2020 Onyx Vintage Baseball - Luis Rodriguez gets his First Baseball Card

Onyx Authenticated just released their first Baseball card set of the year and it includes several high-end Dodger prospects. In fact, it has one ballplayer who is slated to start at second base for the 'Big Club' once the season gets underway (Gavin Lux) and a youngster who was just signed his first professional contract with the Dodgers this past June (Luis Rodriguez). Go here to see a complete checklist.

BTW, this set includes the very first professional baseball card for Luis Rodriguez. As you may know, he was signed by the club in June 2019 during the international signing period, is 17-year old and is from Venezuela. He garnered a $2,667,500 deal and is regarded as a pure hitter. Per and MLB.com prospect report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60
Rodriguez is the best overall player from Venezuela in the class of 2019. He's a pure hitter and natural athlete with solid baseball instincts across the board. He is also known for his physically projectable body and easy actions on defense and at the plate. 

Rodriguez has sound approach in the batter's box and has shown the ability to use all fields with consistent and hard contact. There's a nice rhythm and balance to his swing and although he's primarily a line drive hitter now, there have been flashes of power and it could increase as he develops. He has impressed scouts by performing well against pitchers throwing 93 mph to 95 mph during workouts and showcases. 

Rodriguez is a quality defender in center field now and he makes all of the plays, but it's uncertain if that's where he will stay because he's not a plus runner. He developed his game in the youth leagues of Venezuela and has a high baseball IQ.

I'm excited to see how he develops. Check out all the Dodger cards below.

Base

#OVGL - Gavin Lux

Blog Kiosk: 4/23/2020 - Dodgers Links & news - Some Odds and Ends

Here's a fun UP press photo, dated 8/7/1952, of a pregame event for a former Dodger -- Leo Durocher. (eBay auction link)

Wreathed in Smiles... New York: Giant manager Leo Durocher (right) smiles as he bears the easy weight of a huge floral wreath presented to him at the polo grounds, Aug. 7, while Dodger pilot Chick Dressen looks on. Durocher, who holds a plaque given to him by the Section-5 Club, received honors and gifts in a give-away program, as New York met the Brooklyn squad in a night game, the third and last of their current series. Brooklyn won the contest, 7-5.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1946 Dodgers righty Ed Head threw a no-hitter against the Boston Braves, 5-0. He said after the game: “I knew I had it all the time – don’t ask me how, but I knew it.” (boxscore) It was his first appearance after returning from the military. In 1958 Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges hit his 300th career home run on the same day that Pee Wee Reese played his 2,000th career game. In 1999 Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis becomes the first player in MLB history to hit two grand slams in one inning when he did it against Chan Ho Park at Dodger Stadium, 12-2. You can watch it here.
• Happy Birthday, James Mulvey, Dolph Camilli, Bob O'Brien & Andruw Jones!

2020 Topps Project 2020 -- Jackie Robinson by Blake Jamieson

The third Jackie Robinson Project 2020 card is now up for grabs and it was created by New York based pop-portrait artist Blake Jamieson -- although he originates from the Bay Area and went to school at UC Davis. Go here to check out the card and order. A complete checklist of all the cards in the set can be found here.

Topps Living Set -- #306 -- Gavin Lux

The 15th Dodgers' Topps Living Set card is now available to order and it features rookie phenom Gavin Lux. Go here to check it out and order. Below is what's written on the reverse.

Gavin Lux demonstrated an innate hitting ability throughout his Minor League career and showed enough energy and talent for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of 2019 that he earned a spot on the Postseason roster. Lux is primed to be an integral part of a loaded-Dodgers starting lineup in 2020.

Blog Kiosk: 4/22/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

This past Saturday marked the 74th anniversary of the historic handshake between Jackie Robinson and Youngstown, Ohio native George Shuba. As you may know, on April 18, 1946 Jackie hit his first homer as a member of the Montreal Royals, and George was at the plate to greet him with a smile and a handshake -- a first during integrated Baseball. Today, a statue is being created to memorialize the happening, and it will be publicly unveiled in Youngstown on April 18, 2021 -- its 75th anniversary. Per robinsonshuba.org:

“While we’re still in the early stages of developing the statue, our progress on these models is very exciting,” said Marc Mellon, the world-class Connecticut-based sculptor crafting the statue. “In the upcoming months I’ll be working on the George Shuba figure. When both figures are completed later this summer, we will first cast them in plaster, refine the surfaces, and then cast them in bronze.” 

The 1946 handshake at home plate after a Robinson home run in his debut professional game has been hailed as the “handshake of the century,” as it marked the racial integration of pro ball, which helped accelerate the breakdown of racial barriers in other areas of American life.
...
“When George Shuba stepped up to shake Jackie Robinson’s hand at home plate, at a time when racism was rampant in our country, he taught America an important lesson and made Youngstown very proud. The statue marking this moment will be a huge source of pride in Youngstown for generations to come.”

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1957 John Kennedy becomes the first African-American to play for the Phillies, making Philadephia the last National League teal to integrate (not a huge surprise, really). He would pinch run during their 5-1 loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. In 1981 rookie Fernando Valenzuela hurled his third shutout in four starts to start the season -- defeating Houston, 1-0. Best yet, he was responsible for driving in the Dodgers lone run with a single in the fifth inning off of then-Astro Don Sutton.
• Happy Birthday, Sandy Burke, Tom Long, Ray Benge, Lew Riggs, Jake Daniel, Jack Savage & Dee Gordon!

2020 Topps Total - Wave 1 - Kelly, Taylor & Pollock

Topps Total has returned and the first "wave" of cards has just arrived on collectors doorsteps. As you'll recall, they brought back the brand last season as an online exclusive set sold in segments of nine - 100 card lots over the entire season. Go here for a complete checklist. Below are the three Dodgers available so far -- Joe Kelly, Chris Taylor and AJ Pollack.

Wave 1

#28 Joe Kelly