2012 Topps Pro Debut- Dodgers Base Cards

If you love the Minor Leagues then this set is for you.  Last week Topps released their 2012 Pro Debut set that features prospects for every team.  There are 6 Dodger farmhands in the set.  Check them all out below.

#29, Allen Webster

Chattanooga Lookouts

#125, Justin Boudreaux

Ogden Raptors

#131, O'Keyea Dickson

Ogden Raptors

#208, Joc Pederson

Ogden Raptors

#212, Devin Shines

Ogden Raptors

#217, Alfredo Silverio

Chattanooga Lookouts

Blog Kiosk: 6/18/2012

I still have a Stanley Cup hangover.  If you do too, then you'll enjoy these pics by Dodgers photographer Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012 from when the Kings brought the Stanley Cup to the stadium last week.  See a bunch of pics from that afternoon, here.

• Help Support the Fergie Jenkins Foundation, via 30-Year Old Cardboard.

"In an effort to raise funds for the various charities that they support, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation will be holding monthly online auctions in which they will be auctioning off baseball memorabilia and autographed items as well as items from other sports."

Go here to see everything available; including a autographed Clayton Kershaw Baseball and Marcus Allen football.

• GCRL makes a Jim Gilliam card that should have been inserted into 1979 Topps cards.
• Vin Scully, on Tommy Lasorda's Stubborness- via Sons of Steve Garvey.
• Tony Jackson at ESPN writes "2012 Dodgers Inspiring Memories of 1988.

"It's a lot like my 1988 team," Lasorda said. "We didn't have an overabundance of guys who were great, but we had guys who were great together, and I think that is what you are seeing now. At least that is what I see."

Well, it's what I see, too. And I have a strong suspicion that a lot of other people are seeing the same thing.

• Big League Stew tells us about a soldiers surprise at Dodger Stadium on Fathers Day.
• Cardboard Junkie points out a must have for any card collector, and I couldn't agree more.  Long live Bip Roberts!
• Matt Kemp on Jimmy Kimmel.  Part 1.  (Hat Tip: LA Blue Crew)

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Matt Kemp on Jimmy Kimmel.  Part 2.

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Between Two Palm Trees- 2 New Episodes

Awesome... That's all I gotta say.  Awesome.

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Here,Clayton Kershaw chats about the problems with being left handed.

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eBay: 1962 Dodgers Admission Tokens

I've always been intrigued about this token set.  I knew they were given out to season ticket holders, but I was unsure when.  On top of that, I knew very little about its background. Fortunately, those questions have been answered.

First, check out the above and below pics from a eBay auction item featuring the 1962 Admission Tokens.  It comes with a blue cloth bag (not shown) and a helpful card explaining a little bit about the origin of the tokens (see it above).  Then, the official Dodgers Historian, Mark Langill, provides more background about the tokens on his blog a few days ago.

When Dodger Stadium opened in 1962, general admission patrons in the Left and Right Field Pavilions were supposed to use a “coin” system, similar to a subway token. The concept made sense in terms of saving costs of printing tickets. But the pennant race in 1962 produced “coin horders,” which meant enterprising fans would purchase extra coins to ensure seating for a Dodgers-Giants game in late July. When overflow crowds appeared around the Pavilion box offices, the coin concept was scrapped in favor of the paper tickets

Remaining coins were stored away and eventually given out to season ticket holders in the below presentation case in 1992- 30 years after their initial use.

(eBay Auction Link)

A Childs Obsession with the Dodgers and Baseball Leads to Hollywood

This is a story of a 3 year old child obsessed with the Dodgers and Baseball.  Of course, that alone isn't unusual.  After all, this is America and Baseball (regardless of what football fans say) is our nations pastime.  What does make this unique is that this little tyke has some skills.  Heck, we might be looking at the next Bryce Harper here.  I jest, of course.  He's got a few more years before scouts start knocking down the door.

Christian Haupt is a Thousands Oaks kid with a ferocious love of the game and the Dodgers (obviously this kid is smart, too).  And let me note that I'm not being facetious when I say he has skills.  After watching a little video on him I think prodigy might be a good word to describe him.  In fact, he is so good he was able to parlay his early childhood brilliance into a Hollywood acting role in Adam Sandler's "That's My Boy."  You can see a trailer for the film, here, and see little Christian towards the end. 

You'll note that some Hollywood magic is used, but don't let that form your basis of judgement.  This 3 year old can play.  I mean, have any of y'all watched 3 year olds play ball.  It's hilarious.  They are so uncoordinated at that age.  On top of that, most children have no clue what is going on.  Christian Haupt, though has a Baseball IQ that is clearly off the charts.  His Mom sent along a link to a video featuring Christian during filming and I have to admit that I am very impressed.  I think scouts need to put this kids name down on their tickler file to check back on in a decade or so from now.  Anyway, watch the video below.

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Do you see what I mean?  That kid can throw, catch and swing a bat- and he's only 3!  3!  Actually, he was just a few weeks short of three when this was filmed.  Holy Moly!

Here's another video of him at Fenway Park.

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BTW, The Ventura County Star has a great writeup on him from yesterday that is worth checking out.  See it here. 

Christian's attire at Dodger Stadium — a full baseball uniform with cleats — doesn't merit a second glance, but it does warrant a few stares when he goes to school or the family attends church.

"Even if it's in the heat of summer, he wears full baseball clothes with the high socks and long pants," his mother said. "He won't wear shorts even if it's 100 degrees. He never takes it off. I have a laundry pile every week with 10 pairs of white pants with grass stains all over and holes in the knees."

A big thanks to Christian's Mom for sharing.

Dodgers Blog Kiosk: 6/15/2012

Here is Kings centerman Anze Kopitar and Andre Ethier.  Photo via @Dodger twitter Jon SooHoo/ LA Dodgers 2012.

• LA Inspiration has a couple of videos from Matt Kemp's appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show last night.
• Aaron Miles officially retires, via Hardball Talk.
• Buster Olney suggest the Dodgers are looking around for a 1st Baseman, while Robert Timm at Dodger Dugout wonders who might be on Colletti's target list.  Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness does the same.  I'm not sure the names brought up are much better than Loney.
• Here's a preview image from Topps of a Sandy Koufax autographed Tier One card, as found on twitter.

• Tommy Lasorda is feeling better after last weeks scare, via Steve Dilbeck at LA Times.

"I feel stronger," Lasorda said Thursday night in his first public appearance since suffering what the Dodgers called a "mild" heart attack last week in New York. Lasorda said doctors discovered one of his arteries was 90% blocked.

Tommy, I think you need to look at joining SlimFast again.

• Molly Knight has a great article in ESPN the Mag.

From the outside, he looks like the same old Kemp: a guy whose talent is as raw as his composure is unformed, beguiling fans with the preternatural ability he doesn't care to hone. But perceptions are deceiving with Kemp, especially of late. The harder the game treats him, the more he respects it, cares about it -- and the better he plays. 

• Bob Lemke tells a little more about the history of Berk Ross Baseball cards from the early 50's.
• You can follow The Stanley Cup online this summer.  Find out how from Rich Hammond at LA Kings Insider.  BTW, I hear it is currently in Las Vegas.
• This is something I had totally forgotten about.  Before the season started, the Kings (Luc Robitaille and Bailey) placed 3 "lucky pennies" at center ice in the Staples Center.  Bailey, the Kings mascot, put up a pic on twitter of those pennies being removed.  One from 1893- the year the Stanley Cup was donated; a second from 1993- the year the Kings were last in the Finals, but lost; and the last penny was from 2002- the year Luc won The Cup as a member of the Red Wings.  UPDATE:  Strike that.  Rich Hammond on the LA Kings Insider blog notes that one of the pennies was from 2006- the year Bailey's beloved Colt won the Super Bowl.