Kershaw the Dog and his Special Gift from Clayton Kershaw

This pooch you see above might be the luckiest Dodger dog in the world.  Not only did his family (err, dad -- as you'll soon find out) have the good judgement to name him Kershaw, but he also received a unique gift that has me filled with envy.  Check it out below.

Featured is another photograph of Kershaw the dog but this time it has been signed by Clayton Kershaw himself.  Wow!

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A King and Two Lakers

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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2017 Topps Heritage Baseball - The Dodgers Base Cards

The second Topps Baseball card set of the new year is now available in stores.  It is the always popular Heritage brand, and this year it celebrates the 1968 Topps Baseball set.  There are 18 Dodgers available; including the very first Topps card of Pedro Baez as a reliever.  He has numerous cards available from when he was an infield prospect a decade ago.  We also see Grant Dayton's very first card as a Dodger.  Go here for a complete checklist.

Below are pics of all 18 Dodger cards; including the three short-printed high number cards.  There are numerous variations also available, but I will wait a few days before sharing pics of them all.  Only a handful of Dodgers' variations are known so far and that list is likely to expand.

#45 Scott Kazmir

#78 Pedro Baez

Blog Kiosk: 3/1/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Spring Odds and Ends

Wonderkid Julio Urias made his first spring start yesterday; throwing 14-pitches in one inning of work, giving up two singles, allowing one run and recording two strike outs.  He then went in the bullpen to throw another inning.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"My goal this year is to better what I have," said Urias. "Last year at midseason, I worked with [pitching coach Rick] Honeycutt on the curveball and slider. I threw one curve today, threw one slider for the strikeout, and overall felt well."

He is slowly working to prepare himself for a full season slog.  As you know, the Dodgers are likely to control his workload and limit the number of innings he throws -- as they should.  He has never thrown more than 122 innings during any one season, so there is a legitimate worry about hurting his arm.  I suspect they'll try to stretch him out this year to no more than 180 innings (and that might be too high).

Photo at the very top via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017.  Go here to check out even more pics by Jon from yesterday.  Below are more links to check out:

• Of Note: This is not Dodger news, but I thought it was important enough to share.  In 1947 the Cleveland Indians, in anticipation of signing a black ballplayer, set up their spring camp in Phoenix.  The Giants do the same.  They chose Arizona because of its relatively tolerant racial climate. They would sign Larry Doby later in the year.
• Happy Birthday, Tim Thompson, Bert Hamric, Omar Daal & Blake Hawksworth!
  

A Kershaw's Challenge Exclusive Baseball Card

Why am I only now finding out about this card?

It has just come to my attention that Clayton's nonprofit foundation, Kershaw's Challenge, has their own exclusive Topps Baseball card.

From what I understand, this card was never inserted into packs for collectors to find.  Instead, they were only available directly from the pitcher himself.  All a fan had to do was to personally write to him.  Check out pics of it above and below.

As you can see, it uses the exact same image and card design from Topps' 2016 flagship Baseball card set, but includes something different on the reverse.  It includes a write-up on his foundation and brief information about signed memorabilia available for sale that benefits his charity.

This card is neither rare or scarce, and they have been selling online over the past several months for just a few bucks apiece.

I am uncertain if these cards are still being sent out to fans.  If you want to try to get one though, I might suggest writing to Kershaw (addressed to Dodger Stadium) and making a request.  And it probably wouldn't hurt to drop a small donation in the envelope, as well. 

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Welcome to the Blue, Ryan Moseley!

Better late than never, I suppose.  As you know, the Dodgers traded relief pitcher Vidal Nuño to the Orioles last week in order to make room for recent free agent signee Franklin Gutierrez on the 40-man roster.  In return for Nuño the Dodgers received a 22-year old right-handed pitching prospect named Ryan Moseley.  He had originally been drafted by Baltimore in 2016 out of Texas Tech University in the 8th round.  You can follow Ryan on twitter here: @Ryan2Moseley.  Per John Sickels at Minor League Ball:

The native of Lubbock, Texas, had an erratic spring for the Red Raiders (Texas Tech), posting a 4.98 ERA in 56 innings, undone with command problems that resulted in a poor 32/37 K/BB ratio. He was more effective in pro ball, posting a 3.20 ERA in 20 innings for the Aberdeen Ironbirds in the New York-Penn League with a 18/9 K/BB, while saving four games in five attempts.

Moseley is a 6-3, 190 pounder, age 22. He works with a low-90s sinker (resulting in a 1.92 GO/AO in his debut) along with a slider and change-up. His secondary pitches looked better in the NY-P than they did in college, helping to result in a higher strikeout rate, but even with Aberdeen his walk rate was higher than ideal. He is best-suited for relief at higher levels, with development of his command determining his ultimate fate.