1956 Brooklyn Dodgers Tour of Japan Baseball Guidebook

I ran into this great vintage Brooklyn Dodgers collectible on eBay and wanted to share it with you.

It is from October 1956 and highlights the Brooklyn Dodgers Tour of Japan that year.  As you can see, it features a great drawing of the Brooklyn Bum by Willard Mullin on the cover.  It sold for an impressive $119.16 this past weekend.

(eBay Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 8/27/2013 - Dodgers Links - Greinke, Jansen and Mattingly Way

Zack Greinke was masterful last night as he almost went the distance in a 6 to 2 win over the Cubs last night.  The Dodgers "magic number" is now 23.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.  Check out Tony Jackson's story at Dodger Scribe for details about last nights game.  Tony also shares postgame videos: Zack Greinke and Don Mattingly.

• "Kenley Jansen's unlikely switch from catcher to closer is helping the Dodgers roll out West," via Tim Brown at Yahoo.
• "Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly on Boston series: We were outplayed," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.

“I want our focus to be like we’ve always talked about,” he said. “Every day grind it out, don’t make mistakes, get better, throw the ball to the right base, take every extra base, don’t give up any extra bases, don’t give up any at-bats. You play every game like that. That’s really the focus I want. That every game is a game we have to win. You don’t take anything for granted.

• Nate Loop at The Runner shares a list of 65 notes on Vin Scully.
• "Visit from Garvey renders Jeong speechless," via Alyson Footer at MLB.com.
• Via Kara Mattingly at 14News.com, "City council approves 'Don Mattingly Way'".
• The Boyond the Boxscore blog puts up competing articles regarding who should win the NL Cy Young award.  Neil Weinberg supports Matt Harvey, and Dan Rozenson supports Clayton Kershaw.  Obviously, Dan is right.  I should also add that considering yesterdays revelation that Harvey will go on the DL with a partially torn UCL, this entire argument is now moot.
• Roberto at Vin Scully is My Homeboy shares some pics from this past weekends autograph session with AJ Ellis at El Tepeya.
• Via Travis Walden at Think Progress, "How I Stumbled On The Little League World Series And Rediscovered The Beauty Of Baseball".

Somehow, though, the entire place still manages to feel organic and pure, like it’s any local youth ballpark on any old Sunday afternoon.

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Welcome to the Blue, Maximiliano Gooding! A Fantasy Baseball Card

I just couldn't help myself.  I received word this afternoon that the Dodgers had made another signing in the international market and I knew I had to celebrate it.  After all, we've gone through years of hearing ownership promise to build through prospects, so it's refreshing to see it actually happen.  I'm really starting to love these Guggenheim folks.  They say what they mean, and actually follow through.

Via a tweet this afternoon from JP Hoornstra.

The Dodgers signed another international prospect, 17-year-old LHP Maximiliano Gooding out of Panama City, Panama.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 26, 2013

Naturally, I had to make my very own fantasy card for our newest Dodger.  I grabbed a photo of Maximiliano from TVN Noticias and used the 1987 Topps Baseball design.

Based on a report from Tu Beisbol, he is 17 years old, 5'11", and roughly 160 lbs.  He throws a 4-seamer and a 12-6 curveball.  In another article, it noted that he worked 24 2/3 innings in a 2012 youth championship series.  He allowed 13 hits, five runs and recorded a 1.82 ERA.  Maximiliano also had 25 strike outs and 4 walks.

Unfortunately, that's where the trail ends.  The slot dollars used has not been announced by the Dodgers.

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2013 Panini Pinnacle Baseball - Dodgers Clear Vision Insert Cards

Following up on my posts last week featuring Panini's newest Baseball card set, 2013 Pinnacle, I now share with you the Clear Vision Dodgers insert cards.  Check out my past post here.

The Clear Vision cards have a transparent window that denotes either a pitching or hitting outcome.  There are 5 different variations available for each player. 

For the Clayton Kershaw Clear Vision cards there is a win, complete game, shutout, no hitter and perfect game variations.  Unfortunately, I have yet to see the no hitter and perfect game variations.  They are extremely scarce.  In fact, the perfect game variation is a "1 of 1".

Clear Vision Inserts Cards: #17 Clayton Kershaw

Win                                                     Complete Game

Shutout

Three Dodger hitters have Clear Vision cards - Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez.  The variations available are single, double, triple, home run and cycle.  Like the Kershaw's above, I have yet to see two of the variations - home run and cycle.  The cycle variation is a "1 of 1".

Clear Vision Single Inserts

#17 Matt Kemp                                  #22 Adrian Gonzalez

#47 Hanley Ramirez

Clear Vision Double Inserts

#17 Matt Kemp                          #22 Adrian Gonzalez

#47 Hanley Ramirez

Unfortunately, I have yet to see an Adrian Gonzalez Triple Clear Vision card.

Clear Vision Triple Inserts

#17 Matt Kemp                                  #47 Hanley Ramirez

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Vin Scully as an Advertisement Pitchman

Still feeling the glow of Vin Scully's recent announcement that he'll be coming back for the 2014 season, I thought it would be fun to share an old advertisement featuring our favorite broadcaster.  See it below.

From the pages of an old magazine from 1979 is the below fullpage ad featuring Brent Musburger and Vin Scully pitching the All-Star game.  I guess they worked the radio waves for this game.

(eBay Auction Link)

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Blog Kiosk: 8/26/2013 - Dodgers Links - Kershaw, AGon and Kemp

The Boston / Dodgers series concluded with the first series loss for the Dodgers in months.  I'm sure there are those who think this means it's time to panic, but I think it's best to take a deep breath.  Rest, Relax and Realize that this team is doing fine.  Pic above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2013.

• It seems like everybody was talking about a report about a potential contract extension for Clayton Kershaw that fell apart.  Here is Ken Rosenthal of FoxSorts initial story.  I think, like many, that a deal will eventually get done.  After all, we still control Kershaw's rights for an additional season, and ownership would be skewered alive if they ever let him go.  After the kind of season we've been seeing, I think it's fair to say that he deserves the richest contract in Baseball
• "Dodgers see a consistent Adrian Gonzalez in full L.A. bloom," via Steve Dilbeck at the LA Times.

“He goes up there with a great plan at the plate,” said A.J. Ellis. “He spends more time in the video room checking out the guy we’re going to face than anybody we have on the team. He’s a student of the game.

“He hits in situations extremely well. He knows when it’s time for a base hit, he knows when it’s time to go for an extra-base hit. You feel really comfortable when Adrian’s up anytime, but especially when you have runners there in scoring position.”

• "Beckett has high praise for dominant Kershaw," via Austin Laymance at MLB.com.

"I know he hasn't been doing it that long, but he could possibly be the best pitcher ever -- he's that good," Beckett said. "Coming over here last year, I knew he was good. But he exceeded my expectations."

• "Dodgers' Matt Kemp could play in minor league games this week," via Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times.

“If we can’t do that, I’m sure we’ll have guys in instructional league, things like that, being able to set up some sim games,” said Manager Don Mattingly. “I want him to be sharp when he comes. Give him the best chance to have success.”

• Jim Baker at the Hot Corner shares a drawing by former Dodger hurler Carl Erskine on eBay.

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