Blog Kiosk: 3/16/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I love this pic that I ran into on eBay (auction link). Per the descriptor:

Yankee Stadium - Oct 3 -- Celebrate Winning Ways -- Tommy Davis, left fielder; Johnny Podres, winning pitcher; and Bill Skowron, first baseman, left to right, are shown in Dodger dressing room at New York Yankees Stadium today after Dodgers second straight win over the New York Yankees in the 1963 World Series. Davis contributed two triples and Skowron, a homer in the Dodgers 4-1 victory.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2010 Dodger Stadium hosted a memorial service for Willie Davis, who had passed away a week prior. Per an AP story at the Spokesman:

“I like to believe the president saw the news and felt a little sadness,” his daughter, Kim, said in an hour-long service, “as did the mailman, the man at the doughnut shop, the drug addict downtown, and the 45-year-old who remembers the lightning speed of the 3 Dog.”

...
“He was the only man I’ve ever seen who, when he hit a ball in the gap, the opposing team watched him run,” (Lou) Johnson said.
...
“He was one of the most likable Dodgers,” O’Malley said. “The fans liked him. Members of the press liked him and respected him. Management liked him. He was just a likable person. He was the best, and I’m going to miss him.”

• Happy Birthday, Patsy Donovan, Jake Flowers, Lloyd Waner, Hee-Seop Choi, Curtis Granderson. Brian Wilson & Brandon League!

2020 Topps Opening Day -- Now the Rest of the Inserts

Here's a look at all the remaining Dodger insert cards found in packs of Topps 2020 Opening Day set.  I've also included pics of the two Dodger base variation cards of Max Muncy and Walker Buehler. Autograph versions of these two cards are also available, but I have yet to see any pics of them. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Image Variation

#107 Max Muncy
Normal Base                   Photo Variation

2020 Topps Opening Day - The "Walk this Way" Subset

With the postponement of Opening Day I figured the best thing for me to do is share more Dodger cards from Topps 2020 Opening Day Baseball card brand. This time, though I thought I would slow-play this by writing about one specific subset -- the "Walk this Way" set.

These cards appears to highlight walk-off hits, but unfortunately the cards do not specifically say this anywhere. I was hoping the reverse of the cards would have a description of the event being pictured, but all Topps does is use the back design from their flagship cards. That said, it's fair to assume that "walk-offs" are exactly what these cards are meant to highlight.

In this subset there are three Dodgers available to collect -- Max Muncy, Will Smith and Joc Pederson -- and I thought it would be fun to highlight their walk-offs during the 2019 season. As you know, the Dodgers recorded 12 walk-off victories last year - two each by Muncy and Smith, and one by Pederson.

Walk this Way! subset

#WW-2 Max Muncy

Blog Kiosk: 3/12/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

I feel ya, Jose!

How many of you folks remember this meme?

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1989 the Dodgers traded outfielder Mike Devereaux to Baltimore for starting pitcher Mike Morgan. Morgan would stay in LA for three seasons -- compiling a 33-36 record with an 3.06 ERA, 3.38 FIP and a 1.162 WHIP. In 2003 Mets catcher Mike Piazza charged the mound to go after Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota during a spring training game at Thomas J. White Stadium in Port St. Lucie, FL. Mota plunked Piazza on the shoulder, so Piazza stormed after him -- even going so far as to enter the Dodgers clubhouse after the game. Both players would be suspended five games. Per Mike DiGiovanna at the LA Times:

"Where's Mota?" Piazza screamed, checking the trainer's room. "Where's Mota?" he yelled, walking through the clubhouse. Once he realized Dodger reliever Guillermo Mota had left, Piazza walked out the back door, got into his car and sped off.

• Happy Birthday, Frank Schneiberg, Bob Barr, Jim Wynn, Darryl Strawberry, Shawn Gilbert, Steve Finley, Raul Mondesi & Greg Hansell!

2020 Topps Opening Day - The Dodgers Base Cards

With Opening Day looming, Topps has released their annual Opening Day set, and I've got pics of all the Dodger base cards to share. This set officially released today. As you may know, this brand is almost a carbon-copy of the flagship set they released a couple of weeks ago -- the main difference being a smaller base set and an Opening Day graphic on the front of each card. Go here for a complete checklist.

We are also treated to a first look at what the flagship cards will look like for Corey Seager, Walker Buehler and Will Smith cards in either the Series 2 or Update sets when they come out later this season. All three of these players are not found in the Series 1 flagship base set.

BTW, there are a couple of variations available -- Max Muncy and Walker Buehler -- but I do not have photos of them yet. Check out the Dodgers' base cards below.

Base

#9 Joc Pederson               #14 Alex Verdugo

Blog Kiosk: 3/11/2020 - Dodgers Links & News - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this vintage photograph I ran into while perusing eBay. It is a Barney Stein photo of the 1956 Brooklyn Dodger team at the Atomic Memorial in Hiroshima during their Tour of Japan series that fall (eBay link). I suspect it was originally found in one of those presentation photo albums the team made for the players and staff that headed for the Far East. You can also see this exact image at the Walter O'Malley.com website, where it says:

A bronze plaque from the Dodgers was presented at the Hiroshima stadium with the following legend: “We dedicate this visit in memory of those baseball fans and others who died by atomic action on August 6, 1945. May their souls rest in peace and with God’s help and man’s resolution peace will prevail, forever, amen.” Among those attending the presentation were Dodger President Walter O’Malley, manager Walter Alston, and Dodger players as Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1953 the very first spring game is played at the newly built Holman Stadium at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. The Dodgers faced off against the A's and defeated then, 4-2. In 1972 Dodgers Hall of Fame legend Zach Wheat dies at the age of 83. He was a Brooklyn Dodgers for 18 seasons -- slashing .317/.367/.452/.819 with 131 home runs, 2,804 hits and a batting title in 1918.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Pounds, Joe Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Rich Hill & Pedro Baez!