2020 Topps Project 2020 -- Sandy Koufax and Jackie Robinson Cards

Topps mysterious collaboration teased a few weeks back was officially unveiled yesterday and begins with a doozy. Available for a couple of days is an online exclusive Sandy Koufax card created by Hip Hop/Street Culture artist and musician Jacob Rochester. As you can see, the card is an homage to Sandy's 1955 Topps Rookie card. To the right is a look at the reverse of the card.

Project 2020 is an artistic collaboration with 20 different artist and pop culture influencers, and each of them will reinterpreting 20 different legendary Topps Baseball cards to create a massive 400 card set.

This first offering includes the Koufax card above and an Ichiro card created by famed jeweler Ben Baller.

Blog Kiosk: 3/26/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

This just might be the best photo from the 1955 World Series - the Dodgers first World Championship. Featured are a group of Dodger wives (see Rachel Robinson on the far left) celebrating right after the victory, available via RMY Auction. This photo was taken by Barney Stein and it is a re-strike -- printed in 1980.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the St. Louis Browns returned pitcher Tommy Lasorda to the Dodgers after having just purchased him a month prior. In 1984 Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in a White House ceremony. Rachel Robinson accepted the award on her late husband's behalf. At the time, Jackie was just the third ballplayer to be given the distinction (Moe Berg and Joe DiMaggio were the others). You can watch the presentation here. In 1991 the Dodgers sign free agent catcher and future Hall of Famer Gary Carter to a one-year $500,000 contract. 
• Happy Birthday, Jack McCarthy, Joe Klugmann, José Vizcaíno & Frank Lankford!

2020 Topps Inception - All the Dodger Inserts

Now that you've seen the Dodger base cards found in packs of 2020 Topps Inception, here's a look at the inserts that are available. You'll notice that the inserts are prospect heavy -- featuring a bevy of youngsters like Gavin Lux, Dustin May and Will Smith.

Base Rookies & Emerging Stars Autographs

#RESA-DM Dustin May         #RESA-GL Gavin Lux

I Recently Bought some Nomo's -- Nike Air Max NM

I'm not much of a sneakerhead, but I do know what I like... And what I really like... No... What I'm really lovin' right now is a pair of pre-owned sneakers I recently snagged on eBay. Check it out above and below.

What you see is a pair of Air Max NM -- better known as the Air Nomo Max 1. These were specially branded training shoes made for former Dodgers starting pitcher and Japanese sensation Hideo Nomo starting in 1996 - a year after winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award. The pair I have is a retro version that was released in 2011 -- nearly ten years ago. They had also renamed the shoe from Air Nomo Max 1 to Air Max NM that year.

As you may have noticed, the design of the shoe is meant to reflect the nickname Hideo Nomo had -- The Tornado. The pattern on the upper has solid blue leather with numerous triangular cutouts on each side. This is meant to look like wind swirling around like a tornado.

Blog Kiosk: 3/24/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out these two old men above at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL in the press pic from Wide World Photo. As you can see, Duke Snider is having his knee checked out by Dodger skipper Walter Alston. It is dated 2/23/1959 (eBay auction link). Snider had experienced knee troubles last season that resulted in Duke playing in only 106 games.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Leo Durocher had a four-hour hearing with Commissioner Happy Chandler, related to gambling. In this meeting he would admit to playing cards for money with Kirby Higbe. Durocher would soon be given a one-season suspension for "association with known gamblers." In 1959 an infamous photo is taken of Reds outfielder  Pete Whisenant during an exhibition game in Cuba against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He is seen holding Fidel Castor's machine gun. See it on the right. In 1982 Dodgers star hurler Fernando Valenzuela ends his contract holdout and reports to the Dodgers spring training. After winning the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards he sought a raise from $42,500 to $1 million. Instead, the Dodgers unilaterally renewed his contract for a reported $350,000. In 1984 the International Olympic Committee agreed to hold a six-team exhibition baseball tournament as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics to be held at Dodger Stadium.
• Happy Birthday, Jim McCauley, Mike Mowrey, Jim Bucher, Dick Egan, Wilson Alvarez & Jamie Arnold!

The Only Thing You Need to Listen to Today -- Vin Scully

I've been thinking about Vin Scully too, so yesterdays story from Bill Plaschke was nice to see. He gave Vin a call and shared his thoughts about what's been going on with all of us. (Story Link -- "Pull up a chair and hear Vin Scully give a message of hope and optimism")

“We’re like everybody else, we’re hunkered down,” says Scully, who is sheltering with wife Sandi in their Los Angeles home. “But for me, I’ve been hunkered down ever since we hung things up at the end of ‘16, I’m very accustomed to being at home …it’s that old line, if it wasn’t for doctor appointments we wouldn’t have a social life at all.”