2015 Panini America & Topps National Convention Promos - The Dodger Cards

With the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago having concluded last weekend I figured it would be a good time to take a look at some of the Dodger cards available through various wrapper redemption and VIP card giveaways at both Panini America and Topps.  Check them all out below.  BTW, this might not be a complete listing.

Below I take a look at the Panini cards that are available.  Unfortunately, a complete checklist isn't available, but Cardboard Connection does it's best to catalog everything they know about.  Here is a checklist for the wrapper redemption cards, and here is a checklist for the VIP Party cards.

Panini VIP Promo Set

Panini gave a limited 6-card set to all attendees who were a part of the conventions VIP program.  The set includes Kris Bryant, Marcus Mariota, Jahlil Okafor, Karl Anthony Towns, Jameis Winston and Joc Pederson.

#2 Joc Pederson

Some Great Dodger Memorabilia at SCP Auctions - Roseboro's Uni, Claire's Ring and a Letter from Ebbets

Following up on the Happy Felton letter to Walker O'Malley letter I shared the other day, below are a handful of other great Dodger collectibles available at SCP Auctions.  Go here to check out all of the items at SCP.

(Auction Link)

Check out this fantastic game-worn uniform of Johnny Roseboro from the 1963 Championship season.  This was the year the Dodgers swept the Yankees in the Fall Classic.

(Auction Link)

Here is Fred Claire's 1981 World Champion ring.  He was an public relations executive for the club starting in July 1969 and remained there until he assumed player personnel responsibilities after Al Campanis' shafu in 1987.  Soon thereafter he was named the General Manager.

Here's a fantastic letter signed by Charles Ebbets to an unnamed ballplayer just prior to the start of the 1915 Baseball season.  In it he suggest that it's a good time to start working out for the upcoming season.  Check out what it says below:

(Auction Link)

The time for reporting at Daytona, (set by Manager Robinson for March 1st), and the opening of the National League championship season is fast approaching.  I believe if you will all buckle right down to hard conscientious work, get in condition quickly, have no material accidents or illness and we get good results in the pitching department, that we will win the championship, possibly the Worlds Championship.  This goal I know is the ambition of you all; the pride and glory of winning one or both championships cannot be calculated in dollars and cents; with the championship goes the material part, (the monetary amount), of which all who participate receive their proper proportion; last but not least is the great advertising Brooklyn would receive and the pride and gratification of the people (who support the Brooklyn Club so loyally), by reason of your winning the championship.  For all these reasons my friends, I want each of you to commence now to take light exercise so that when you report to Manager Robinson on March 1st there will be comparatively little "tuning up" to do.  I know you all have the same confidence in Manager Robinson that we the owners have, and I want you to at all times to give him the best there is in you; we cannot expect more, er do not expect less.

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Blog Kiosk: 8/7/2015 - Dodger Links - Greinke, Seager and Puig

We all knew Zack Greinke could hit... But, man-o-live!  He had a heck of a day at the plate yesterday afternoon.

He went 3 for 3, with two singles and a home run in the third inning that put the Dodgers on top, 6-5.  Watch his round tripper below, via a gif from @Dodgers on twitter.

Did you see that bat flip?  On the mound it was a different story.  Greinke got shelled in the first inning; giving up five runs on four hits and committing his second error of the year.  Needless to say, he was not a happy camper.  Via a Reuters story at the NY Times:

"Today, I was really mad after that first inning, so more motivation to try and get some hits," Greinke said.

"Usually, I just try to focus on pitching, but we were down by some runs, so I needed to put some good at-bats out there today."

Photo at the very top via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are some links to check out:

• So, when did Lasorda's Lair turn into Dodgers Way?  What did I miss?  Anyway... Alex Campos wonders what most of us have been wondering, "When Will it be Corey Seager Time?"
• Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Yasiel Puig might get less playing time now."

"I think the days off are good for Yasiel, honestly," Mattingly said. "I don’t know if he was just used to playing less games in Cuba, but his focus just seems sharper when he’s getting a day-off-a-week or something like that."

• Via Harold Uhlman at Think Blue LA, "Darryl Brinkley in it for love of the game."  Brinkley is the hitting coach for the Dodgers rookie level club Ogden Raptors.

“This is way harder than I thought it would be, but it’s way more gratifying,” Brinkley said. “I had no idea I was going to enjoy being a hitting coach more than playing. I really, really enjoy it. It’s a great feeling to see these kids do well and know you were a part of their success. It’s a phenomenal feeling.”

• Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "A brief look at Yasiel Puig’s new batting stance."
• Apparently, there are folks who fervently collect Mike Piazza Baseball cards with him in a Marlins uniform, via Ken Belson at the NY Times: "Piazza, the Marlin, And a Shared Fixation."  (Hat Tip: Thanks to Nick Diunte on twitter for pointing out this older article)
• Would you find it creepy to find this in your hotel room?  Dodger pitcher Brett Anderson apparently does, via a tweet from yesterday:

Hey Pittsburgh, be more creepy...you can't. pic.twitter.com/WUBy26j6JH

— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) August 7, 2015

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Blog Kiosk: 8/6/2015 - Dodger Links - Pederson, Colletti and Chad Billingsley

A special guest arrived at the Dodgers clubhouse in Philadelphia yesterday.  Little League Baseball All-Star Mo’ne Davis visited with the team, and even sported Dodger blue; as evidenced by the photo tweeted above by Kiké Hernandez.  

Really liking that jersey, Mo'ne. pic.twitter.com/3B8ASN7zpD

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 5, 2015

Below are some links to check out:

• Via Robert Keaney at ItemLive.com, "Jackie made history in Lynn."
• A boost of confidence from management?  Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "Don Mattingly: Dodgers will stick with Joc Pederson."

"He's part of what we do. We made a conscious decision to be a better defensive club this year and he's a big part of that up the middle,” Mattingly said. "At some point, if you hit .220 and you don't hit homers, then there are other things you try to do, you have to make organizational decisions, but I don't think there's anybody trying to make those right now. There's nobody who thinks Joc can't hit.”

• THIS might be the best troll article ever.  Via a Fanpost by Scully's Tie at True Blue LA, "The Dodgers Welcome Newest Advertising Partner, Brazzers."  (Hat Tip: r/DrC---Punter on reddit)

Mark Walter, Chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, told a media gathering, "We concluded last year that the best way to give our fans what they want - more Dodger baseball, and a more mature experience at the park - was to launch a long-and-strong integration between two institutions which do it better than the rest. The Dodgers-Brazzers partnership will provide substantial financial resources over the coming years for the Dodgers to continue tricking other teams into giving us their best. Just as we are actively transforming the team and the stadium, we want the Dodgers to be exhibited on the very best adult network in the country - one that will provide an unrivaled fan experience."

• Via Ned Colletti at SportsNet LA, "How two Dodger blockbuster trades came together."  It's nice to get some background on the inner-workings of a trade; especially ones as big as the Manny Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez trades.  (Hat Tip: r/averagebob_14 on reddit)
• My well wishes and congrats to the Billingsley family.  Via Todd Zolecki at MLB.com, "Billingsley's wife cancer-free, couple thanks Phillies."

The couple happily reported that Tiffany has been clear of cancer since last month. She will finish her final treatments in a few weeks.

"There were so many things that went right in this process," Chad said Tuesday.

• Via Night Owl Cards, "10 phenomenally frightful photoshopped Dodgers."
• Old School reporter Murray Chass writes about the problem with todays reporters, here.

I have long respected Rosenthal for his work, since before he began tweeting, but I disagree with him on two points. I wouldn’t call tweeters journalists, and there’s no need to provide minute-by-minute accounts because that’s when tweeters get in trouble. Trade talks and free-agent negotiations can change by the minute, and by the time a tweeter tweets a development he has learned, it can be three developments old.

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Tim Leary, Charles White and Andrew Heaney

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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Current Angels pitcher and one of the shortest tenured Dodgers of all-time, Andrew Heaney, is signing autographs this coming Saturday, August 8th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the OC Dugout in Anaheim.  Go here for information.

The OC Dugout
1238 S. Beach Blvd. Ste. K
Anaheim, California 92804

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Both Charles White, a former Ram, and former Dodger pitcher Tim Leary will be signing autographs for fans at Iguana's in Pico Rivera on Sunday, August 9th.  Go here for more information.

Charles White will sign from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Autograph Pricing: $10 cards, $20 any other item
Includes FREE Photo-Op, Inscriptions $10 each

Tim Leary will sign from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 

Autograph Pricing: $5 cards, $10 any other item
Includes FREE Photo-Op, Inscriptions $5 each

Iguana's Bar
8528 Rosemead Blvd
Pico Rivera, California 90660

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A Personal Letter from Happy Felton to Walter O'Malley About that "Idiot" Son at SCP Auctions

As I had previously intimated, SCP has an auction that just opened up, and I've got quite a few items from my collection in it for the taking.  Hopefully over the next few days I'll share some of them with you.  In the meantime, I thought I would bring up an item (that's not mine) that has me wallowing in laughter.  Heck, I know if I had more details about the incident I would probably be busting a gut right now.

Featured below is an letter between Happy Felton, an entertainer who had a popular Dodger pregame youth show called the "Knot-Hole Gang", and Dodger owner Walter O'Malley.  It begins innocently enough with Felton seeking financial compensation for his frequently being a host to various special guest at Dodger games.  I assume that he would provide a tour and introduce folks to the players before or after games.  What strikes me as hilarious, though, is the postscript about one particular special guest.  Check out what he writes below:

PS: Mr. & Mrs. McNulty, who received our Special Services yesterday, at your request, thoroughly enjoyed themselves -- as did their idiot son who was aged about 34 and 6'3" tall.  I am sorry to report that the younger McNulty was severely gashed by one of the ball players who shall be nameless but whose initials are Footsie Belardi, and that he, the son, lost some teeth when hit by a line drive from the bat of one Preacher Roe.  I imagine the McNulty's will sue the ball club, myself and the manufacturers of Red Barber's "Bowena", as a matter of course.  See you in court.

I'm not sure if "gashed" is meant to be literal.  Maybe Wayne "Footsie" Belardi decided to give good ol' "youthful" McNulty a ribbing.  I dunno.  What is clear is that he got hit by a batted ball (likely during batting practice) and he didn't like it one bit.  It could be that the rancor of said incident caused Felton to finally decide that he wasn't being paid enough to deal with this.

I can't imagine that anyone has any specific details beyond that, but if you do please pass it along.  This Dodger fan would love to know.

(Auction Link)

**Photo at the very top of Happy Felton via Snider's Photo Album

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