2016 Onyx Authenticated Platinum Elite - The Lone Dodger Card

Onyx is back with another prospect laden offering.  It is called Onyx Authenticated Platinum Elite and it includes 21 different high-flyers from throughout the game.  The lone Dodger representative in the set is 2014 second-round draft pick Alex Verdugo.  Go here for a complete checklist.  Other top prospects include Dansby Swanson and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 

Like with nearly every card set in existence, there are numerous parallels available.  Below, I only show the basic Verdugo card in the set below.  On the top right is a look at an black parallel to the card.  BTW, every card available is autographed, and there are no logos to be seen.  This is an unlicensed card set.

 #AV-PEA16 Alex Verdugo

Black Limited

#AV-LTD16 Alex Verdugo

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A Checklist of Tommy Lasorda Cards from his Playing Days

Continuing with my current obsession with cataloging and sharing pics of cards featuring noteworthy Dodger players, below is a Tommy Lasorda listing of collectibles from his playing days.  Of note, I do not include cards from his days as a manager.  Although, I may at a later point do that. 

As always, this may not be entirely complete, so if I missed anything please let me know.

#45 - 1950 Big League Stars (V362) - Blank Back

This cards, measuring 3 1/4" x 2 5/8", was issued by World Wide Gum of Quebec.  They were an subsidiary of Goudey Gum in America.  The 48-card set includes ballplayers from the International League.  Lasorda is the only Hall of Famer in the set.  Also, former Dodger and soon-to-be Hollywood star Chuck Connors is also in the set.

Blog Kiosk: 4/26/2016 - Dodgers Links - Vin Scully, Don Mattingly and Rick Monday's Day

Yesterday's pregame activities included a ceremony celebrating Rick Monday's fantastic save of an American flag on that date in 1976.  Listen to Vin Scully talk about it here.  You can also go here to check out a bunch of photos from the evening.  Per Tracy Ringolsby at MLB.com:

"They were going to put the match to the flag, and it was soaked in lighter fluid," remember Monday. "My attitude was if they don't have it, they can't light it, so I scooped the flag up and kept running. I didn't know if it was on fire or not, but I did know one of the guys was not a [baseball prospect]. He threw the can of lighter fluid at me, but he didn't have a good enough arm to hit me."

Featured above is a photo, via Bill Shaikin on twitter, of Monday and his wife Barbaralee with that flag.

The story about Rick Monday's deed is well known and roundly celebrated throughout the country - as it should be.  What isn't well known, however, is the circumstances surrounding the two protestors who attempted to burn that flag.  In fact, no one really knows much about them, but Vice reporter David Davis does his best to uncover the story.  Unfortunately, we don't really know much more than what we already know (which isn't much):

With their disappearance, with their refusal to address the past, they leave behind questions that seem likely to remain unanswered: What pain and rage led them out on to the field that day, and what did it have to do with that mental institution in Missouri? Why burn an American flag as a method of protest, and why at Dodger Stadium? And, why did a father use his 11-year-old son as an accomplice? In the long silence that followed the moment, there are surely other questions—questions of regret, questions about what it has been like to live with this for 40 years.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 2008 Vin Scully received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University.  He would later give an stirring commencement speech to the graduating Class of Seaver College at Peppederine that you can watch a snippet of here.  Also, during that evenings game in Colorado Brad Penny would hurl an 93-mph fastball that is missed by catcher Russell Martin and knocks out homeplate umpire Kerwin Danley.  He would be stretchered off the field.

A Weird Vintage Dodgers Pennant of Sandy Koufax

I'm not much of an pennant collector, but this particular item I saw on eBay over the weekend is just too great to overlook.  Featured here is a unique vintage pennant, measuring just 18", that features Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax. 

As you can see, it's a bit faded and smaller than the typical pennant you can buy in stores today.  What's also unusual about it is that it includes a Koufax postcard that has been embedded within it.  My trusted Sandy Koufax checklist tells me that the postcard is from 1966, so we can date the piece to that season, and that season only.  This was Sandy's last year in the Majors.

I am unsure what something like this would sell for, but based on the current value it is garnering on eBay it must be scarce.  As the time of this posting it is at $52.99 with nearly two days remaining.

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Cable Merger Getting Over the Hump - Will Charter Sell SportsNet LA to Direct TV?

A major hurdle to the merger between Charter and Time Warner has now been crossed.  Per Diane Bartz at Reuters, "Justice Dept approves Charter’s acquisition of Time Warner Cable with conditions."

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday approved Charter Communications Inc's proposed purchase of Time Warner Cable Inc and Bright House networks, which would create the second-largest broadband provider and third-largest video-provider.

Following the deal, the merged company will be called New Charter. Under terms, New Charter agreed to refrain from telling its content providers that they cannot also sell shows online, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Furthermore, we learned today, via Meg James at the LA Times, that the FCC has recommended approval of the deal.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has recommended approval of Charter Communications' $78-billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable, subject to several conditions aimed at increasing the number of homes with high-speed Internet connections.

The other hurdle is the California PUC - who also recommended approval a few weeks ago.  So, it seems likely that it's smooth sailing for the marriage.

As I've written before, once the merger closes I suspect we'll see some real movement to expand coverage of SportsNet LA, but there is one thing I didn't see coming.  Per a tweet by LA Times sports reporter Bill Shaikin, Charter might look to sell SportsNet LA to Direct TV:

Charter-TWC merger expected to close next month. Then Charter can try to sell SportsNet LA to DirecTV: https://t.co/g5JvA1oelW #dodgers

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) April 25, 2016

I don't know if this is mere speculation or a rumor that is finally coming to light, but it is something I never considered.

As you may know, Direct TV, through its parent company AT&T, already directly controls several Regional Sports Networks (RSN).  Teams already under the finger of the company include the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and the Houston Astros.  So, adding the Dodgers could be a natural fit.  Unfortunately, several things might have to happen for this to come to fruition - like a bankruptcy filing. Although, maybe a discounted sale price to Direct TV is already fixed into the merger value, so Charter might not need to go through that process.  On the other hand, I think it's clear that the size of the contract the Dodgers received is way too high (as evidenced by a FanGraphs story today), and some renegotiation will be necessary.  Hence, a forced renegotiation of that contract through the bankruptcy courts.

Either way, the next few months should be interesting for Dodgers fans.  We will likely know very soon if we will all get the Dodgers on all our television sets before the end of the season.

UPDATE:  It has come to my attention that SportsNet LA isn't actually owned by Time Warner.  In fact, it's owned by the Dodgers under a company they formed called American Media Productions (press release here).

The Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group created American Media Productions, LLC (AMP) in December 2012 to launch a new Los Angeles Dodgers regional sports network. Today, AMP announced its plans for SportsNet LA, the new regional television home for the Los ngeles Dodgers beginning with the 2014 Major League Baseball season. In addition to being the exclusive local home for all of the Dodger games, SportsNet LA will provide comprehensive behind-the-scenes Dodger programming, featuring more insights, analysis and commentary about the team than ever available before.

Time Warner Cable (TWC) has agreed to be SportsNet LA’s charter distributor, and will carry the new network for its customers throughout Southern California and Hawaii under a long-term affiliation deal. In addition, in return for agreeing to make payments over the life of the deal, TWC will be the exclusive advertising and affiliate sales agent for the new network and will have certain branding and programing rights with respect to the network. TWC will also provide certain non-game production and technical services to AMP.

So, what Time Warner would be selling, if that's the route they choose to go, is the right to be the distributor of the network and the sales agent for advertising on the channel. 

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Blog Kiosk: 4/25/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Scully and Don Mattingley's Return

No doubt Yasiel Puig is having fun again after a tumultuous season last year.  After Saturdays victory against the Rockies he somehow found himself standing among a throng of teens in formal wear.  It is prom season in America and Puig, obviously curios about the occasion, joined the revelry had by the student of ChatfieldHigh School of Littleton, Colorado.  He had the crashed the party and fortunately shared a couple pics on twitter for us to enjoy.

Featured above some of the kids with Puig in the middle (twitter link here).  Below, he poses with members of the high school Baseball team (twitter link here).

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  On this day in 1976 Rick Monday saved the American flag from a couple of protesters in the outfield at Dodger Stadium.  The incident was immortalized in the photo seen on the right.
• Happy Birthday, JP Howell!
• Via Jacob Unruh at News OK, "OKC Dodgers: Herges talks talented pitching staff."