2016 National Baseball Card Day - All the Dodgers Cards

This past Saturday was National Baseball Card Day, sponsored by Topps, at local hobby shops throughout North America.  Fans flocked to their local stores and received a free six-card pack of limited edition cards.  Furthermore, qualified purchases included a free Kris Bryant card to go with the set.  The base set includes 50 cards (including the Bryant card mentioned previously) and there are a handful of autographed cards inserted into packs.  Unfortunately, is not available.  There are, however, two Dodger players in the base set.  Check them both out below.

#3 Clayton Kershaw

#41 Corey Seager

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Blog Kiosk: 8/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Puig, Ethier, Magic and Kershaw

Check out who made it to the LA Coliseum for the Rams first preseason game in Los Angeles since coming back to California, via a pic tweeted by the NFL.  Clayton Kershaw, following an afternoon win at Dodger Stadium over the Pirates, 8-4, was spotted on the sidelines during the Rams victory over Dallas. 

I wonder who he was rooting for.  Being a Texas native it wouldn't be surprise to find out that he's a Cowboys fan.  On the other hand, he did send the LA Rams players, coaches and personnel 200 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch whisky as a welcome gift to the Southland.

BTW, this past Sunday was Magic Johnson's birthday, so the team presented him with his own cake on the field.  Photo directly above via Jill Weisleder/LA Dodgers 2016.  Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game from Jill and Jon SooHoo.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1914 Jake Daubert set a NL record with four sacrifices in one game.  In 1926 Babe Herman famously tripled into a double play.  Per a description at Dodgers.com:

With one out and the bases loaded, Herman hit a line drive off the right field wall and Hank DeBerry, the runner on third, scored easily. Dazzy Vance, the runner on second, rounded third, but stopped 30 feet past the bag and started back. Chick Fewster, the runner on first, was coming full steam around second and soon found himself at third with Vance.

Herman, meanwhile, oblivious to what was transpiring at third base, tore around the bases until he also was at third base. Both Fewster and Herman were tagged out, ending the inning.

"Everybody," Herman said years later about the play, "overlooks the fact that the run I knocked in on that play was the winning run."

2016 Topps Strata Baseball - All the Dodgers Cards

This week saw the release of Topps 2016 Strata Baseball card set set.  This is a high-end product that promises one autograph and one game-used relic per box.  Furthermore, every game-used relic card includes a MLB Authenticated logo hologram so that you know it is real.  Given the recent past regarding fake jersey sales to card manufacturers this feature adds a sense of certainty that the big bucks spent on cards like this is not for naught.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Unfortunately, most of the Dodgers cards available in the set are available only through a redemption card.  This includes Sandy Koufax, Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda.  I have yet to see any of the Corey Seager cards online (redemption or otherwise). Hilariously, the only two cards I can show you right now are no longer on the Dodgers: Frankie Montas and Zach Lee.

Strata Autographs

#SA-FM Frankie Montas

#SA-ZL Zach Lee

Blog Kiosk: 8/12/2016 - Dodgers Links - Ping Pong 4 Purpose

Last night Dodger Stadium hosted the 4th Annual "Ping Pong 4 Purpose" charity event in benefit of Kershaw's Challenge.  Dodger players, other celebrities and even fans came out for a good cause and for a friendly tournament of ping pong. 

As you can see, host Clayton Kershaw was seen sporting a fantastically ridiculous outfit for the event.  Unfortunately, you can't see the best part of his ensemble in the photo above.  As you can see in the photo on the right, Kershaw wore the most awesome set of socks... er, leg warmers?

Photo above via @Dodgers on twitter.  You can also go to Kershaw's Challenge on twitter (@KershsChallenge) to check out more pics from last night.  Go here to make a donation to Kershaw's Challenge.  Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodger History:  In 1982 Steve Sax tied the Dodgers rookie record for stolen bases in a season at 40.  He would finish the season with 49 stolen bases.  In 1984 both Don Drysdale and Pee Wee Reese are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  In 1996 Ramon Martinez regestered his 100th career victory.  He defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5.
• Happy Birthday, Julio Urias!  He is now 20 years old.
  

Pirates Series Starts on Friday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.   Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand.

The Pittsburgh “Primanti” Dog will be available for this homestand only against the Pirates at the Extreme Loaded Dog concession areas located on the field, loge and reserve levels. It features an all-beef hot dog topped with French fries, provolone cheese, coleslaw and tomatoes.

The ninth 2016 issue of the new Dodger Insider magazine, featuring Howie Kendrick 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, August 12th at 7:10 PM
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Vintage Dodgers Newsletter - Line Drives from the Dodgers - 1947, Vol. 9, #2

Here is an other look at an issue of "Line Drive from the Dodgers".  This time we take a peek at the June 1947 newsletter that takes the time to introduce several new faces to the fans.  As you may know, this is the season that features the debut of Jackie Robinson in the Major Leagues.  Per the headline story as seen at the very top:

Even when basepaths were soggy during the Spring and it was more hazardous than usual to try to take that extra base, Pete Reise, Jackie Robinson and other fleet-footed runners in the Dodgers cast gave enemy catchers and outfielders the jitters.  The Dodgers were always ready to run, to test the other fellow's arm.

Here is the Shotton figures it: "We got caught a few times on the bases," he said, "But we put the fear into the other fellow.  Now he knows we're a running team, and he'll have to hurry every throw.  It'll start to pay off for us now if we keep on running, for they'll make bad throws and we'll outrun that ball more often than not."