2014 Topps Triple Threads Baseball - The Dodger Base Cards

Topps Triple Threads officially went live last night, and I've got some pics to prove it.  Below are all of the Dodger cards that can be found in the 100-card base set.  Go here to check out a complete checklist of the set.

BTW, Chris Olds at Beckett let us know that Topps inserted Ricky Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) relic memorabilia cards in boxes in honor of the movie franchise Major League.  Earlier this year Topps had announced that they acquired a movie-used Vaughn jersey from Major League II and planned to cut it up to put into cards.  Check out an example of one of those cards on the right.

Now check out the Dodger base cards below.  FYI, the Adrian Gonzalez card is an emerald parallel card numbered to #250 and the Hyun-Jin Ryu card is a amethyst parallel numbered to #325 cards.  See the checklist for a listing of the other parallels that are available.

Of special note, there are a bunch of Mike Piazza as a Dodger cards in the set.  WooHoo!

#9 Yasiel Puig                                     #20 Adrian Gonzalez

#31 Mike Piazza                                #45 Hyun-Jin Ryu

#66 Jackie Robinson                               #75 Sandy Koufax

#82 Hanley Ramirez                                 #84 Clayton Kershaw

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Blog Kiosk: 9/11/2014 - Dodger Links - Haren and Crawford Lead Dodgers to Victory

Dan Haren has just been fantastic.  As Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider noted, Haren has a 1.70 ERA over his last seven starts, and has gone 94 batters since he last gave up a home run.  All of this is translating into end of the season success, and increased confidence that we can enter the playoffs with a solid four-man rotation.  Hilariously, those who had previously predicted his demise are now eating crow - including me, although I was far from being vocal about it. 

Last night, Haren threw seven shut out innings, gave up just four hits and struck out five for his tenth win of the year.  The photo above of Dan Haren was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more photos of his from yesterday.  To back him up was a hot-handed Carl Crawford who recorded four hits (three of them doubles), two RBI's and a run scored.  He has nine hits over the past three games.

The Dodgers defeated the Padres 4 to 0 and maintain a 2.5 game lead over the Giants.  We have a day off today, but the Giants play.  So come Friday we will either have a 2 or 3 game lead over them at the start of our weekend series in San Francisco.  Below are some links to check out:

• Something to keep an eye out for, this is usually the time of year the Dodgers will hold their annual rookie hazing event.  Usually they will dress up their rookies for the roadtrip to San Francisco, and I suspect we'll see that again today.  Stay tuned, photos are sure to invade the 'net like a hurricane.
• Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider takes a look at the, "Lead candidates for Dodger Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year."
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Rodriguez closer to returning to Dodgers' bullpen."
• Jeff Passan at Yahoo names YahooSports All-Minor League team, and several Dodger prospects made the cut.  They include Joc Pederson (OF of the year), Corey Seager (SS of the year) and Julio Urias (as honorable mention as pitcher of the year).
• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Carlos Frias could positively impact Dodgers now, in postseason."
• As always, Night Owl Cards writes something I found thoroughly entertaining.  Check out his "The worst of the best" as he talks about the bad Ron Cey Baseball cards.

I've always felt that Ron Cey takes a great baseball card. No matter who was issuing the card, or what the design was, Cey's card always turned out great. I'm biased, of course, because he's my all-time favorite player and basically can do no wrong to this very day. And the card you see at the top of this post is example one. It's my all-time favorite card, and I think if folks look at it objectively, they would agree that Cey makes this card and every card better.

Since Cey's retirement and the rise in retro cards of past all-stars, he's never let me down. Every card is great even 25 years after he played his last game.

And then I saw this...

• Via Bill Plunkett at the OC Register, "What's Dodgers' Ramirez thinking? Don't ask."

“There are a lot of things that happen in your career and he may look back on that (his current media blackout) and go, ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’ … But I can’t speak for him. I can’t put words in his mouth or tell you what he’s thinking.”

• Here's a great story about the MLB Authenticators.  Via Megan Ryan at the StarTribune, "Keeping it real: MLB authenticators ensure legitimacy of game-used memorabilia."

MLB is the only major sports league with such a vast and comprehensive authentication program. It has collected about 4.8 million individual unique items, averaging about 500,000 new authentications each season.  

That's a lot of stuff.  BTW, all of the MLB authenticators are current or former law enforcement officials.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Mike Marshall, Manny Mota and Garvey & Friends

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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Former Dodger slugger Mike Marshall will be at Harry's Dugout in Whitter to sign autographs for fans.  Go here for information.

Harry's Dugout
10715 Beverly Boulevard
Whittier, CA

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Angel players Efren Navarro & Matt Shoemaker will be at the OC Dugout in Anaheim to sign for fans.  Go here for information and ordering details..

The OC Dugout
1238 S Beach Blvd
Anaheim, CA

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Manny Mota will be at Zendejas Mexican Restaurant/Club in San Dimas on Sunday, September 14, 2014 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  Hat Tip to Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy - who has more information, as well.

Autograph + Photo-Op = $15
All proceeds to benefit the MANNY MOTA FOUNDATION

Zendejas Mexican Restaurant/Club
665 W Arrow Hwy
San Dimas, Ca 91773

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This coming Monday, September 15 at the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland is the newest installment of "Garvey & Friends."  Go here for information.

Coming out to talk baseball and swap stories will be Maury Wills, Tommy Davis and Dusty Baker. 

Doors open at 6:30pm
Dinner service starts at 7pm

The $40 cost includes a three-course dinner. "Garvey & Friends" follows dinner. Get tickets at Ticketmaster.com or the San Manuel Box Office. Seating is limited. Buy your tickets early.

San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino
777 San Manuel Blvd
Highland, CA

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Blog Kiosk: 9/10/2014 - Dodgers Links - Lead Shrinks to 2.5 Games

Holy Moly!  A comedy of errors plagued the Dodgers yesterday as some misplayed balls in the second inning resulted in a bunch of runs scoring.  Worse yet, it all appeared to rattle starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez.  He only went three innings, giving up five runs on five hits, and only two of the runs were earned.

Andrew Cashner of the Padres was money.  He stifled the Dodgers for seven innings by spreading around nine hits and allowing only two runs on a Adrian Gonzalez homer.  The Dodgers certainly got enough men on base, but just couldn't finish the job. 

The above photo of the Dodger bat rack was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more pics of his from yesterday's game.  Hopefully, the Dodgers use those bat to drive in some runs tonight.

With the Dodgers loss last night and the Giants win over the terrible Diamondbacks, the good guys see their lead in the West shrink to 2.5 games.  Someone find me some aspirin 'cause my muscles are sore and my mind is aching from the stress.  Below are some links to check out:

• GCRL writes about, "the evolution of the Dodgers' first baseman, part one" through Baseball cards.
• Via Rich Mueller at Sports Collectors Daily, "REA Pulls Back Curtain on 2nd Fall Auction."  This upcoming auction includes Red Patterson's 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series ring in its original presentation box.  He was the public relations director for the Dodgers.  See a pic of it on the right.
• Via Graham Womack at Baseball: Past and Present, "Jackie Robinson’s underrated final season."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Be patient Dodger fans – Joc Pederson is close."

“I’m getting pitched a little different than I did in the minor leagues,” said Pederson. “It’s a little adjustment period but it will come with time. I’m not worried about it, I definitely put up a lot worse numbers in the minor leagues in 17 at-bats.”

• Yeah, I know.  I promised no more McCourt stories, but I couldn't resist this one.  Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, "Could Frank McCourt really bring horse jumping to Dodger Stadium?"
• Via Wayne Drehs at ESPN, "Two in a Million."  It's all about the day Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout went head-to-head.

It's tantalizing to imagine how it will go: Kershaw will stare at Trout through his black leather glove, kick his right knee so it nearly touches his elbow and then fall toward home plate, planting his right foot and unleashing a pitch from his arsenal. Trout will hold a two-tone 31½-ounce piece of maple behind his head. He'll stare back at Kershaw, lift his left foot, shift his weight forward, turn his hips and in a split second decide whether or not to pull his bat through the zone with power and purpose.

And everyone will watch.

• Watch the video of when Vin Scully met Babe Ruth at Dodger Insider.
• Drew Magary at GQ ranks, "The 25 Biggest Sleazebags in Sports." 

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Benny Hill and the Dodgers

You just knew this was going to happen.

Check out the slapstick comedy of the Dodger defense as they do their best to audition for the Benny Hill Show.  (Hat Tip: gobbluth25 on Reddit)  I think the best part is right at the end of the sequence when Clayton decides to just toss up the ball at home plate in utter defeat, amazement and disgust.

Video Link:

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Blog Kiosk: 9/9/2014 - Dodger Links - Magic Number is Now 16

It's nice to finally witness some Dodge offense.  They exploded for nine runs yesterday, and even scored four of them before the fifth inning.  Hanley had a four hit game, Crawford had three hits including a homer and Uribe homered as well.  Clayton Kershaw did his part on the mound; going eight innings, giving up one earned run and striking out eight.

Featured above is Magic Johnson with LA Kings mascot Bailey, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014.  Go here to check out more photos from the evening.  Last night was Kings Night at Dodger Stadium.  Unfortunately, the Stanley Cup did not make an appearance.  On another note, I want Bailey's jersey so bad. 

The Dodgers now have won four games in a row and increased their division lead to 3.5 games over the Giants.  BTW, their MAGIC NUMBER is now 16.  Now, check out some links below:

• If you watched last night's game then you saw a bit of the Bad News Bears during the top of the sixth inning.  On a single play the Dodgers committed three errors that allowed two runs to score.  It was like watching my nephews little league game in action.  Ken Gurnick at MLB.com has a good rundown of the event; including video.
• Dan Haren is now on twitter.  Follow him here: @ithrow88.  Unfortunately, he might not be there for long.  It appears the trolls have come out of the woodwork.  He recently posted that he is already regretting joining, here.
• the 2015 Dodger schedule is now available for viewing.  Go here to check it out.
• Via Bill Chuck at the Daily Gammons, no one has more hitless relief appearances than JP Howell this season.
• Via Mark Langill at Dodger Insider, "Camilli and Gonzalez: Two of a kind at first."

Dolph Camilli and Adrian Gonzalez have more in common than being the only Dodger left-handed hitting first basemen in the last 75 years of the franchise to post consecutive 100-RBI seasons. Camilli and Gonzalez represent key players acquired under new ownership during their respective eras.

• Via Steve Gilbert at MLB.com, Dodgers Assistant GM DeJon Watson and Agent Dave Stewart on list to be new Diamondbacks GM.
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Frias, Baez could be key cogs in Dodgers' bullpen."
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPNLosAngeles.com, "Don Mattingly likes Dodgers' energy."

“I like the fact guys are talking about the right things, like having good at-bats, and I can feel the energy on the bench,” Mattingly said. “We’ve been more competitive in games we’ve been down. Right now, it’s that time of year. We’re in a pennant race. We know every game is important, every at-bat is important, every play you make on the field is important. Guys know where we’re at.” 

• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "Lookouts advance to Southern League Championship Series."
• Get this T-Shirt!

I've designed a limited edition shirt to raise funds for @sportsspec! Get yours quick: http://t.co/LpO05c739C pic.twitter.com/sDB8FviDkL
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) September 9, 2014

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