2017 Topps Heritage High Number - Dodgers Base, Variation and Parallel Cards

Topps 2017 Heritage High Numbers Baseball was released earlier this week, and below is a look at all the Dodger cards in the base set. Go here for a complete checklist. This set includes Cody Bellinger's first Heritage card.

Base Set

#507 Brandon McCarthy

#528 Logan Forsythe

Blog Kiosk: 9/15/2017 Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

There's nothing like spending the afternoon sitting on the grass at your favorite ballpark.

Featured above is a vintage 1919 NEA press photo (ebay link) of several Brooklyn Dodger players relaxing before a game. It is date stamped August 27th, but likely comes from the prior day when they played a twin-bill against the Cardinals. I have no idea who is in the photo, but I figure Zach Wheat has got to be hiding there somewhere.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1946 the second game of a doubleheader between the Dodgers and Cubs at Ebbets Field is postponed during the fifth inning due to a giant swarm of gnats attacking the field and players. In 1978 the home attendance at Dodger Stadium of 47,188 fans marks the first time in Major League history that a team has drawn more the three million rooters at home.
• Happy Birthday, Doc Bushong, Bud Clancy, Fritz Ostermueller, Charley Smith & Jim Barbieri!

A Koufax Tropicana Hotel Postcard - Sandy in a Dodger Uniform

Many moons back I briefly wrote about an oddball postcard I had run into. It is from the famous Tropicana Hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard, and it prominently featured Dodger legend Sandy Koufax. Check out that original post here (I wrote a bit about the hotels fun and sordid past).

As you'll recall, Sandy had purchased the facility in the early 60's, and wisely sought to cash in on his fame and popularity by using himself as an promotional tools. As a result, they issued various postcards splattered with either his name and/or face.

At the time, I was only aware of a casually dressed Koufax in these postcards (see that on the right), but now I realize a postcard exist with him in Dodger Blue -- albeit, with a poorly drawn-on Dodger uni. You can see that postcard at the very top of this post.

Blog Kiosk: 9/14/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Last Nights win puts the Dodgers magic number at seven. Yu Darvish was fantastic on the mound as he recorded seven shutout innings to lead the team. Just in time, eh? Darvish was not looking like the pitcher we thought we got. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"It's more like if I keep pitching like that with that kind of results, I'm not going to be able to pitch in the playoffs," Darvish said. "The Dodgers got me for that situation, the playoffs. That was my concern."

Overall, Dodger pitchers struck out seven Giants and their offense recorded seven hits. Best yet, Cody Belling hit his first homer into McCovey Cove. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“You always see it when you’re growing up watching Barry Bonds do it,” Bellinger said of the splash homer. “To actually do it, it’s pretty cool.”

The home run was Belli's 37th of the year -- just one shy of the National League record for a rookie. He also had seven total bases. Pic above via SportsNet LA on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945, during an overnight trip between St. Louis and Chicago, the Brooklyn Dodgers train rammed into an gasoline truck, sending flames everywhere.  The train engineer and a firefighter were killed.  The Dodgers survived without serious injury because the momentum of their section carried it through the burning remains.  I had previously written about this incident here. In 1993 Mike Piazza hit home runs no. 29 and 30 to break the Major League record for homers by a rookie catcher. In 2002 Dodger infielder Chin-Feng Chen becomes the first Taiwan-born player to appear in the major leagues. He would get a pinch-hit walk and score on a double by Mike Kinkade.
• Happy Birthday, John Douglas, Stan Williams & Tim Wallach & Jerry Doggett! Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider wrote a great piece celebrating Doggett's 100th birthday last year (link here).

Blog Kiosk: 9/13/2017 - Dodgers Links - A Win and a Playoff Spot -- Woo Hoo!

Yeah!

That was a tough win last night. The Dodgers battled, fought and scraped their way towards snapping a losing streak that has been bane to faithful fans everywhere. Kershaw was good, but at times struggled. The offense showed signs of life, but still stranded eleven runners on base. The relief staff got the job done, but they sure did make me feel like downing a shot of whiskey after it was all said and done. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“This is a good thing for us,” Jansen told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo. “It keeps us humble and keeps us in check. it shows you this game is not always going to love you. You love this game and sometimes it’s not going your way. Sometimes you have to be patient and remind you how hard it is to get to the playoffs and how hard it is to win the World Series.”

BTW, with the win last night the Dodgers finally clinched a playoff spot. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"When you get off to the start we did, teams are going to gun for you, people prepare and they're out to beat you," said manager Dave Roberts. "Now, with the win, we can exhale and reset. You'll see some guys enjoy a win more than typically enjoy a win. That's a good thing. We'll refocus tomorrow. Usually there's handshakes [after wins], but tonight there were hugs."

Photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1925 future Brooklyn Hall of Famer Dazzy Vance no-hit Phillies at Ebbets Field, 10-1. In 1977 outfielder Dusty Baker set a franchise record by recording five RBI's on a single inning -- during the second inning of a game against the Padres. His hits include a two-run double and a three-run homer.
• Happy Birthday, Harry Redmond, Dutch Ruether, John Kelleher, Sam Crane, Otho Nitcholas, Morrie Aderholt, Rick Dempsey, Andy LaRoche & Zach Lee!

2017 Dodgers Sports Crate - August Edition - Adrian Gonzalez

The newest edition of the Dodgers 2017 Sport Crate came in a little light, but that's only because they finally figured out that they can no longer wait for the figurines to arrive at their warehouse. As you may know, their Sports Crates have been fashionably late, so they recently sent emails to their MLB customers indicating that the figurine for the 4th edition of their MLB Sports Crates would not be included. Instead, they would be sending those along to fans in a separate mailer. They even provided a postcard in the crates to explain the situation (see it on the right - click to embiggen).