Weekend Autograph Opportunities: Chris Taylor, Fernando Valenzuela and some Angels

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 Allen & Ginter - All the Dodgers Base Cards

Allen & Ginter is finally here. The ever popular vintage throwback set officially hits stores today, and it includes a design that is a bit different from past sets. While still using pastel colored backgrounds Topps decided to put a players portrait within an oval frame that is very reminiscent of both the early 20th-century Rose Company postcards and PM1 Ornate Frame pins.

Below are all of the Dodger base cards in the set. Go here to check out a complete checklist. As always, each base card has it's own parallel mini version available. There are also metal and cloth mini cards available of only a limited number of players in the set. A Dodgers' checklist and an example of those cards are seen at the very bottom of this post. BTW, there is unfortunately no Cody Bellinger base cards available, but there is an autographed card that can only be found as a redemption card.

Base

#5 Adrian Gonzalez               #62 Joc Pederson

Blog Kiosk: 7/19/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It's amazing that Clayton Kershaw can struggle and still throw seven scoreless innings to win a game. Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"I was a little rusty tonight," said Kershaw, who hadn't pitched since a July 9 complete-game win over the Royals in the final game before the All-Star break. "The fastball command wasn't great, it got a little better as the game went. Nine days off definitely is not something I'm used to. I'm thankful to get out of that unscathed, and glad we won."

Kershaw now has 15 wins and the Dodgers are riding high with a ten game winning streak. Photo above via ESPN on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1977 Don Sutton took home All-Star Game MVP honors when the NL defeats the AL 7-5 at Yankee Stadium. As the starting pitcher, Sutton pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out four. Fellow teammate Steve Garvey hit a third inning solo home run. In 1993 outfielder Raul Mondesi made his Major League debut and recorded a single in his very first at-bat. 
• Happy Birthday, Bill Hart, Erve Beck, Ben Geraghty, Luis Avilan & Rachel Robinson! 

2017 Topps Stadium Club - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Now that you've seen the base cards, here are all of the Dodgers inserts available in packs of 2017 Topps Stadium Club. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Unfortunately, several Dodger autographed cards are available only through a redemption; including Corey Seager, Julio Urias and Sandy Koufax. Strangely, the aforementioned signers do appear to have auto'd Base Chrome Autographed cards available in packs -- they are all sticker autographs. If I am not mistaken, all the normal base autographed card are signed on-card; whereas the Chrome autographs include sticker autographs.

Instavision

#I-CK Clayton Kershaw

Blog Kiosk: 7/18/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) of the 1943 Monterrey Industriales of the Mexican League featuring future Dodger backstop and Hall of Famer Roy Campanella (on the far left). To the right is a closer look at the 21-year old catcher. It is currently on auction at RMY Auctions, and I suspect it will sell for a bunch. The auction listing states that this is the earliest known Campanella cardboard collectible.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1939 the Dodgers receive shortstop Pee Wee Reese from the Red Sox in exchange for $35,000, three minor leaguers and a player to be named later. It is later discovered that a poor scouting report filled out by then current Boston shortstop Joe Cronin purposefully downplayed Reese's abilities for fear of losing his job. In 1949 Jackie Robinson testified in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities to express his disagreement with actor Paul Robeson's assertion that African-Americans would not fight a war against Russia due to America's history of racial animus. In 1957 Gil Hodges hit his 12th career grand slam to tie a National League record held by both Rogers Hornsby and Ralph Kiner.
• Happy Birthday, Johnny Hopp!

2017 Topps Stadium Club - One Dodger SSP Variation - Kershaw's FB Grip

I spoke way too soon last week. There is a Dodgers 2017 Stadium Club base variation card in the set and it is of Clayton Kershaw. See it below on the right.

Although I don't believe we've seen this exact photo before, we have seen something similar in the past. In both the 2009 and 2013 Allen & Ginter sets we saw Clayton showing us his four-seam fastball grip. You can see both of those cards at the very bottom.

#230 Clayton Kershaw

Base Card                                                  Variation