Braves Series Starts Friday - Scheduled Autograph Sessions, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Atlanta Braves, and several former Dodgers are scheduled for an autograph session with fans on Sunday.  Below are the scheduled autograph opportunities and other odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The Atlanta Dog will be available for this homestand only against the Braves at the Extreme Loaded Dog concession areas located on the field, loge and reserve levels. It features an all-beef hot dog topped with fried green tomatoes and spicy peach relish.

The fifth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Kenley Jansen on the cover, will be available at Dodger Stadium.  (see it on the left.  The Dodgers merged their previously separate Playbill and Dodger Insider magazines into one publication (at least 80 pages per issue) with a new edition available each homestand.  They are distributed at auto gates (one per vehicle) and via Fan Services for those who use alternate transportation. 

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Friday, June 3rd at 7:10 PM
RHP Kenta Maeda vs. RHP Julio Teheran
SNLA / AM 570 (Eng.), KTNQ 1020 AM (Span.)

Now You Too Can Be That Bobblehead Guy

Have you ever wanted to get into the business of Baseball?  How about joining the Dodgers on the entertainment side of things?

Well, now's your chance.

I received a notice today regarding an job opening with the Dodgers that might be up your alley.  Check it out here.

The Dodgers now have an opening for someone to play the "Bobblehead Character" (not a mascot) at Dodger Stadium.  Here is what it says:

The Bobblehead Character will enhance the fan experience both at games as well as community events. The ideal candidate must always display a high-energy, enthusiastic, professional, and friendly attitude to Dodger fans at games and outside appearances.

So if you have the energy and the wherewithal to wear a heavy, no doubt heat inducing, costume then you should apply now.

Photo at the very top features Tommy Lasorda with Senator Kevin DeLeon, via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.  Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015.

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2016 Topps Archives - All the Dodgers Base Cards

Topps 2016 Archives Baseball cards are now available in stores.  Go here for a complete checklist.  Below are all the available Dodgers base cards.  As you can see, this years set pays homage to the 1953, 1979 and 1991 Topps designs.

Clearly, the 1991 Topps Baseball card design is the best of the bunch.  Heck, I wouldn't have minded if they used that design for every card in the base set.  BTW, there is a unique parallel associated only with these cards.  An "Operation Desert Shield" embossed stamp can be found in the 100 (#201-300) 1991 Topps design base cards.   This emulates the extremely scarce parallel set that were given to troops that year.

Furthermore, this years set is notable for having a bunch of "Bull Durham" cards inserted within packs.  In fact, there are nine different autograph cards available of many of the actors; including writer/director Ron Shelton.

1953 Topps

#19 Don Sutton                                  #93 Zach Lee

Blog Kiosk: 6/2/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Sometimes you just can't help it.  Sometimes the other pitcher was just better.

Jon Lester got on to the mound against the Dodgers and dominated.  He threw a 113 pitch complete game, his first of the season, and finished the evening retiring the last fifteen batters he faced.  The only run scored against him was an home run, on the Lester's second pitch of the game, to Kiké Hernández to start the game.  After that, the Dodgers had nothing.  Via Carrie Muskat and Brian Hedger at MLB.com:

"I think that might have been the best I've seen Jonny since I've been here," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He gives up a leadoff homer and then nothing. That's physically the best I've seen him pitch here."

All you can do is tip your cap.

BTW, the Dodger pitcher were up to the task of matching Jon Lester.  Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.  Mike Bolsinger, the Dodgers starter, only allowed a two-run homer to Bryant, but that was all they needed to defeat the Dodgers, 2-1.

"He matched [Lester] pretty much pitch for pitch, and made a mistake, and Bryant hit it out of the ballpark," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I thought we had a chance to win all night and didn't really give ourselves a chance." 

The above photo of Hernández's homer via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics by Jon from yesterdays game.  Below are more links to check:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1995 Hideo Nomo recorded his first Major League win.  It would be against the NY Mets.  Nomo went eight innings, gave up two hits and struck out six in a 2-1 victory.  Also, he would then win his next five starts.
• Happy Birthday, Chin-Hui Tsao!

Julio Urias Checklist of his 2015 Baseball Cards

Julio Urias is now back with the Dodgers, and this time he might be sticking around for a bit.  Fellow starter Alex Wood was just sent to the DL with left posterior elbow soreness, so Urias will likely take over his spot, for now.  As I understand it, he is expected to start tomorrow afternoons game in Chicago.  Also, he will change his uniform number.  Julio Urias will now wear #7. 

Urias said getting the #7 is another dream come true. First jersey he ever received, when he was 5 years old.

— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) June 1, 2016

To commemorate his return to the Dodgers I thought I'd add to the Baseball card checklist I posted up last week for Urias (link here).  Below are most, if not all, of Julio Urias' cards from 2015.  If I missed anything please let me know.  BTW, the below cards are listed in chronological order from their time of release.  The only exceptions are the minor league team issued sets at the very bottom.

I should note that I recently discovered a new Leaf set called "2015 Leaf Draft" on eBay, but I have no recollection of its prior existence.  Also, don't confuse them with the Leaf Ultimate Draft and the Leaf Metal Draft cards.  I am fairly certain these new cards were never released in packs to the public.  Instead, I believe they may have been printed in house (by Leaf) and distributed to various dealers.  For this reason, I have not included them in the listing below.

2015 Bowman

Bowman Prospects 

#BP50 Julio Urias

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Pederson, Hough, Thompson and Seager

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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