Welcome to the Blue, Jose Miguel Fernandez!

Word spread this past weekend that the Dodgers were in the midst of signing another Cuban free agent.  His name is Jose Miguel Fernandez, he bats left-handed, and has primarily been a second baseman but has been playing third this winter.  Fernandez originally tried to escape Cuba in 2014 but failed, then actually escaped in December 2015, and received MLB free agent status in April the following year.  It is a minor league deal with a bonus of $200,000; per Jesse Sanchez at MLB.com.

2016 Panini National Treasures Baseball - The Dodgers Booklet Cards

A couple of weeks ago Panini released their 2016 National Treasures Baseball card set, and I am only now able to share some pics of the Dodger cards found within it.  Go here for a complete checklist.  I am still working on gathering pics of the base cards, so I figured I start with photos of many of the Dodger booklet cards that are available.

Something of note, I've run into several cards that are not listing in the original checklist provided by Panini, so there could very well be more Dodger cards out there that we don't know about.  For instance, there is an Clayton Kershaw Stars Booklet Materials Signatures card available that is not found on their checklist.

Armory Materials Booklet

#4 Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 1/9/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic Sandy Koufax artwork found on the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel; pic via Jonathon Mayo on twitter.  It was part of a photo op for an upcoming documentary that follows the Israeli Baseball teams travels as they head towards the World Baseball Classic later this year.  Via Ben Fisher at the Jerusalem Post:

A group of 10 past, current, and future Major League Baseball players, including first-baseman Ike Davis and former outfielder Gabe Kapler, are in the country for a week-long tour that has seen them help to break ground at a new baseball field in Beit Shemesh, meet with MK Michael Oren, who hails from the United States, and enjoy the typical tourist sites around the country, including the Dead Sea, Masada and Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
...
“We brought [the players] here to have some kind of connection [with Israel]. That way, when the tournament actually starts in March, we’ll have people really, really excited about it,” she said.

Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Harley Payne, George Crable, Ivan de Jesus, Ferrell Anderson & Otis Nixon!
  

A Vintage Brooklyn Dodger Doll for the Collection

Several months ago I picked up an unusual vintage Dodgers doll that you can see above.  It was something I had never seen before, and due to my proclivity for the oddball I knew I had to make an attempt to get it.  So, I placed a bid and waited.  Fortunately, no one else had their eye on it, and I was able to take it home without much competition (and at what appears to be a steal of a price).  For about $15 I became the new owner to a "well loved" yet far from mint Brooklyn Dodgers "Bum" doll.

Blog Kiosk: 1/6/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Now this is a Baseball play.

These days it is doubtful anything like the action seen above would happen.  First of all, infielders are not expected to perform such acrobatics on the field anymore.  Instead, they hug the base and dare the oncoming runner to slide hard.  And if the runner does come at the infielder, it is likely that screams of unsportsmanlike conduct will be heard from every medium in the country.  Furthermore, a take-out slide, like the one being performed by the nameless Cardinal runner above against Jackie Robinson, just isn't done anymore.  Heck, in certain circumstances it is banned.

Photo above via Old Baseball Photos on Twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, George Shoch, Lee Walls, Marlon Anderson & Ralph Branca!
  

Dodgers Memorabilia at SCP Auctions

Considering all of the hoopla directed at Vin Scully and his retirement, I thought the above 1947 National League Championship ring was worth noting.  It is available at auction through SCP, and represents one of many different Dodger related collectibles that are currently available.  (Auction Link)  The ring above had formerly belonged to Scully mentor and legendary Dodger broadcast Red Barber.  As you know, it was Red who hired and showed Vin the ropes.  Per the auction description:

It's a ring that originates from one of the most significant seasons in history; the year Jackie Robinson shattered baseball's color barrier. Not one to rest on his laurels, Robinson also led his team to the N.L. pennant (94-60) and won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award that season. Barber was there for it all.

Below are several other Dodger items that I thought worth mentioning.