2020 Topps Archives Signature Series "Active Player Edition" -- The Dodger Cards

The very first 2020 Topps Baseball card brand is now available, but it's not their flagship card set. That will be released next week. Instead, we have an all-autograph product featuring buyback cards signed by current Major League ballplayers. It is called "Topps Archives Signature Series - Active Player Edition", and it includes five current and former Dodger players. Go here for a complete checklist.

As you likely know, the below cards are not likely to be the only ones available for each player, so I'll do my best to update this as time goes by. Heck, I figure there's gonna be a bunch of Kershaw "1 of 1" cards floating around that will never be seen by the collecting public -- likely held within personal collections for years.

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#Clayton Kershaw

2017 Topps -- Major League Materials Insert

Blog Kiosk: 1/29/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fun press photo from Sport magazine that I ran across on eBay (link here). It features a very young Don Drysdale chatting it up with the legendary Duke Snider. The pic is undated, but is likely from the late-50's early '60's.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1958 Roy Campanella is in an early morning car accident in Long Island -- breaking his back and ending his Baseball playing career.  In 1961 one-time Dodger Max Carey, along with deadball era outfielder Billy Hamilton, are elected in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Carey played four seasons in Brooklyn, slashing .260/.346/.339/.685 with three homers and 81 RBI's, and managed the club from 1932-1933. He recorded a 146-161 record as the Dodgers skipper. In 1967 former Dodgers GM Branch Rickey, along with Pirates outfielder Lloyd Waner, are elected by the Veterans Committee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. BTW, Waner was a Dodger for a short time in 1944 -- having had 17 plate appearances in 15 games and slashing .286/.412/.286/.697. In 1988 the Dodgers signed free agent outfielder Kirk Gibson to a three-year $4.5MM contract.
• Happy Birthday, Henry Medicus, Bill Krieg, Ray Hayworth, Hank Edwards, Steve Sax, Jason Schmidt & Mike Bolsinger!

Blog Kiosk: 1/28/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Here's the upcoming cover of Time magazine that honors Kobe Bryant, via a tweet from Tania Ganguli. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:

“I was so fascinated and in awe with him,” (Justin) Turner said. “Growing up, everything that left my hand was followed by a ‘Kobe.’ What he meant to so many people here in Southern California, the icon that he was in the world, really, it’s just sad. It’s a sad day, and it’ll be a sad week, and I don’t know how long it’s going to take for anyone to get over this — if they ever will.”

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: This isn't Dodger news, but it's worth noting. In 1949 the NY Giants signed their first African-American ballplayer -- Monte Irvin and hurler Ford Smith. In 1961 the International League Board of Directors votes to move the Montreal Baseball franchise to Syracuse, New York, where the former Dodger farm club will play as the Chiefs. In 1982 the Dodgers signed free agent infield prospect Dave Anderson. He would play eight season in Los Angeles and become a World Champion in 1988 as part of the "Stunt Men". In 2004 the Dodgers signed the great Jose Lima to a one-year free agent contract. He would lead the club with a 13-5 record and become a beloved figure in Los Angeles.  In 2013 the Dodgers announce the launch of SportsNet LA, their own regional sports network on Time Warner Cable.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Doak, Lyn Lary, Joe Beckwith & Stu Pederson!

2019 Leaf Metal Draft -- All the Dodger Cards

To Leaf 2019 is not over. In fact, there are at least two products they are releasing during the first quarter of 2020 that will carry the "2019" moniker -- the first of which came out last week. It is their Leaf Metal Draft brand and like always it's filled with some of the games top prospect. Go here for a complete checklist.

Featured Dodger farmhands include the #2 prospect in the land, Gavin Lux, Jimmy Lewis, Kody Hoese and Michael Busch. See all of their cards below.

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#BA-GL1 Gavin Lux

Blog Kiosk: 1/27/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - RIP, Kobe Bryant

RIP. My deepest condolences to the family and friends of the Altobelli, Bryant, Chester, Mauser and Zobayan families. Photo above via @MLB on twitter.

Below are more link to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1933 the Dodgers signed aging veteran first baseman Joe Judge. He would slash just .214/.261/.250/.511 in 42 games before being released by the club. 
• Happy Birthday, Gil Hatfield, Bert Inks, Bob Barrett, Fred Heimach, Bob Borkowski, Nick Willhite & Angel Berroa!

2020 Dodgers Spring Training Caps Leaked

Here's a sneak peek at the Dodgers 2020 Spring Training cap. As you can see, it includes a jazzy Arizona spring patch on the reverse - likely a plastic patch. The front has a Dodgers logo patch emblazoned with the Dodgers script within the "LA" lettering.

The photo originally leaked through an Instagram account: beastmode_la -- apparently they are a merchandiser who also happens to put together fan road-trips.

Overall, I like the new hat. I don't believe I've ever seen them intermingle both the Dodgers script and logo, so I give them points for creativity. I suspect I'll be adding this to my little hat collection soon.

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