2018 Topps Opening Day - The Dodgers Insert Cards

Featured here are the Opening Day Stars, National Anthem, Opening Day Checklist, Relics, Before Opening Day and MLB Sticker insert cards found in packs of Topps 2018 Opening Day set. I hope to have pics of the Dodgers variations and autographed cards soon.

Opening Day Stars

#ODS-AV Alex Verdugo       #ODS-CS Corey Seager

Blog Kiosk: 3/15/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The passage of time sure can ease the grief.

Featured above is a vintage, circa June 1956, photograph that captures Dodger legends Duke Snider and Gil Hodges on the verge of "tomahawking" former Giants hero Bobby Thompson. As you know, in 1951 Thompson hit "The Shot Heard Round the World" that ended the Dodgers chances for a world title that season. This pic recently sold at an RMY Auction for a very affordable $34. On another note, I'm extremely angry at myself for missing this item, as well as several others, from this auction. It closed this past weekend and I just plain forgot about it.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1945 the Dodgers opened their spring camp at Bear Mountain State Park in upstate New York due to wartime travel restrictions. There were real worries that German U-boats would attack the eastern coast of America During WWII. This is the third straight year the Dodgers would practice here. In 1975 the Dodgers signed 37 year-old former Giants Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal to a free agent contract. He would retire from the game a little over a month later on April 17th. 
• Happy Birthday, Doc Casey, Ralph Miller, Rosy Ryan, Lou Fette, Dick Scott, Mickey Hatcher & Trayce Thompson!

2018 Topps Opening Day - All the Dodgers Base Cards

I was going to go on a mini-rant about this set, but as I looked closer I realized that Topps has made some changes - at least with regards to the Dodgers'. For the most part, the Topps' Opening Day brand is as boring as can be. They typically use not only the exact same design as their flagship, but also use the same pics. And the only difference would be a jazzy "Opening Day" logo on the front. This time around they mixed it up a bit.

Of the eleven Dodgers' in the base set only two use the exact photograph as its flagship counterpart -- Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger. The cards of Kershaw, Verdugo, Buehler and Wood use brand new pics. On top of that, we get a first look at 2018 Topps cards for Seager, Turner, Taylor, Jansen and Darvish (none of whom are in Series 1). This is quite a departure from years past.

Check out the Dodger base cards below. As of this posting, there are no known variations to chase after, but that could change as folks continue to open the product. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base

#1 Clayton Kershaw               #57 Yasiel Puig

Blog Kiosk: 3/14/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

(Via Reddit u/TARS_CASE)

RIP, Stephen Hawking. Per BBC:

"At the time, I thought my life was over and that I would never realise the potential I felt I had. But now, 50 years later, I can be quietly satisfied with my life." 

Speaking to the BBC in 2002, his mother, Isobelle, described him as a "very normal young man". 

She said: "He liked parties. He liked pretty girls - only pretty ones. He liked adventure and he did, to some extent, like work."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1932 the Dodgers sent 23-year old future Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi, the still very effective Babe Herman and Wally Gilbert to the Reds for Joe Stripp, Tony Cuccinello and Clyde Sukeforth.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Holbert, Jud Daley, John Miller, Mike Strahler, Kevin Brown & Jose Nunez!

Bellinger is a Mystery Redemption for 2017 Topps Stadium Club

On the heals of yesterdays announcement we find out that Cody Bellinger isn't only a "mystery redemption" for last years Finest set, but also for Topps 2017 Stadium Club brand. Check out that Bellinger card above.

As you know, there were two "mystery redemption" cards randomly inserted into packs of Topps July release - 2017 Stadium Club. Below is a listing of those redemptions.

• Mystery Redemption #1 – Cody Bellinger
• Mystery Redemption #2 – Ian Happ

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Plenty of Dodgers Memorabilia at SCP Auctions

SCP is currently running their annual Spring auction and it includes plenty of shiny Dodgers hardware to drool over. First, though, I wanted to point to a couple of fantastic game-used items that stuck out to me. First of all, check out the pristine catchers glove above. It is a Roy Campanella gamer and comes from the family of former Dodger Carl Furillo. (Auction Link)

This next item has an unusual background and provenance. The Brooklyn cap on the right is purported to be a gamer once worn by Jackie Robinson and it was attained by a fan sitting behind the Dodger dugout. (Auction Link) Per the auction description.

He acquired it decades ago from an old friend who had owned the treasured keepsake since he obtained it himself in the seats behind the Dodgers dugout at Ebbets Field upon Jackie Robinson removing it from his head and casting it into the crowd. The cap was later bestowed upon our consignor, with this verbal history, as a means to settle a debt incurred by his friend. As with many such stories, they must be taken with a grain of salt, however, when the cap arrived at our offices we were taken aback by its compelling physical traits.