Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Blue Monday

Check out Chris Jaffe's story focused on today's Dodger anniversary.
Exactly 30 years ago today, Rick Monday helped deliver the pennant to the Los Angeles Dodgers, thanks to a ninth inning home run. Rather appropriately, Monday’s blast came on Monday Oct. 19, 1981 – “Blue Monday,” as it became known. It sure was a blue day for fans of the Expos, whose team lost due to Rick Monday’s shot.
Read more here.
Rick Monday
(Pic Link: flickr Jason Spaceman)

A New Koufax

Check that out.

I disappear for a little bit, and a new Koufax shows up in the Hobby. Topps released their Update set to their flagship 2011 Baseball set a couple of weeks ago, and it includes the below short printed Sandy Koufax card. Very nice!

It's a great photo. Obviously, it is from a World Series game where Koufax closed it out with a win at Dodger Stadium, but I wonder what year? After some brief research I think I figured it out. It has to be from Game 4 of the 1963 World Series. This was the clinching game as the Dodgers sweep'd the Yankees in 4 straight. Sandy pitched a complete game at Dodger Stadium that day- the only time he has done that in a World Series game.
UPDATE: Go the to 8:00 mark in the below video featuring highlights from the 1963 World Series to see the above moment.

Video Link:

2011 Triple Threads Dodgers Base Cards

I am little late with this post. After all, the always anticipated Topps Triple Threads set was released about 3 weeks ago. Nevertheless, as the old saying goes, better late than never.

Below are the Dodger base cards in the set. Of the 100 cards in this set 8 Dodger players, both past and present, are represented. That sure ain't a bad ratio. As always, various parallels exist to these cards, but I'll focus on just the more common version- numbered to 1500 copies. Check them out below.

I have to say that the design is underwhelming. Frankly, it looks horrible. Of course, collectors don't buy boxes for these cards. It's all about the inserts- both relics and autos. So, stay tuned as I will post up pics of some of my favorites over the next few days.

11 Duke Snider

18 Roy Campanella

19 Matt Kemp

28 Clayton Kershaw

38 Jackie Robinson

58 Pee Wee Reese

79 Andre Ethier

And last, but not least, 100 Sandy Koufax