograph.

This is an odd choice by Topps. Heck, I'm certain this is the first time they've ever done this to the flagship set (please correct me if I'm wrong) (UPDATE: Woops, I forgot about the 1999 Topps set). Only once At no time over the past 60+ years have they ever forced collectors to tweak their neck in order to read the name of the player -- I'm obviously being overly dramatic. Still, it's a little unsettling.

Nevertheless, it's the design we've got, so I'd better learn to love it. BTW, Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining shares his opinion about the design, and I think it's worth a look. Check it out here.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/25/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

No one likes getting beat, but the last two losses to the Angels doesn't have me distressed. They were both great games to watch. Oftentimes games don't turn out the way you'd hoped. But in Baseball, as we all know, it's the ability to persevere and climb above all the failure and disappointment that determines whether you move on towards the playoffs. Last night it was a comedy of errors and bad calls that did us in. Nevertheless, we move on to play another day. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“Dan’s been around a long time, and [umpires] are busting their tails every night to get it right,” said Roberts. “When you see balls off the plate that can flip counts and can change innings and certainly at-bats, yeah, it gets frustrating at times when you’re the hitter. But those calls didn’t cost us the game. 

“The results speak to those guys played better. They scored more than we did, pitched better, hit better, yeah, they played better.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2019. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1956 Brooklyn outfielder Carl Furillo becomes the first Dodger to hit a home run at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City -- a onetime home field for 15 games from 1956 to 1967. Unfortunately, the Dodgers lost this game to Cincinnati, 2-1. In 1978 the Lodi Dodgers, LA's Single-A minor league club, record two triple plays against the Fresno Giants. This is the first time since 1904 that a professional ballclub has recorded two triple plays in one game. In 2006 the Dodgers received starting pitcher Elmer Dessens from the Royals for Odalis Perez and a couple minor leaguers. In 2012 Hanley Ramirez plays his first game as a Dodger, after having beeen traded my the Marlins, and goes 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk, run and RBI (boxscore).
• Happy Birthday, Doc Reisling, Marv Rackley, Larry Sherry, Dave Patterson, Garey Ingram & Guillermo Mota!

2019 Topps Total - Wave 4 - All the Dodger Cards

The fourth wave of the 2019 Topps Total set is now in collector hands, and there are three Dodgers available to chase after. They are reliever Joe Kelly, catcher Russell Martin and Justin Turner. Check them all out below. Go here for a complete checklist.

Overall, a total of 4,387 packs were sold, and this translates into an average print run of about 439 of each card. This is the lowest print run so far. On another note, I believe this is the first Russell Martin Dodger card since his return to the franchise this past winter.

Base - Wave 4

#347 Joe Kelly

Blog Kiosk: 7/24/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

That was a thrilling game... And sure, we didn't come out on top this time, but you gotta admit that there is no better way for a game to end. Some people like their walk-offs -- I'll take a game-ending play at the plate anytime. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“To be honest, it wasn’t really close,” said Bellinger. “Calhoun threw the ball real hard and accurate. I was out by a lot.” 

Hernandez said he knew he hit the ball hard enough that Calhoun might have difficulty fielding it cleanly. 

“I knew he might misplay it, and in a way he did, but the ball got to him so quick, he had a chance to set his feet and make a strong throw,” said Hernandez. “As a defender, you’re expecting the guy to go. Your job is to make a good, low throw. It takes perfect throws for our guys to get thrown out. Sometimes you’ve got to tip your cap to the opposition.”

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2019. Go here to check out more pics from yesterday's game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1931 Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) outfielder Babe Herman hit for the cycle against the the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1939 the Brooklyn Dodgers selected Dixie Walker off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. He would go on to play nine season in Brooklyn -- slashing .311/.386/.441/.827 for the Dodgers. In 1967 Dodgers President Branch Rickey is posthumously inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1993 Mets outfielder Vince Coleman tossed a M-80 firecracker from his car as he was leaving the Dodger Stadium parking area. It is reported that three people are injured; including an 11-year old boy and a two-year old girl. Coleman eventually pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of an explosive device and is sentenced to 200 hours of community service. The incident, along with many others, leads the Mets to announced a month later that he would never play for the team again. 
• Happy Birthday, Tommy McCarthy, Joe Wall, Joe Schultz, Preston Ward, Norihiro Nakamura & Scott Van Slyke!