The 2003 Dodger Fan Appreciation Baseball Card Sheet

Here is a look at the final Fan Appreciation Card Sheet in my collection.  I am unsure if these were created for other years, but I suspect they were.  If you happen to have a more up-to-date price guide (mine is from 2000) then please look it up and let me know.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this give-away.

This sheet is from 2003 and features perforated cards of Eric Gagne, Paul LoDuca and Hideo Nomo.

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A Story of Lost and Found - Vin Scully's 1988 World Series Ring

Something terrible had happened, but sooner than I could say, "I should blog this" the mystery was solved. Via a tweet from the @Dodgers, Vin Scully had lost his 1988 World Series ring:

While Christmas shopping today, Vin Scully lost his 1988 World Series ring. If you find it, please contact the Dodgers at (323) 224-1500.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 18, 2014

Then, less than 10 minutes later the @Dodgers tweeted this:

Great news! Vin Scully's 1988 World Series ring has been found. (This was not a drill -- Vin thanks everyone for their concern.)
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 18, 2014

Whew!  That was a close one.  I was worried that some unscrupulous person had walked off with his prize.  Worse yet, I was this close (hands spread about a foot across) to putting a hex on the person who would dare commit such an egregious act.  Heck, I was about to contact Vladimir Shpunt to send some "negative V" energy their way.

Seriousness aside, the best part of this brief episode (besides finding the ring) were some of the wisecracks found throughout twitter.  Check some of them out below:

It's messed up that A.J. Preller demanded Vin Scully's ring be a part of the Matt Kemp trade
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) December 18, 2014

A part of me is willing to believe the above is true.

@EephusBlue AND I WILL BRING THE NAPKINS
— purple drank (@purpledrank0) December 18, 2014

@Dodgers Damn you, Gollum! pic.twitter.com/vXYWHLwGXv
— TheConman (@akaTheConman) December 18, 2014

"They found Vin Scully's ring in ten minutes? How are we supposed to stretch that into twelve episodes?!" -Sarah Koenig
— Sons of Steve Garvey (@sosgsosg) December 18, 2014

Photo at the very top via WorldSeriesRings.com

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2014 Topps Five Star - The Dodger Base Autograph Cards

Topps newest Baseball brand to hit the market is an high-end product called Five Star.  A single box will cost you about $300 and you receive only six cards; five of which are guaranteed to be autographed.  Go here to see a complete checklist.

Featured below are all of the Dodger base autographed cards.  I'll have pics and a checklist of the remaining Dodger cards later on.  Of note, there is no Yasiel Puig autographed card in this set. 

Active/Retired Autographs

#FSA-AG Alex Guerrero                   #FSA-AGO Adrian Gonzalez

#FSA-CK Clayton Kershaw                 #FSA-FV Fernando Valenzuela

#FSA-HR Hanley Ramirez                    #FSA-SK Sandy Koufax

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Blog Kiosk: 12/18/2014 - Dodger Links - Brett Anderson, Chris Hatcher and Congrats Landreaux

Congrats, Kenny!  Fulfilling a promise made to his mother, former Dodger Kenny Landreaux graduated from ASU earlier this week.  Photo above via @camelbackranch on twitter.

Below are some links to check out:

• Listen to last nights Dodger Talk with David Vassegh and Kevin Kennedy, here.
• Via AM570 Radio, listen to Brandon McCarthy on the Petros and Money Show.
• Via David Golebiewski at the Daily Gammons, "Brett Anderson’s $10M Slider."

Anderson generated ground balls 62% of the time with his slider from 2012-14, trailing only Felix Hernandez (66.3%) among starters throwing the pitch at least 500 times. Looking at his pitch location, it’s easy to see why. Anderson frequently spots his slider low in the zone, to his glove side.

• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Moves have makings of a master plan."

Considering it’s still December and games are nearly four months away, you can argue the Dodgers haven’t improved their chances in 2015, but it’s hard to argue they haven’t had a vision. As Friedman said over and over at his introductory media conference, it’s about trusting the process.

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Dodgers, in need of catching, see December trade fall through: A history."

As we wait for the Matt Kemp trade with the Padres - and its sidecar transaction, Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies - to become official, here is a look back at a December Dodgers trade that ended up not coming to fruition.

• The cartoonish artistic stylings of our newest Dodger players just won't stop.  Featured above is a creation made by Dodger fan Ernie Villa on twitter.  So naturally, I had to make a fantasy Baseball card of it that you can see below; using the 2007 Topps Baseball design.  I wonder when this viral sensation will become a virus.

• As you've heard by now, President Obama is moving toward normalizing relations with Cuba.  Politics aside, I wondered how this effects Baseball.  @MLB_PR on twitter released as statement addressing this.  Check that out below.  I also wondered if we may one day see ballclubs play exhibition or spring games there again.  Wouldn't that be a blast.  I wonder what Tommy and some of the other older Dodgers would think of that.

MLB statement regarding U.S. relations with Cuba: pic.twitter.com/UXVH9LxgJO
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) December 17, 2014

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The 2001 Dodger Fan Appreciation Baseball Card Sheet

In appreciation of the new Dodgers front office and the myriad number of moves they've made recently (save the Kemp trade that has me miffed, but slowly coming around) check out the above 2001 Dodger Fan Appreciation Baseball card sheet.  As you know, these were given out during the last home game of the season on Fan Appreciation Day.  Go here to check out all of my past post on this give-away.

This sheet features perforated cards of Gary Sheffield, Chan Ho Park and Paul LoDuca. 

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Blog Kiosk: 12/17/2014 - Dodger Links - McCarthy, Puig Lawsuit and those New Kings Jerseys are Awful

There are plenty of photographs of the field at Ebbets.  Heck, there are more photos of the advertising on the outfield walls than I can count.  But there are hardly any pics of what's inside the stadium; in particular the rotunda located behind home plate.  Via @MLBcathedrals on twitter they share a rare photo that you can see above.

The rotunda was 80-foot round and made of Italian marble.  Also, there were ornate chandeliers hanging from the rafters that had light fixtures shaped as Baseballs.  To most fans it was a sight to behold, and in homage to this Baseball wonder Citi Field, where the Mets play today, recreated it.  They call it the "Jackie Robinson Rotunda."

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Emma at Dodger Blue World, "When Did You Fall in Love?"
• This is a scary scary thought.  Via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times, "Could Brandon McCarthy turn into next Jason Schmidt for Dodgers?"
• Via Curt Anderson at Yahoo Sports, "Guilty plea set in smuggling of Dodgers' Puig."

Investigators say Suarez was one of the Miami-based financiers of the 2012 smuggling venture in which Puig was taken by boat from Cuba to Mexico. The financiers were to receive a cut of the seven-year, $42 million contract Puig later signed with the Dodgers.

Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of any money Suarez got from Puig's contract, in addition to a house, a condominium, a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz.

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "In 2015, the Dodgers will go to WAR with a formidable top four."
• Via Blue Skinny Fan, "Nomar Garciaparra Autograph Signing at Glendale Galleria (12/13/14)."  There are some nice photos to look through.
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Dodgers send Noel Cuevas to Rockies in Juan Nicasio deal."
• Just another fantastic post by Night Owl Cards, "Thinking outside the box."  I don't think it's a stretch to say that the 1991 Topps set is the best and most under-appreciated set of the modern card era.
• I am not a fan of the new LA Kings Stadium Series Jersey.  Pic below via @SI_NHL on twitter.  What's up with the white pants? It makes it look like he's wearing pajamas.  Others have noted that it is Stormtrooper-like.
  
  

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