Monday, August 25, 2014

2014 Topps Mini Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

At the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland a few weeks ago Topps unveiled their  2014 Topps Mini boxes for the masses.  As you may know, this product is a smaller (hence mini) version of the flagship Baseball card set.  They are the exact same cards and use the same checklist as Topps Series 1 and Series 2 sets.  So, I won't bother sharing what they look here.  Go here to see a complete checklist.

There are also "The Future is Now" insert cards in this set, but that too is just a mini copy of the insert set that exist in the flagship product. 

What is new and different in the mini set are the autograph and relic cards.  So, check them out below.

BTW, boxes are still available for sale through the Topps website.  Go here to check that out.

There are only two Dodger autographed cards available, but I have only seen one of them so far.  Below is the Bill Buckner mini autographed card.  There is also a Adrian Gonzalez (#MA-AG) mini autographed card. 

Mini Autographs Set

#MA-BBU Bill Buckner

Here are the Dodger relic cards that are available.

Mini Relics Set

#MR-AG Adrian Gonzalez                   #MR-CK Clayton Kershaw

#MR-HJR Hyun-Jin Ryu                        #MR-HR Hanley Ramirez

#MR-MK Matt Kemp                           #MR-YP Yasiel Puig

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Blog Kiosk: 8/25/2014 - Dodger Links - Some Odds and Ends from the Weekend


Kevin Correia served up some beachballs yesterday afternoon before finally getting pulled from the game after just three innings of work.  Overall, he served up three home runs and seven runs total.  What disaster!

Adding insult to injury, the Mets recorded a triple play against the Dodgers in the sixth inning - all thanks to a far too aggressive Yasiel Puig.  Watch it below

Video Link:

This is the second triple play against the Dodgers this season.  The Cleveland Indians did it against us in July.  You would think this would be a bad omen, but as Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider explains it isn't.  The last time this happened to the Dodgers was in 1955; when they won their first World Series in franchise history.

BTW, Correia is expected to go to the bullpen once Ryu comes back, so we won't have to (hopefully) witness that again.  Also, I should note that Adrian Gonzalez continues his hot ways.  After leading the Dodgers with two hits, a home run and five RBI's in Saturday's victory, he recorded another three hits on Sunday; including a double.  The photo at the very top of Adrian was taken by Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014Go here to check out more photos from yesterday.

Fortunately, this recent loss did not hurt us in the standings.  The Dodgers are 4.5 games ahead of the Giants.  Now, below are some links to check out:
  • ICYMI:  Hanley Ramirez was reinstated to the Dodgers roster.  Erisbel Arruebarrena was optioned to Rancho Cucamonga.  Arruebarrena should only be down for a short while.  He will definately be back up when the rosters expand.
  • Via Dustin Nosler at Dodgers Digest, "Chris Anderson’s late-season improvement reason for optimism."
The Dodgers made some mechanical changes with Anderson’s delivery a couple months ago, which could account for the improvement. One thing that hasn’t changed is his velocity. When I saw him in person, he was sitting at 93-96 MPH and topped out at 99 MPH. Friday night, Anderson hit 97 MPH a few times. As a pitcher who will live off his fastball, this is encouraging. He also has improved his off-speed pitches as the season has progressed. His slider will always be his go-to secondary offering, but his changeup has improved to the point where it could be a usable third pitch.
Campbell joined the Loons on June 20th and soon made his mark with the Dodgers affiliate. In his first five games, he had six scoreless innings giving up three hits while walking one and striking out five. On the season he has now pitched 29 innings over 22 appearances with an ERA of 1.55 and a WHIP of 1.00. He has struck out 36 and walked 8. He has yet to serve up a home run.
  • Via KUNR public radio, "Bob Motley, Last Surviving Negro League Ump, Recalls Baseball History."  Listen and learn.
  • Watch a talk about the Negro Leagues and Kansas City Monarchs via Phil Dixon on CSPAN.  He speaks about the history of the Monarchs, the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues. Mr. Dixon talks about the significance of the Kansas City Monarchs to the baseball world, fielding a number of future Hall of Fame players and inspiring several new innovations to the game, including the use of lights for night games. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum hosted this event.  Video here.
  • BTW, before the start of Sunday's game, Clayton Kershaw was presented with the trophy for the Warren Spahn Award for the 2013 season.  This award is given to the best left-handed pitcher in MLB by the Oklahoma Sports Museum.  Below is a photo of him holding it.  This is the second time he has won the Warren Spahn Award.  He also won it during his first Cy Young season in 2011.
(pic via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2014)

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* Dodgers Blue Heaven home page *