A Look at some Vintage Brooklyn Dodgers China

Given how often these pop up at various auctions throughout a year, I thought I would take a moment to briefly write about them here.  Featured is a vintage set of 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers National League Champions china that includes a plate, cup and saucer.  The exact set shown in the pic above is currently available at Hunt Auctions (Auction Link Here).

These were originally given to players, coaches, Dodgers employees and even the press in appreciation for the work done that past season.  In 1952 the Dodgers won the pennant by 4.5 games over the Giants, but lost the World Series to the Yankees that Fall.

The china includes a spiffy looking pennant logo emblazoned on front, and a Delano Studios mark and formal thank you from the Dodgers on its reverse.  It says:

Blog Kiosk: 5/31/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The Dodgers thought that they'd lucked out yesterday.  That afternoons starter, Jason Hammel, left the game early due to an hamstring cramp.  So, they wouldn't have to face one of their best starters so far this season.  Unfortunately, the Cubs bullpen was up to the task of shutting down Los Angeles.  Via Brian Hedger at MLB.com:

"Once Hammel goes out there and we're into the bullpen in the third inning, you're thinking you can grind some at-bats and wear out the bullpen," Turner said. "It's Game 1 of a four-game series. [Wood] did a good job of pounding the zone and getting quick outs, and I think he went four innings. You have to tip your cap to him."

Five Cubs pitchers combined for a one-hit shutout victory; including seven no-hit innings by their relievers.  The lone Dodger hit was a single by Justin Turner in the first inning.  The Dodgers lost 2-0.

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2106.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: This is remarkable.  In 1948, Tommy Lasorda, as a member of the Schenectady Blue Jays of the Phillies system, struck out 25 batters in a 15 inning game to defeat the Amsterdam Rugmakers.  Lasorda has said in the past that he likely threw more than 300 pitches that day.  In 1965 the Dodgers, for the first time in history, field an all switch-hitting infield in a game against the Reds.  The players were Wes Parker, Jim Lefebvre, Maury Wills and Jim Gilliam.  In 1968 Don Drysdale hurled his fifth consecutive shutout to extend his scoreless innings streak.  This is the game where a Giants batter was called out on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch since he was ruled to have not made an attempt to get out of the way of the pitch.
• Happy Birthday, Dave Roberts!

Blog Kiosk: 5/30/2016 - Dodgers Links - Bonds on Joc, Ryu and Clayton Kershaw

That's the look of steely determination.

Clayton Kershaw was a workhorse again last night; going 7.2 innings, giving up four hits, striking out ten and walking none.  Per Doug Padilla at ESPN:

"To say it's a luxury (to have him) is an understatement," manager Dave Roberts said of that fifth day, when his ace takes the mound. "I think every time he takes the mound, you're looking at penciling in 10-12 strikeouts, eight innings. The pen is going to get rested. It's something that we don't take for granted around here. We appreciate Clayton."

Unfortunately, the bullpen failed to maintain a win for Kershaw intact.  Nevertheless, he did keep the Dodgers in the game long enough to allow then a chance to win the game.  Adrian Gonzalez drove in the winning run for the Dodgers in the ninth inning.  BTW, we did get a bit of an injury scare to Clayton.  Via Ken Gurnick and Troy Provost-Heron at MLB.com:

Kershaw nearly became the latest Dodgers pitcher injured while batting in the fifth inning. As he grounded out, the bat broke and the barrel struck him on the right side of the neck. He never left the home-plate area while being put out, but was uninjured and continued.

"It just scared me," Kershaw said. "I've never really done that before, it was just shocking. I wanted to make sure I didn't have any stab wounds. It just stunned me."

Both photos above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics bu Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1946 Boston Braves outfielder Bama Rowell became the first player to hit a Baseball that hit the Bulova clock located above the right field scoreboard at Ebbets Field.  in 1962 Maury Wills becomes the 7th player in history to hit home runs from each side of the plate in a single game.  It was against the Mets.
• Happy Birthday, Manny Ramirez!

A Julio Urias 2016 Topps Now Card - #102

Topps has issued a limited edition Topps Now card.to commemorate Jullio Urias' start last night.  Go here to check it out and order.  They are only available til Sunday afternoon.

Since Urias didn't have a great start I wonder if that will harm the number of cards collectors will order.  I suspect, though, that the ceiling placed on the young left-handed prospect will remain high regardless of the recent results last night.  So, the production numbers should be better than average.

UDDATE:  There are 2,992 copies of this card.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/28/2016 - Dodgers Links - All About Urias

That didn't go as planned.

Julio Urias was thrown to the wolves and got bit.  He lasted just 2.2 innings against the Mets; giving up three runs, five hits and striking out three.  Having given up an uncharacteristic four walks, Urias struggled in every inning he pitched. In fact, many of his pitches were up in the strike zone.  No doubt he was showing signs of nervousness.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I was," he admitted. "I'm not going to lie, when I went out there, I started thinking of everything I've had to go through to get here. But when I was on the mound, I was able to settle down, be a little more comfortable. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get the results we wanted."

He added further:

"There was a big difference," Urias said of the quality of hitters. "They were looking for specific pitches, and sometimes I tried to fool them and I wasn't able to. Today, it didn't work out, but I'm going to continue to work hard and try to get results."

That was quite an inauspicious beginning for the kid, but I have no doubt he'll have much better outings in the future.  The photo above is via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pic by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2001 Paul LoDuca records six hits in an eleven inning victory over the Rockies at Dodger Stadium.  His feat tied an NL record for hits in an extra-inning affair.  In 2011 several sections in the reserve level at Dodger Stadium are evacuated due to a small fire in an storage area.
• Happy Birthday, Kirk Gibson!

Julio Urias Checklist of his Early Baseball Cards - From 2013 to 2014

Since Julio Urias is on everyone's mind I thought I would take a moment to put together a checklist of Baseball cards for the left-handed phenom.  Below are pics (of the front and reverse) of most of his early Baseball cards.  I focus on cardboard from 2013 and 2014.  I might follow up on this checklist with pics of his cards from 2015 over the weekend, so stay tuned.  As always, there are numerous parallel cards available, but I've done my best to show only the normal base version of each card below.

If I missed anything please let me know. In fact, this listing includes some of his minor league team issued cards, but not likely all of them.  So, if you happen to have a pic available of anything I am missing please pass them along.  I also include a handful of oddball related collectibles.

For a 19-year old kid he sure does have a lot of cardboard available.  His very first officially licensed card is the below 2013 Bowman Sterling autographed card.  Although, it is not his most sought after card.  That is reserved for the always popular Bowman Chrome brand.  Specifically, his 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autograph card.  Those cards in high-grade and as a low-numbered parallel sell for premium dollars.  In fact, the below 2013 Bowman Sterling card is a relative bargain in comparison.

BTW, the below cards are listed in chronological order from their time of release.  The only exceptions are the minor league team issued sets/memorabilia.

2013 Bowman Sterling

Prospect Autograph Insert

#BSAP-JU Julio Urias  

2013 Great Lakes Loons Team Set

 #26 Julio Urias