Take a Look at the 1983 Dodgers Postcard Set

I recently purchased another decent sized lot of Dodgers postcards and found a complete 1983 Dodgers postcard set within it.  What luck, eh?

Check them all out in this post.  Click any pic to embiggen.

The 1983 Dodgers Postcard set features 12 postcards.  They were produced by Mike Roberts Color Productions out of Oakland, California.  They are numbered from #C35508 to #C35519.  A complete checklist is at the very bottom.

Below is an example of what the reverse of the postcards look like.  As you can see, the card number can be found on the lower left side.  Here is a complete checklist of the 1983 postcard set:

#C35508 Dusty Baker
#C35509 Burt Hooton
#C35510 Steve Howe
#C35511 Dave Stewart
#C35512 Mike Marshall
#C35513 Bob Welch
#C35514 Bill Russell
#C35515 Fernando Valenzuela
#C35516 Mike Scioscia
#C35517 SteveSax
#C35518 Steve Yeager
#C35519 Greg Brock

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Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Dodgers FanFest on Saturday - Autograph Vouchers Still for Sale

Here are this weekends autograph opportunities and events throughout the Southland. As always, be sure to check the Blue Heaven Calendar for other events (a link can always be found on the tab at the top of this page, just left of center), and always confirm with the establishment. Everything is subject to change.  Please email me with any tips about upcoming events in Southern California.  As the rest of the week progresses I'll update this post with other events (if there are any) as I become aware of them.  Also, I don't always list every event below, so be sure to check my Calendar.  I always try to favor free signing events over paying events.  Click on any pic to embiggen.

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This coming Saturday at Dodger Stadium is the Dodgers FanFest.  The festivities begin at 10:00 AM and conclude at 4:00 PM.  Parking gates open at 9:30 AM and is free.  Check out a Dodgers press release about the event here.

As you probably know, the Dodgers sold voucher tickets for the 24 different signing sessions taking place on Monday, and as of this writing tickets are still available for 2 of the sessions.  Go here to check it out.  An autograph session voucher ticket cost $10.00, and all proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. 

Autograph vouchers must be presented at each session where they will be scanned prior to entering the designated line. Each voucher will be good for two total autographs. There will be two people per line signing autographs. Only one (1) autograph per signer per voucher. Fans may bring person items for autographs.

In addition to autograph sessions with current and former Dodger players, FanFest will feature various family friendly activities including: inflatable games, photo booths and photo opportunities, a batting cage, a wiffleball park, trampoline, face painting, balloon art, arts and crafts, DJ spin art and a memorabilia exhibit. Several Dodger sponsors will be on site with activities and giveaways including Anheuser Busch, Blue Prints, Chef Merito, Clear Channel Radio, Coca-Cola, Mother's Cookies, State Farm, SportsNet LA and Univision Radio and TV. The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will have mystery bags containing autographed jerseys, baseballs and photos for a cash donation with all proceeds benefiting the LADF.

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This weekend is the Long Beach Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center from Thursday, January 30th to Saturday, February 1st.  Go here for more information.

This show is primarily a coin and stamp convention, but there will be a some tables selling Baseball cards.  Unlike in past years, there are no autograph guest scheduled.

BTW, you can get free admission by going here.

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The New Season Can Officially Begin - 2014 Topps Baseball Cards Are Now For Sale!

It's official!

The 2014 Baseball season has begun.

No, I don't mean to say that players are reporting to Spring Training, en masse.  Although, there are various reports throughout the league that a handful of players have already shown up to get started early.

Instead, I want to let everybody know that today is the official release of the flagship 2014 Baseball card set.  Topps Series 1 Baseball is out, and you should be able to get a pack at your local card shop or retail store (like Walmart or Target). 

Some of you already know that retail boxes have already been showing up.  Heck, individual cards are currently for sale on eBay.  Unfortunately for me, my local Target did not have any of their boxes on the shelves last night.  So, I'm gonna head out to another Target this afternoon in hopes of finding a blaster box.  And as a special bonus, I'll record the opening of it and post it up here, just for the heck of it.

As you can expect, I'll have photos of all the various Dodger cards available in the set.  I hope to have my first post in a couple of days.

In the meantime, check out this goofy Clayton Kershaw card below. 

It is a short-printed variation card inserted into packs, and it features Clayton celebrating a NL Division Championship.  Based on the numbers of these cards showing up on eBay it doesn't appear to be very scarce.  Although, I would expect to pay a premium for it.  BTW, I count 6 different Dodger short-printed cards so far; including 2 different Puigs, 2 Kershaw's, a Ryu and a Hanley.  I suspect there are more yet to be uncovered.

The Kershaw short-prints have Series 2 numbering (#400).  At this point, this card easily belongs in 2014's class of "Best Dodger Cards of the Year". 

That smile, smirk, whatever you call it is the most hilarious expression I've ever seen on our left-handed hurler.

#400 (w/ Series 2 numbering) Clayton Kershaw

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Blog Kiosk: 1/29/2014 - Dodgers Links - Kasten is Best Executive, Puig Charges Dropped and Zach Lee Looks to Earn a Job

Check out Tommy Davis, "Sweet" Lou Johnson, Tim Leary and Derrel Thomas on Day 2 of the Dodgers Community Caravan.  Pic above tweeted by Courtney Jones.  Check out more pics from yesterday from Jon SooHoo, here.

• Via Peter Gammons, the Dodgers are the team to beat in the NL West.
• Via Daniel Brim at Dodgers Digest, "Pitcher Hitting – The Dodgers’ Secret Weapon?"
• Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider, "Stan Kasten named LASC Sports Executive of the Year".  This is no surprise considering the dramatic (and largely positive) changes the Dodgers have undertaken since his leadership.
• Via TMZ, the reckless driving charge against Yasiel Puig in Florida has been dropped.  He is now dealing with just a speeding charge.  This is probably the most apt charge to remain.  In the police video that was release it seemed apparent that he wasn't weaving around like a maniac; just driving way too fast.  From my understanding, a reckless driving charge is always added to speeding tickets over 100 mph (at least that's custom in CA).
• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Prospect Lee aims to be ready when called".

"I'm trying to win a job, striving to get here as soon as I can. If I pitch well and control what I can control, the opportunity will present itself not far down the road. There are contractual issues, but if you outperform people, there will be a spot for you."

• Via Bill Plaschke at the LA Times, "Athletes' union movement at Northwestern could have huge implications".
• Ryan G at Chaos and Kanji shares some photos from his day at the, "Nagoya Dome: A Baseball Game with the Chunichi Dragons".
• Hobby veteran Bob Lemke wonders, "Was Ruth's "Called Shot" ball discovered?"

Baseball memorabilia collectors weren’t so hung up on airtight provenance 65+ years ago, so there’s no telling now whether a baseball claimed in a 1947 Sporting News article  to be Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” home run ball was in fact the real McCoy.

• Greatest home run call, EVER!  You gotta watch it.  I cannot stop laughing.  And, it's a Manny Ramirez homer!  (Hat Tip: TheNebuchadnezzar on Reddit)

Video Link:

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AJ Ellis is Getting a Bobblehead! - That Makes 12 Dodger Bobbles for 2014!

This is the coolest news! 

The Dodgers have decided to add a 12th bobblehead to their 2014 promotional schedule, and it's of AJ Ellis.  Per a Dodgers press release:

As part of their 2014 promotional schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers will add an A.J. Ellis bobblehead. The first 50,000 fans in attendance on September 7 (vs. ARI) will receive an Ellis bobblehead. This marks the catcher's first Dodger Stadium bobblehead.

Ellis has served as the Dodgers' starting catcher for the past two years and is entering his 11th season with the organization after he was selected in the 18th round of the 2003 draft. The hard-working backstop guided the Dodgers' pitching staff to the Majors' second-lowest team ERA last year (3.25), when the club's hurlers established a franchise record for strikeouts (1,292), and ranked second among MLB qualifiers by throwing out 40.7% of runners attempting to steal. At the plate, Ellis tied for third on the club with a career high-tying 52 RBI and hit 10 homers in 2013, including a game-winning solo shot on Sept. 19 at Arizona in the Dodgers' division-clinching victory. In the postseason, the 32-year-old batted .323 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and three RBI, while catching every inning of the Dodgers' 10 playoff games.

Better yet, this new bobble appears to be a belated birthday gift to AJ's wife, Cindy.  She tweeted this out a few days ago (Hat Tip: Josh Tucker at Dodger Insider).

All I want for my birthday is an @AJEllis17 bobblehead!  Make it happen @Dodgers
— Cindy Ellis (@Cindyluellis) January 25, 2014

You sure can't beat that kind of turnaround.  Seemingly, with a lead-time of just a few days the Dodgers react and respond to Cindy's wishes and make her dream come true.  Congrats, Cindy!  And Congrats, Dodger fans!

This is a great announcement.

BTW, this new bobble will be the 12th bobblehead the team will give out this coming season.  Check out a list of Dodger bobbles below, and check out a complete promotional schedule here:

• Clayton Kershaw on April 24 (vs. PHI);
• Yasiel Puig on May 13 (vs. MIA);
• Hyun-Jin Ryu on May 27 (vs. CIN);
• Hello Kitty Mini Bobblehead on June 3 (vs. White Sox);
• Tommy Lasorda on June 14 (vs. ARI);
• Brian Wilson - Fan Vote bobblehead - on June 26 (vs. STL);
• Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella (Coliseum moment; 1959) on July 12 (vs. SD);
• Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Dusty Baker, Reggie Smith (30 HR same season) on July 31 (vs. ATL);
• Zack Greinke on August 20 (vs. SD);
• Magic Johnson on September 2 (vs. WAS); 
• AJ Ellis on September 7 (vs. ARI); and
• Babe Ruth (first base coach in Brooklyn; 1938) on September 9 (vs. SD).

Also, in case you didn't already know, a preview image of the Dodgers first bobblehead has already been leaked.  Check out the Clayton Kershaw Cy Young Bobblehead below.

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Mailbag: An Autographed card of a Dodgers Top Prospect - Julio Urias

I guess you can say that I've jumped onto the Urias bandwagon.

Julio Urias was signed by the Dodgers in August of 2012 as a 16-year old from Mexico, and made his pro debut on May 25, 2013 with the Great Lakes Loons (the Dodgers Low A Minor League affiliate).  Since then, he has absolutely wowed the scouts. 

He made a total of 18 starts, with 54.1 innings pitched (pitching few innings in order to maintain a low pitch count), and finished with a 2.48 ERA.  Additionally, he sported a phenomenal strike out per 9 innings ratio of 11.1, and a strike out to walk ratio of 4.19.  Not too shabby for the youngest player in the league, at 17-years old.

Since his debut, Urias has skyrocketed up the Dodgers ladder to be considered one of the 5 best (and in some polls the very best) prospects the Dodgers have. 

Per Doug Thorburn at Baseball Prospectus:

The most stunning grade on Urias' report card is the 50-grade repetition. Developing pitchers just do not have the type of consistency of timing and movement that Urias possesses right now, both game to game and within a single outing. He still has room for improvement, to be sure, but even when the southpaw is off-kilter he rarely misses his release point by much. Like any pitcher his age, Urias faces a mountain of work that has to be done before he can reach his potential, but he has an incredible head-start on his baseball journey, and the advanced nature of his skill-set puts him on an accelerated path to the big leagues.

Featured here is one of my most recent eBay purchases.  Check out the only Julio Urias card on the market - a 2013 Bowman Sterling Autographed card.  Today, this card can be purchased between $15 to $20 a piece.  I figured that if he's as good as they say he is, then I better pick one up now before it's too late.

Here are his stats, via Baseball Reference:

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