Blog Kiosk: 9/22/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

I am hoping desperately that there isn't an "ESPN Curse" 'cause I don't think I can handle that. As you can see, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig are featured on the cover of this coming months issue of ESPN The Magazine MLB - Playoffs Issue. BTW, the Cleveland Indians are also on the cover (I assume in newsstands on the east coast). Per a story inside via Tim Keown; "You Win Some, You Lose Some: Two dramatic streaks will define the Dodgers' 2017 season -- unless they can pull off something even more memorable in October."

It's jarring to watch a team that considered winning a byproduct of its existence profess a joyless pride in a minimal level of competitiveness. Twice a day, Roberts talks about signs of life as if assessing the vitals of a comatose patient. The Dodgers had the best 50-game streak in 105 years and the franchise's longest losing streak in 73. Same team, same season. On the day his team broke the losing streak, Roberts said, "A lot can change in three weeks. We've lived it."

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1947 Duke Snider hit his 39th and 40th homers of the season to tie a National League record for hitting at least 40 home runs in five consecutive seasons. His second homer also proved to be the last home run to ever be hit at Ebbets Field. In 1954 Dodgers pitcher Karl Spooner, in his Major League debut, shutout the Giants, 3-0, at Ebbets Field. He fanned 15 Gnats and allowed only three hits. In 1976 Don Sutton, for the first and only time in his career, won his 20th game of the season when he defeated the Giants, 3-1. In 1986 Fernando Valenzuela became the first Mexican ballplayer to win twenty games in a season when he defeated the Astros, 9-2.
• Happy Birthday, Bill Joyce, Doc Marshall, Tommy Lasorda, Sweet Lou Johnson, Doug Camilli, Jim Fairey, Jeffrey Leonard, Dave Sax & Mark Guthrie!

Giants Series Starts Friday - Autographs, Pregame Info and Other Stuff!

The next homestand starts on Friday against the San Francisco Giants. Below are some odds and ends for this upcoming homestand. Here are some important links:

• 2017 Broadcast Schedule
• Special Events Schedule
• Promotions & Giveaways Schedule
• Silent Auction Schedule 
• Friday Night Fireworks Schedule 
• Viva Los Dodgers Schedule

The Brunch At The Park will be available for this homestand only against Giants available Field section 22 and 23 and Loge section 136. It features Kings Hawaiian bun dipped in French toast batter stuffed with Farmer John’s breakfast sausage, fresh berries, maple syrup and powdered sugar. See it on the right.

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Friday, September 22nd at 7:10 PM

TV: SportsNet LA, SNLA Spanish

Radio: 570 LA Sports, KTNQ 1020

2017 Topps Gold Label - All the Dodgers Cards

This week saw the release of two Topps Baseball card sets -- Triple Threads and Gold Label. Below we take a look at all of the Dodgers' Gold Label cards. Go here for a complete check list.

There are 100 base cards in a set that includes both current and retired ballplayers. Furthermore, each player (all 100 of them) have three different "classes" available of them. So, in actuality, all 100 players in the set have three different base cards, and this translates into a 300 card base set. As you can see below, each different class of card  uses a different background photo. Also, each class is scarcer than the other -- Class 1 being the most common. Take a look at all the Dodger cards available in the set below.

Base

#19 Cody Bellinger

#31 Corey Seager

I'm Now a Topps Now Collector -- Dodgers 2017 Players Weekend Set

For Players Weekend a few weeks back Topps issued a special five-card set to commemorate the occasion. Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager, Kenley Jansen, Chase Utley and Justin Turner were chosen to be featured in the set. Having yet to add a Topps Now card to my collection I decided I would finally dive in and place an order. Yesterday afternoon it arrived. Check out the entire Players Weekend Dodgers Topps Now set below. BTW, this set has a print of 345 copies.

On a side note, it's nice that Seager is a part of the set, but it would've been best to include someone who actually put something fun on the back of his uniform... Like, Chase Utley... The "Silver Fox."

#PW-66 Yasiel "Wild Horse" Puig

Blog Kiosk: 9/21/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

As we continue to be concerned about the current state of the team, I think it's important to recognize that so many of our ballplayers have close ties to the areas that are currently facing difficult times. A devastating earthquake and a series of destructive storms have pummeled Mexico City, the Southeastern United States, and the Caribbean (especially the island of Puerto Rico). We, like the Dodgers, should keep all of them in our thoughts.

Photo above of Yasiel Puig via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2017. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1934 Cardinals starter Paul "Daffy" Dean ho-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, 3-0. In 1952 the Boston Braves play their last home game in Boston in a game against Brooklyn. Of the 8,822 fans on-hand most are rooting for the Dodgers. The Braves would move to Milwaukee the next season. In 1997 Mike Piazza becomes the first Dodger, and the first player in 25 years, to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. He whacked it off Rockies pitcher Frank Castillo over the Left Field Pavilion, and it is said to have traveled 478 feet. Willie Stargell was the last player to do it before Piazza. You can watch the monstrous homer here.
• Happy Birthday, Frank McManus, Max Butcher & Manuel Barrios!

Weekend Autograph Opportunities: A Dodger, Two Lakers and a Ram

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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