Blog Kiosk: 7/24/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Dodgers win. Baseball wins.

Game one of the shortened 2020 season began in earnest last night, and fortunately the Dodgers came out united and ready to mash. They banged out 12 hits -- including a four-for-five night from Kiké Hernandez (who is slowly but surely turning into "The Jet") -- to score eight runs to defeat the pumpkin's from up north, 8-1 (boxscore).

The Dodgers also joined numerous other players/teams in peacefully protesting for change. Via Alyson Footer at MLB.com:

“Everybody's here, we’re all on the same team. We're all here for change,” Betts said. “Even their team -- even the Giants -- I definitely tip my cap to the support. We have a great group of guys here, we're all supportive of each other. It definitely doesn't surprise me that [Bellinger] and [Muncy] were there with me.”

Photo above via MLBonFOX on twitter. 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!

2020 Topps Now - #ST04 - Extending Mookie Betts

This is by far my favorite Topps Now card, and I'm sure you know why.

Yesterday, we had an unexpected flurry of news come our way that had every Dodger fan in the country on the edge of their seats. We first heard in the early morning that the Dodgers and Betts were nearing an agreement (via a tweet from Lou Merloni), then a rush of confirmations came in -- initially started by Joel Sherman, via twitter:

A source described extension talks between Mookie Betts and the #Dodgers as "quite real." @LouMerloni reported that the sides were close on a deal of at least 10 years.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 22, 2020

 And with that, the dreams of Red Sox Nation was thwarted. By mid afternoon an official announcement was made, and I swear I could hear folks celebrating in the distance.

Mookie Betts will be a Dodger for a long time... A very long time.

In honor of this massive signing Topps has issued a new 2020 Topps Now card to memorialize the event. Check it out above and below. Go here to check it out and order. Below is what's written on the reverse:

When the Dodgers acquired the 27-year-old Betts in a blockbuster trade back in February, they knew they had one year left on his contract before he could hit free agency. Wednesday's announcement ensured that they won't have to worry about that now or anytime soon. Mookie and the Dodgers agrees to a 12-year, $365-million-dollar contract extension that will keep him in Dodger blue through the 2032 season.

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Blog Kiosk: 7/23/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Mooooookie!

Wow!

Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

“I’m here to win some rings and bring rings back to L.A. -- that’s all I’m focused on,” Betts said after signing a landmark 12-year contract extension that runs through 2032. 

“This is what I’ve been working for my whole life. I know the Dodgers are going to be good for a long time. I love being here, everything about being here. The people here made me feel so comfortable. Everybody’s amazing. This organization is a well-oiled machine. I love it.”

I need a Mookie jersey. Photo on the right, via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1939 the Dodgers once again used yellow-colored baseballs during a game at Ebbets Field. This time it was against the Cardinals, and Brooklyn lost the game, 12-0. In 1962 Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. You can listen to his induction speech here. In 1974 Steve Garvey, who was a write-in candidate, had a single, double and an RBI during the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. He would be named the MVP of the game. In 1975 Willie Crawford and Lee Lacy hit pinch-hit home runs in the ninth inning in a loss against the Cardinals, 5-4. The homers tied a Major League record for pinch-hit homers in the same inning.
• Happy Birthday, Hod Ford, Paul Chervinko, Pee Wee Reese, Don Drysdale, Nomar Garciaparra, Larry Barnes & Hung-Chih Kuo!

Blog Kiosk: 7/22/2020 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Opening Day is around the corner.

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1966 DodgerVision at Dodger Stadium relays a message to Mets outfielder Ron Swoboda during the game. It says, "Congratulations, Ron Swoboda. Your new son is born tomorrow morning". Cecilia Swoboda gave birth to Chipper, the couple's first child, at 1:05 a.m. EST, making it the next day on the West Coast. In 2005 Yhency Brazoban breaks Steve Howe's Dodger rookie record for saves when he works a perfect inning against the Mets to record his 18th save. He would finish with 21 saves during the season. 
• Happy Birthday, Sheldon Lejeune, Elmer Knetzer, Lindsay Brown & Kevin Pasley!

2020 Topps 52-Card Baseball Game - Kenny Mayne Set - Series 2 - All the Dodgers'

Kenny Mayne's (yes, the ESPN broadcaster) 52-Card Baseball Game that debut last year was so successful Topps decide to release a second series for the 2020 season. It includes five Dodger players -- two of which were a part of the 2019 set (Cody Bellinger & Clayton Kershaw). The new players are Mookie Betts, Walker Buehler and Gavin Lux. Unlike last year, there are no Dodgers available as a variation. Additionally, you can still still order these directly from Topps online. Go here to check that out and order. A complete checklist of the set can be found here.

Check out all the Dodger cards below.

Base

#Q Cody Bellinger       #J Clayton Kershaw

2020 Topps Project 2020 -- Sandy Koufax by Keith Shore -- #162

This is the Keith Shore card from Topps Project 2020 set. Some might call it glorious. Others may lament that it's childish and sophomoric. I just look at it and can't help but smile...

Why, exactly? I dunno.

Yes, it looks amateurish. Tony Frye at Hero Habit called Shore's Project 2020 cards, "classic modern in that it is clearly digital but appears to be done on Windows 95." He also writes that, "his critics say that their children could do art just as well — we all know that’s not true, your kid’s horse drawing looks like a Rorschach test — while fans of his work enjoy the simple design, bright colors, and youthful qualities of each character he creates."