2020 Topps Baseball Flagship, Series 1 -- All the Dodgers Base Cards

If yesterday's trade announcement didn't mark the start of Baseball in the minds of fans, then today's release certainly should.

Today is the official release date of Topps 2020 flagship Baseball card brand, and I've got pics of all of the Dodgers base cards found in the "Series 1" installment of the set. Check them all out below. Go here to see a complete checklist.

As you can see, there are 17 Dodger cards available, and it happens to include cards of three Dodgers who were recently traded -- Alex Verdugo, Kenta Maeda and Joc Pederson. Assuming they don't return to Los Angeles later on in their career, these are likely the last flagship Topps cards we'll see of them.

Also, be sure to check out Kiké Hernández's card below. I think it is easily the best Dodger base card. It features Kiké doing his best "Chorus Line" impression.

Base

#24 Kenley Jansen

#50 Cody Bellinger

Blog Kiosk: 2/5/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I know the above custom fantasy baseball card isn't the "Mookie" you were expecting, but it'll have to do for now.

As you surely know, the Dodgers are getting both Mookie Betts and David Price from the Red Sox, and it won't cost us a bucket full of top prospects to get them. Instead, we traded from a position of strength. We sent over several solid current ballplayers (Verdugo, Maeda, & Pederson) who are fan favorites to get two very dynamic studs while not giving up one youngster who rank on our top-30 prospect list. On top of that, Boston is sending the Dodgers cash... cold hard cash... like millions of it.

Unbelievable.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 the Dodgers announced that on May 16th Dodger Stadium will host a regular season game between Mexico City Diablos Rojos and the Monterrey Sultanes of Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (LMB) summer league. Unfortunately, the game was postponed due to a week-long closure of the Mexican League in April due to a swine flu outbreak. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe they ever rescheduled the game.
• Happy Birthday, Joe Hutcheson, John Gaddy, Cy Buker & Don Hoak!

Mookie!

Holy Moly!

Are you kidding me?

After weeks and months of speculation the Dodgers appear to have pulled off a trade that only a patient architect could achieve. The Dodgers waited and cajoled, negotiated like this was a leverage buyout and then struck when it was right... And now, we arguably have one of the most dynamic ballplayers in the game coming to Los Angeles.

Exact details are not yet available, but we do know this... The Dodgers get both Mookie Betts and David Price from the Red Sox, and it didn't cost any of our top prospects. We get to keep Gavin Lux, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Will Smith, Edwin Rios, Keibert Ruiz, Zach Reks, Kyle Garlick, Kody Hoese, Michael Busch, DJ Peters, Josiah Gray and Jeter Downs. Heck, as it stands right now, the Dodgers did not have to relinquish one player from their top-30 prospects list, via MLB Pipeline. Wow!

Unfortunately, a trade like this does not come without losses... And these losses kinda hurt.

Young outfielder Alex Verdugo will be going to Boston, and this is no surprise. It has been long speculated that any deal involving Betts would, at minimum, require sending Verdugo to the Red Sox. Also gone is sometime starter/sometime reliever Kenta Maeda -- who is now a Twin. Lastly, Joc Pederson is moved to the Angels to make room in the outfield for Betts. All three of these players were well loved by fans, so seeing them in another uniform will take some time getting used to. Nevertheless, this is the trade we've all been waiting for. This is the trade that may ultimately cement the legacy that the Guggenheim ownership has been trying to achieve.

On another note, I am wondering how prescient am I?

A couple of weeks back I ran across the above t-shirt design and knew I had to have it. It features the main protagonist from the Spike Lee classic Do The Right Thing, Mookie, sporting his Jackie Robinson Dodgers jersey while holding a Sal's Pizza box and doing his best "Jumpman" impression. It's a classic looking "t" of a classic film that happens to be very timely. I think I'll be wearing this when I go to my first home game.

Stay tuned. I will certainly have numerous fantasy custom baseball cards to share soon.

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Blog Kiosk: 2/4/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out these Brooklynites celebrating with Carl Erskine in the above UP press photo (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Erskine Does It Again -- Brooklyn, NY: Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine is congratulated by admiring fans, after the trim Indiana righthander hurled the second no-hit game of his career, a brilliant 3-0 win over the New York Giants here May 12th. Erskine's other no-hitter came against the Chicago Cubs on June 19, 1952. Erskine's feat makes him the 17th pitcher in Major League history to have pitched at least two no-hitters, and by coincidence, the Major League's last no-hitter was pitched exactly one year ago on this date by Chicago's Sam Jones in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. 5/12/1956. (boxscore)

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1861 the Brooklyn Atlantics defeat the Charter Oak Club, 36 - 27, playing Baseball while wearing skates on a frozen Litchfield Pond in South Brooklyn. In 1956 Commissioner Ford Frick introduces the Cy Young Memorial Award in memory of the Hall of Fame pitcher who died the year before. As you know, Dodger hurler Don Newcombe would be the first to win the award later in the season. In 1985 the Dodgers traded 6' 5" righty Pat Zachery to the Phillies for aging slugger Al Oliver. 
• Happy Birthday, Lefty Davis, Eddie Ainsmith, Possum Whitted, Pat Perry & Steve Schmoll!

Now You Can Own Tommy Lasorda's Personal Golf Cart

eBay is like a giant flea market -- filled with everything you can imagine. You can get vintage clothes from the 60's and 70's - when pastel colors and wavy designs reigned supreme - to that missing part that will finally complete the restoration of your '68 Impala. You can also find one-of-kind items that make you wish you had a giant bankroll to indulge your fantasies. The item featured here is one of those rare and scarce goodies. Check out Tommy's ride.

Blog Kiosk: 1/31/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

On Wednesday evening the LA Kings held a special ceremony to honor Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, along with the seven other folks who passed away, prior to start of their home game against the Tampa Bay Lightening. As you can see above, Staples Center decided to black-out all of the Lakers banners and retired numbers, except for the two Kobe Bryant retired numbers. I thought it was a very classy move by the stadium.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 the Dodgers signed future Hall of Famer Paul Waner to a free agent contract. In 1972 former Brooklyn Dodger players Rube Marquard (known mostly as a Giant) and Dave Bancroft (also mostly a Giant) were selected by an Hall of Fame Special Veterans Committee for enshrinement. In 2001 an article was published in the WSJ related to the most infamous pennant race in National League history. Written by Joshua Prager, he details how the Giants team stole catchers' signs during the 1951 pennant race to help them overcome a Dodgers 13.5 game lead in the National League. You can read the original article here. In 2003 the Dodgers signed free agent pitcher Wilson Alvarez. In 2005 the Dodgers signed pitcher Scott Erickson as a free agent. 
• Happy Birthday, Hank Aguirre, Ted Power, Stuffy Stewart & Jackie Robinson!