2011 Heritage: Jackie Robinson Galore

The newest Baseball set for the 2011 season is out at your local retail store. It is Topps Heritage, and it features their old 1962 card set design. These wood bordered cards have vintage looking cardboard backs and tons of inserts and short prints to chase after. Before I get to the Dodger base cards to the set I wanted to point out some short prints that perked my interest.

There is a 10 card Jackie Robinson set highlighting his life and career. They are numbered #135 to #144 and are short printed to 1 for every 50 packs. I've read that they are showing up at a rate of about 5 to 6 per case. Below are pics of each one.

All I have left to say is that I badly want these cards.

Not only can you find a short printed Robinson, but you can also find a limited insert game-used uniform piece of Jackie Robinson.

Day 27 Spring Training Report

Here is todays lineup against the Rangers:1) Rafael Furcal (S) SS; 2) Ivan de Jesus (R) 2B; 3) Andre Ethier (L) RF; 4) Matt Kemp (R) CF; 5) Juan Uribe (R) 3B; 6) James Loney (L) 1B; 7) Rod Barajas (R) C; 8) Tony Gwynn (L) LF; 9) Clayton Kershaw (L) SP.

Of special note, Happy Birthday Mickey Hatcher!

Below are Day 27 Spring Training notes from the Dodgers:

• REMATCH: The Dodgers and Rangers meet for a second consecutive day after Texas won 5-4 yesterday in Surprise. The Dodgers were paced by Xavier Paul, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple, and pulled within a run in the ninth on Trayvon Robinson’s two-run single. Los Angeles will enjoy its only off day of the spring tomorrow before taking on the D’backs on Thursday at Camelback Ranch – Glendale.

• FINAL 44: The Dodgers trimmed the number of players in camp this morning by optioning RHP Jon Link and IF Russell Mitchell and reassigning RHP Roman Colon and C J.D. Closser to minor league camp. Yesterday, the Dodgers sent eight players to minor league camp including Javy Guerra, Jamie Hoffmann, John Lindsey, Carlos Monasterios and Trayvon Robinson from the 40-man roster and non-roster invitees Damaso Espino, Dee Gordon and Wilkin De La Rosa. There are now 44 players remaining in big league camp, including 21 pitchers and 23 position players.

• A TRUE HIRO: On the same day that the team is collecting donations in Los Angeles, Dodger pitcher Hiroki Kuroda announced that he will be donating $50,000 towards the relief efforts in his native Japan. Kuroda spoke to his teammates this morning during the club’s morning meeting to encourage his teammates to join him in helping the relief efforts.

(PicLink: Yfrog deth_lepus)

(Broxton)

• AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: On this day in 2008, the Dodgers hosted the Padres at Wukesong Stadium in Beijing in Major League Baseball’s first-ever game on Chinese soil. Historically, the franchise has been at the forefront of Asian relations, becoming the first team to open an office in Asia in March 1998 and reaching countries throughout the region through partnerships, goodwill tours and clinics. The Dodgers’ signings of Hideo Nomo (Japan) and Chan Ho Park (Korea) in the 1990s helped open the door for future players in those countries and last year, Hong-Chih Kuo became the first Taiwan-born All-Star in Major League history.

• KERSH-AWESOME: Dodger Opening Day starter Clayton Kershaw makes his fourth start of the spring season and has yet to allow an earned run (two unearned) over 11.1 innings. The left-hander has limited opponents to a .175 batting average (7-for-40) with nine strikeouts. Hong-Chih Kuo will make his second appearance of the spring in relief of Kershaw and Blake Hawksworth, Ron Mahay, Oscar Villarreal, Travis Schlichting and Ramon Troncoso are also scheduled to appear. The Rangers will counter with left-hander Derek Holland.

(PicLink: Yfrog deth_lepus)

• BATTER UP: Dodger pitchers will hit for themselves starting today as team will forego the designated hitter for the rest of the spring. Clayton Kershaw will take his first hacks of the season today after leading the Majors last season with 18 sacrifice hits, which tied with Burt Hooton (1978) for the second-most sacrifices in a single season by a Dodger pitcher. Orel Hershiser set the all-time mark for a Dodger pitcher with 19 sacrifice hits in 1988.

• CRICKETS: No Dodger pitchers are slated to throw on the off day tomorrow with the exception of Vicente Padilla, who will continue to throw as a part of his rehab after having forearm surgery on February 24 to fix his right radial nerve, which was being entrapped by one of the deep muscles in his forearm.

• LEADERBOARD: Marcus Thames gave the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead yesterday with his first-inning RBI double, his fifth two-base hit of the spring. Thames is locked in a six-way tie for the Cactus League doubles lead and is batting .320 with a .520 slugging percentage in 11 Spring Training games. Tony Gwynn Jr. will get the start today in left field and ranks second in the Cactus League with a perfect six steals in six attempts. The 28-year-old is batting .321 in 12 Spring Training games.

(PicLink: Yfrog deth_lepus)

• BOYS IN BLUE: The Third Annual UMPS CARE Charities online auction is underway at UmpsCare.com, featuring priceless memorabilia and one-of-a kind experiences for teams throughout baseball. Fans can bid on a Dodger batting practice experience among the other great packages until March 20.

• PRIME TIME: Today, “Dodgertalk” hosts Joe Block and Josh Suchon will have the call of the Dodgers-Rangers game on PRIME TICKET. The pair will welcome fellow KABC personality Peter Tilden to Camelback Ranch on Thursday. Tilden will broadcast live at the ballpark from 3-6 p.m. and be joined by numerous Dodger guests throughout the afternoon.

Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2011

Today, Dodger Stadium is holding a Tsunami Relief Event. Be sure to go by the stadium today to help out. The Dodgers and NBC LA hope to help raise money for the American Red Cross Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Dodger alumni Bobby Castillo, Kenny Landreaux, Rudy Law, Al Ferrara, Jimmy Campanis and Derrel Thomas and NBC LA on-air personalities will be on hand to take donations. Donors who give $20 or more will each receive two tickets to an upcoming Spring Training exhibition game at Dodger Stadium. From 5 AM to 7PM, TODAY!

(PicLink: Plixi Los Angeles Dodgers)

• Per Vin Scully is My Homeboy we learn that the Club Level hallways are filled with Dodger memorabilia. I had wondered if Gary Cypres, whose collection fills the LA Sports Museum, would have some of his Dodger stuff placed somewhere within Dodger Stadium. The answer is yes. BTW, a part of his collection also is located within the Staple Center. I've recently discovered that they change the exhibit at Staples from time to time, so if your at Staples from time to time I suggesting stopping by to see if it has changed.
  
• From Vin Scully himself, Baseball on Television.
  
• DodgerFilms shares all 11 Ethier walk-offs.
• This is a really nice blog- "Every Hall of Famer." Summer Anne Burton is creating a drawing of every Baseball Hall of Famer. (Hat Tip: Baseball Reference) Of the ones she has done so far I like the Radbourne the best.
• What are the true origins of Baseball, from the NY Times.
  
• Night Owl Cards shows off his early 80's Dodger picture pack- which happens to be the first thing he ever purchased through mail order.
• Baseball by the Letters tells us about a 2007 Topps uncorrected error and a letter from that players Mom.
  
• If you've been anxiously watching the nuclear event in Japan unfold, but find yourself less than knowledgeable (like most of us), then check out this great write-up at Boing Boing.
  
• An interview with Ethier.

YouTube Link:

Day 26 Spring Training Report

Here is todays Dodger lineup lineup in Surprise: Velez 2B, Carroll SS, Paul LF, Thames DH, Sands RF, Gimenez 1B, Kapler CF, Ellis C, Sellers 3B, Ely P.

Below are Day 26 Spring Training notes from the Dodgers.

• SURPRISE, SURPRISE: The Dodgers make their second and final trip to Surprise this afternoon, this time to play the American League champion Texas Rangers. The Dodgers and Rangers will also hook up for the final time this spring tomorrow at Camelback Ranch. Previously, Los Angeles lost at Surprise Stadium to the Royals on Saturday. The Rangers and Dodgers played a three-game regular season series in Texas in 2009, but the Rangers have not visited Dodger Stadium since 2001.

• SPEAKING OF 2001...: When the Dodgers and Rangers last met in 2001 at Dodger Stadium, the starting center fielder for Texas was 25-year-old Hollywood native Gabe Kapler. Kapler, now a 35-year-old elder statesman, is in his first camp with the Dodgers, which are his seventh big league organization, following stints with the Tigers (1998-99), Rangers (2000-02), Rockies (2002-03), Red Sox (2003-06), Brewers (2008) and Rays (2009-10). The 12-year veteran is batting seventh and playing center field this afternoon at Surprise Stadium.

(PicLink: Yfrog Dodgers)

• A HELPING HAND: NBC LA is sponsoring a “drive-through” relief drive at Dodger Stadium tomorrow to help raise money for the American Red Cross Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Members of the NBC LA news team and the Dodger Alumni Association will be taking donations from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Dodger Stadium Parking Lot 1. Cash donations will be accepted along with checks made out the American Red Cross with “Japan Tsunami Fund” in the memo line.

• MOVING ON OVER: The Dodgers optioned RHP Carlos Monasterios and reassigned LHP Wilkin De La Rosa to minor league camp. Both pitchers each threw 2.0 innings yesterday in Las Vegas against the Cubs. There are now 54 players in camp (24 pitchers, 30 position players).

• MEDICAL MINUTE: Dodger third baseman Casey Blake will undergo an MRI this afternoon in Phoenix on his sore right side. Blake is listed as day-to-day and last played in Saturday’s contest in Scottsdale.

(PicLink: Yfrog MDGonzales)

• DOUBLE DOSE: The Dodgers dropped two contests yesterday, one at Camelback Ranch to the White Sox and another at Cashman Field in Las Vegas against the Cubs. The club has now lost seven consecutive Cactus League contests. Despite the record, several Dodgers are among the Cactus League leaders, including Tony Gwynn Jr., whose six stolen bases rank second. Elsewhere, Marcus Thames’ four doubles are tied for third in the Cactus League. On the mound, today’s starting pitcher John Ely will be searching for his third Cactus League victory. To date, no pitcher has won more than two games.

• THE BOOK OF ELY: Right-hander John Ely will make his third start and fourth appearance of the spring this afternoon. Ely is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, after throwing 6.0 scoreless innings. The Illinois native has yielded just two hits while fanning seven batters in his four outings. Last season, Ely made 18 starts for Los Angeles in his rookie campaign. Following Ely to the mound for the Dodgers will be RHP Blake Hawksworth, RHP Lance Cormier and RHP Kenley Jansen. Right-hander Neftali Feliz will make the start for the Rangers.

(PicLink: Plixi Los Angeles Dodgers)

(Clayton Kershaw signing at Autograph Day)

• JJ FAD: Tomorrow afternoon, “Dodgertalk” hosts Joe Block and Josh Suchon will have the call of the Dodgers-Rangers game on PRIME TICKET. The pair will welcome fellow KABC personality Peter Tilden to Camelback Ranch on Thursday. Tilden will broadcast live at the ballpark from 3-6 p.m. and be joined by numerous Dodger guests throughout the afternoon.

• MORE RADIO FUN: Tomorrow afternoon, the boys from Sirius-XM’s MLB Network Radio will be onsite when their 30 in 30 tour hits Camelback Ranch. Former Dodger minor league manager Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette will be live from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. with Dodger guests dropping in throughout the day. In addition to the radio guys, MLB Network’s Peter Gammons will be at Camelback Ranch to interview both Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw.

(PicLink: Plixi Los Angeles Dodgers)

(Ted Lilly signs at Autograph Day)

• DON’T LOOK FOR THE NAME: The Dodgers called up three minor leaguers for today’s game in Surprise including infielder -outfielder Elian Herrera, who has logged 4.0 innings at second base and 4.0 at third this spring. Herrera will wear No. 87 while infielders Travis Denker and Jaime Pedroza will wear No.’s 92 and 89, respectively. Denker has yet to appear in a Cactus League game this spring, while Pedroza has played 7.0 innings at second base.

2011 Topps Triple Threads Sneak Peek

Topps has just released some early previews for their upcoming Triple Threads Baseball set that comes out in June. Go to Beckett for a full report. What I liked seeing are two Dodger rarities.
Who ever pull these cards out are lucky indeed. I love the Koufax below.

eBay: Old Ebbets Field Snapshots

(eBay Auction Link)

Here are a couple of great vintage fan snapshots from the field box seats at Ebbets Field, 1949. I think its great that the old Schaefer Beer sign is prominent in the outfield.

(eBay Auction Link)