2019 Topps Now -- #619, #621, #627 & #633 -- Dodgers Weekend Bounty

You know you've had a fantastic weekend when four different Topps Now cards are issued to celebrate and memorialize your games. Unfortunately, I had failed to write about any of them, so I'll make up for that now by highlighting them here. Overall, three of the four cards are now sold out -- with only the Max Muncy card shown above being available right now. Go here to check it out and order.

As you may know, last night Max Muncy hit a line-drive walk-off double down the right field line to knock in two runs during the ninth inning to defeat the Padres. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

Blog Kiosk: 8/5/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

No truer words have ever been sent. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“We’re never out of it,” said Alex Verdugo, who scored one of two runs on Max Muncy’s walk-off double. “For everybody watching, too, don’t leave early. At the end of the day, we can do something special any given moment.”

The Dodgers won last nights game, 11-10, on a walk-off double by Max Muncy to drive in Corey Seager. Photo above via Josh Barber/Los Angeles Dodgers 2019 at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from last nights game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1969 Pirates Hall of Famer Willie Stargell becomes the first ballplayer to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. He hit the solo shot to the right field pavilion off of Dodgers' right-handed reliever Alan Foster in the 7th inning give Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead. It is estimated to have gone 512-feet. The Pirates would win the game, 11-3. In 1974 Alex Stein, along with his best mate Ashley Whippet, got onto the Dodger Stadium field prior to the start of the ninth inning, and started an unapproved and yet spectacular Frisbee toss and catch routine. It wows the crowd and is credited with starting a Frisbee crazy in the country. BTW, Ashley is a dog. Stein would eventually be arrested for trespassing, but the incident would lead to them performing at the White House and a Super Bowl. Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider wrote all about it here. In 1979 Don Sutton struck out six Giants' batters to become the Dodgers' All-Time strikeout leader with 2,487. He surpassed Don Drysdale. 
• Happy Birthday, John Hale, Carl Crawford & Tim Federowicz!

Cardinals Series Starts Monday - Stadium Giveaways, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand. I will update this should new and updated information become available. Here are some important links:

• 2019 Broadcast Schedule
• Parking Information 

• Special Events Schedule

• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule

• Silent Auction Schedule 

• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 

• Dodger Stadium Parking / Transportation 

• Dodger Stadium Express / LA Metro  

Please note that the Dodgers are embarking on a new culinary experience at the stadium. Fans can find the LA Feeds Blue Chef Series located in the right field plaza that will feature a special Chef Series pop-up concession stand. This homestand will feature foods from Park’s BBQ. More information is available at the bottom of this post.

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Monday, August 5th at 7:10 PM

Tony Gonsolin vs Michael Wacha

TV: SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish

Radio: AM 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

2019 Topps Now - #617 - Kershaw Passes Koufax

The newest Dodgers' 2019 Topps Now card makes note of Clayton Kerashaw's recent strikeout feat. Last night he recorded his 2,397th strikeout to surpass Dodger legend Sandy Koufax on the Dodgers' all-time strikeout list -- only Don Sutton and Don Drysdale have more. Go here to check it out and order. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I heard the crowd, but I was a little bit frustrated at myself at the time,” Kershaw said. “But after the game, I have the ball right here. It was really cool. I don’t know what to say other than it’s a special thing.”

Per the descriptor on the reverse:

Clayton Kershaw passed sandy Koufax for the most strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher in Lo Angeles Dodgers history when he retired the 2,397th batter of his career on strikes. Kershaw's milestone came in a solid performance, during which the left-hander struck out five and allowed just two runs over six frames.

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Welcome to the Blue, Dustin May!

When your prospects are too good to trade there's only one reasonable solution.

You call them up!

As you surely know by now, the power righty at Triple-A Oklahoma City, often bandied about as a trade target by other teams, will be called up to make his Major League debut later tonight. His name is Dustin May, and he just may show why we didn't need no stinkin' trade. Per Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors:

May boasts a three-pitch arsenal that includes a two-seam fastball that can touch 97mph, a cutter that reaches the low-90s, and an impressive curveball.  On the 20-80 scouting scale, MLB.com ranks all three pitches with at least a 60-grade, topped off with a 65-grade fastball.  May throws a lot of strikes, and doesn’t allow many walks or home runs.  While his 27 1/3 innings in Triple-A is a small sample size, May didn’t allow a single homer during his brief stint in the very hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Blog Kiosk: 8/2/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Will Smith! Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“Everyone wants to be in that situation,” Smith said. “I’ve been in that quite a bit lately, and I’ve made the most of it. I’ve got confidence in that situation. It’s encouraging. You know you can do it. You’ve been there before.”
...
“I’m cautious to make this comparison,” Roberts prefaced with a grin, “but (Yasiel) Puig was like this when he came up. That’s the only time I’ll compare Will Smith and Yasiel Puig, but yeah, he’s coming up and that excitement — when he comes up, guys want to watch him.”

Smith hit a game deciding grand slam in the sixth inning to lead the Dodgers towards an 8-2 (boxscore) victory over the Padres.

Photo above via Juan Ocampo/2019 LA Dodgers at Dodger Insider. Go here to check out more pics from yesterdays game. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 Dodgers President Larry MacPhail introduced the yellow baseball. It was used during the first game of a doubleheader at Ebbets Field against the Cardinals. The Dodgers won that game, 6-2. The yellow baseball would only be used three more times this season. In 1982 the United States Postal Service unveiled a new 20-cent stamp commemorating Jackie Robinson at a ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. Robinson becomes the first ballplayer to be depicted on the US postage stamp. Check it out on the right.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Hill, Jim Holmes, Bill Posedel, Mike Venafro, Matt Guerrier & Onelki García!