Panini Collegiate Cards - Some of the Dodger Players

Panini not only makes professional sports cards, but they also make collegiate cards.  In fact, they've been doing this for quite some time.  Typically, college themed cards are found within their NFL and NBA sets - not surprising since collegiate programs play a big part in those athlete's development.  In Baseball, however, a ballplayer is far more likely to be drafted out of high school and trained in the finer art of the game under the tutelage of a Major League club.   Still, there are numerous exceptions to this rule. 

Panini's newest offering is a series of university specific complete factory sets featuring some of the top collegiate athletic programs in the country and their players.  They include school like Texas A&M, University of Michigan and USC.  Check out a complete listing here.  For the most part, football and basketball players dominate these sets, but there are a handful of notable Baseball players included. 

Unfortunately, not every college in the above listing has been released yet.  In fact, I have yet to see the USC and UCLA sets in hand.  Heck, a UCLA checklist isn't even available yet, and I've been waiting eagerly for that one since there's a chance Jackie Robinson could be included.  In the meantime, most of the other college sets are now available and several current Dodgers are ready to be added to your collections.  Check them out below.  BTW, I'll certainly share any other Dodger cards to pop up as they get released.

For now, there are three current Dodger players wearing the uniform of their alma mater with pride.  First up is Dodger catcher and former ballplayer at the University of Miami Yasmani Grandal.  Set checklist here.

University of Miami

#14 Yasmani Grandal

Blog Kiosk: 11/3/2015 - Dodger Links - Puig, Roberts and Vote for Scavuzzo

Will we be getting a new and improved Yasiel Puig next season?

It's obviously way too early to tell, but you gotta love this early indication.  The photo above, featuring Puig with slugger Miguel Cabrera, was instagramed yesterday.  In the caption Miggy says that he ran into Puig working out with weights for the first time in young career.  Hopefully, this is a sign of some good things to come.  (Hat Tip: r/ilovemesomeme)

Below are more links to check out:

• I like Dave Roberts, via a tweet from Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Dodgers have interviewed Dave Roberts for managing job. LAD not close to decision. Roberts expected to move on from SD regardless.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 3, 2015

• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Ralston Cash, manager Bill Haselman named to 2015 AFL Fall Stars Game."  As Eric notes, Dodger prospect Jacob Scavuzzo is also an "Final Vote" candidate for the All-Star Game.  Go here to make your mark for Scavuzzo.
• Well... I guess Dusty Baker is the manager instead.  Via Mike Oz at Big League Stew, "It's official: Dusty Baker is the new manager of the Nationals."
• Via Kennedy Ryan at KTLA5, "Two Men Arrested in Shooting of Brother of Dodgers Pitcher Josh Ravin." 
• You folks should come on out for this, via a tweet from Justin Turner:

Excited to play n #Bat4Hope Celeb Softball for @iamhope. Come out 2 support, get tix today: https://t.co/7ZGKJG5P0D pic.twitter.com/AWD13X3aMT

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) November 3, 2015

• Via John Thorn at Our Game, "Ball Playing Among Native Americans."
• This is probably the most insightful sabermetric analysis of the Royals World Series win.  Via Alex Skillin at The Hardball Times, "The Royals Are A Sabermetrics Team."

The Royals haven’t just won with defense, of course. At the plate, they’ve built a lineup filled with high-contact hitters in an era when power has become pricey and highly sought after. Moreover, in a time when hurlers have dominated and strikeouts have soared, Kansas City has assembled an offense that is less susceptible to the effects of elite velocity and pitching’s widespread supremacy.

As Ben Lindbergh wrote recently at Grantland, evidence exists that high-contact hitters perform better against power pitchers, a notion that has been borne out in the playoffs for two years in a row. (The Giants, too, have succeeded with a similar offensive makeup.) Although burly sluggers often can do more damage, they’re less consistent at the plate, and they’re vulnerable when facing hurlers who excel at getting strikeouts. Watching the Mets’ power arms churn through a formidable Cubs lineup demonstrated this concept to a “T.”

...
Ultimately, Kansas City is still not viewed as a sabermetric team due to a dated reputation that no longer accurately reflects the organization’s capabilities. Instead, the Royals should be regarded as one of the smartest organizations in baseball — a franchise, much like the Pirates or Astros, that has developed a clear plan and carried it out to great success. No, the Royals haven’t excelled solely because they possess some hyper-advanced analytics department filled with mad scientists churning out data and formulas that are well ahead of everyone else. But what they’ve done probably would draw far more accolades from the sabermetrics crowd if a team like the Rays or Cubs had succeeded with similar strategies.

• Awesome!

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Vintage Roy Campanella Cuban League Photo at Hake's

Hake's 216th auction is currently ongoing, and it once again includes a large number of rare photographs from the noted Negro League collection of Richard Merkin.  One of these photos is of a 23-year old Roy Campanella as a member of the Marianao Tigers of the Cuban Winter League.  It is dated from 1943-44 and stamped by Fotografio Novoa on the front and reverse.  Check it out above.  You can see the auction item here.

As you can see, it shows an exciting play at the plate.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Campanella was able to complete a tag as the ball sails over the runner and seemingly towards the head of the umpire.

Also included is an 1920's era team photo of the Homestead Grays.  Check it out below.  Here is the auction link.  Photographs from early Negro League teams like the Gray's are extremely rare, so when they pop up you have to take note. 

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Blog Kiosk: 11/2/2015 - Dodger Links - Mattingly, Greinke and World Champion Drew Butera

Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals and former Dodger Drew Butera for their thrilling World Series victory last night.  I was so hoping they'd have him pitch for a bit.  Alas, that was not to be.  The photo above via Butera's twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Since the 2015 season is now in the books let's take a look at the odds for 2016.  Via David Purdum, at ESPN, "Dodgers are 2016 World Series favorites." 
• ICYMI: It's now official.  Don Mattingly has been named the new manager for the Miami Marlins.  Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald shares some, "Highlights from Don Mattingly's introductory news conference Monday."
• Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, "Don Mattingly: 'I think Tim Wallach is going to come with me to be the bench coach'" 

"We've been in conversations about the staff. I don't know if it's something I really want to get into at this point," Mattingly said. "We've talked about some guys. I think Tim Wallach is going to come with me to be the bench coach.

"There are a number of guys coming back. I have pretty much talked or texted with every member of the staff. I don't know if Michael [Hill, president of baseball operations] wants to talk about the staff or not, but some of the guys coming back I'm comfortable with. I think it's important to the continuity of where we're going."

• Via Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider, "Jacob Scavuzzo emerges as a prospect to watch."
• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Van Slyke approaching crossroads of his MLB career."
• Via Joshua Sadlock at Baseball Essential, "Zack Greinke won’t be going anywhere."
  

  For a team that shells out $300 MM per season, bumping Greinke up an additional $5 MM per year is a drop in the bucket. There could be concerns about giving him a contract that will run up to age 37. Greinke has had some minor injury concerns, but nothing huge. Since 2008, there have been only two seasons in which he failed to surpass 30 starts. Greinke is not a power pitcher, and his ability to locate, change speeds, and move the ball around in the strike zone will still play even when he loses a few more ticks on his fastball. Pitching in Dodger Stadium suits Greinke, and he pitches to contact and lets the ballpark hold hits down.

• Congrats to LA Kings broadcaster Nick Nickson on his inclusion into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  On Monday, November 9th he'll be awarded the Foster Hewitt Award as a part of the HOF's Induction weekend.  Bob Miller, the Kings other Hall of Fame broadcaster, pens a great piece in honor of Nick, here.

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Blog Kiosk: 10/31/2015 - Dodger Links - Honeycutt, Farmer and Darin Erstad?

Check out this fantastic photo of the Ebbets Field press box in 1953 with Vin Scully at the mic.  Photo above via Old Time Baseball Photos on twitter.

Below are more links to check out:

• Remember this!  Per Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, the 2016 Dodger FanFest will be on Saturday, January 30th.
• Via David Montero at the Daily News, "This Dodgers organist will be in the Bobblehead Hall of Fame."
  

  “I was pretty surprised by it,” (Nancy) Bea said. “I didn’t even know there was such a thing as the Bobblehead Hall of Fame. But that’s great.”

• With word leaking that Mattingly will want pitching coach Rick Honeycutt by his side in Miami, we find out that the Dodgers and Honeycutt are in contract negotiations, via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.
• Via Jim Callis at MLB.com, "Dodgers in the AFL: Versatile Farmer continuing transition to catcher."
  

  "We have a great pitching staff here, and I'm looking forward to working with them," Farmer said. "Also, honing in on my own skills and working on blocking the ball better, receiving better and stuff like that. It's fun, and it's an honor to be out here."

• Huh... Erstad is an intriguing choice.  He was one of those gritty type of players.  Via a tweet from Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Dodgers plan to interview Darin Erstad, University of Nebraska head coach (and former #Angels OFer) for their managerial opening.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 30, 2015

• Panini America will once again roll out a Black Friday promotion for local card shops this year.  Go here to check out a bunch of pics of the cards that will be available in packs; including the Joc Pederson and Clayton Kershaw cards below.  The Kershaw card is especially awesome.

• This is too bad.  Grantland had some fantastic writing.  Via a ESPN press release:

Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland.  After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.

• BTW, Dave Cameron at InstaGraphs shares some of his favorite Grantland pieces here.

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Vintage Dodgers Flag and Jackie Robinson Memorabilia at Hunt Auctions

Here is a second helping of Dodgers' related memorabilia available for sale at Hunt's current Live Auction at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.  Yesterday, I shared pics of some vintage advertising pieces. 

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(Auction Link)

I'm sure this flag has seen it all.  According to the auction description, it: 

Originates from a descendant of the original recipient whom relates that it was obtained by her father, from an Ebbets Field grounds crew member, following the 1955 World Series.

It would look so great on my wall.  Unfortunately, the $7,500 to $10,000 estimated value far exceeds what I can dish out.

The next three items below all relate to Jackie Robinson.

First, check out a 1954 Jackie Robinson "Major League All-Stars Barnstorming Tour" program, and it's been signed by Jackie in one of the inside pages. 

(Auction Link)

And here is a Jackie Robinson All-Stars barnstorming team souvenir pennant.  It is unclear if this is an companion piece to the above program, but you have to think they were once sold side-by-side.

(Auction Link)

To finish off this post, below is an original painting of Jackie Robinson by Arthur K. Miller.  As you may know, Miller's work has graced the cover of numerous magazines and has been an consistent presence at NSCC for many years.  He's even had his work distributed by the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Go here to check out his website.

(Auction Link)

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