Blok Kiosk: 3/8/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It's all about practice.

Featured above are Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges and catcher Roy Campanella stretching out to make a play during a spring workout at Vero Beach, dated Feb 26, 1952. (eBay auction link) Per the descriptor on the reverse:

TWO-WAY STRETCH---Vero Beach, Fla........Catcher Roy Campanella of the Brooklyn Dodgers tries to match the stretch of Gil Hodges at first nbase as they reach for a wide throw in spring training workout at the Dodgers camp in Vero Beach. The Flatbushers who were as close to the pennant as one minute to twelve last season say this is the year.".

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 teammates Joe Medwick and Pee Wee Reese wear protective headgear during a spring exhibition game in Havana, Cuba. They placed plastic inserts -- dubbed an  “Brooklyn Safety Cap” -- inside their hats. Both players had missed significant time the previous season due to head injuries; including a scare that sent Medick to the hospital for fear of a cracked skull. You can see a patent design for the cap on the right, via Baseball Hall of Fame. Click pic to embiggen. In 2011 former Dodger Assistant General Manager Kim Ng is named by MLB as the Senior Vice-President of its baseball operations, making her the highest-ranking woman in the major leagues.
• Happy Birthday, Ollie O'Mara, Carl Furillo, Al Gionfriddo, Dick Teed, Marv Breeding, Willard Hunter,  Dick Allen & Juan Encarnacion!

2018 Topps MLB Sticker -- The Dodgers

Topps MLB stickers are now out. As you know, this is the most affordable set available to collectors. There are no weird variations, autographs or relics to chase after. All you get are stickers -- wonderful stickers. A full box of 50 packs (with 6 sticker cards in each pack) can be bought for under $40. BTW, the sticker album comes with six cards already, and one of them is the Bellinger card. That card can only be found within the album. Go here for a complete checklist.

Base Set

#166 Dodgers Team         #212 Kenta Maeda

Blog Kiosk: 3/7/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

For several years during WWII the Dodgers spent their spring training in up-state New York -- Bear Mountain. Located just 20 minutes from West Point, it was not unusual for the team to train at the West Point Academy Field House; especially when the weather turned ugly. Above you can see the Dodgers play ball at the Field House as cadets check out the action. The photo is dated March 18, 1945, and was taken by famed sports photographer Barney Stein for the NY Post (eBay auction link). BTW, the photo originally comes from the personal collection of former Dodger Cookie Lavagetto.

Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Doc Scanlan, Dan Griner, Merwin Jacobson, Dick Loftus, Joe Gallagher & Jeff Kent!
• Today's Game: The Dodgers take on the Angels in their home field, and Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani is slated to bat 7th as a DH. Kershaw is scheduled to start, so it's likely they'll face each against each other for the first time. 

Team Card Sets and Kenley Jansen Stars Wars Bobblehead Just Announced

The Dodgers are going all out for their 60th anniversary in Los Angeles. Not only has an 11th bobble been added to their schedule (the Kirk Gibson bobble), but they are also adding a 12th this season.

Announced today, the team will be issuing a Star Wars themed bobble of Kenley Jansen as Lando Calrissian -- their first Star Wars bobble ever. Check out a mock-up of the bobblehead on the right. The first 40,000 fans in attendance for a game against the Giants on Friday, June 15th will get one. This day also corresponds with this years Star Wars Night themed event.

Additionally, for card collectors this next bit of news should warm your heart. The club has also announced that the “Collector’s items” indicated on their promotional schedule will be 60th Anniversary Collector’s Card Sets presented by our old friends at 76. These folks were responsible for those player portraits given away at their gas stations in the 60's and 80's.

There will be six different card sets to be given out on six different days, and each one will touch upon various generations of Dodger players. Furthermore, they will use the designs from Topps sets from their respective era's. This last bit makes me wonder if Topps will be producing these for the team. Below is a schedule:

• 1950/60’s (April 10 vs. OAK), 
• 1970’s (April 23 vs. MIA), 
• 1980’s (May 8 vs. ARI), 
• 1990’s (June 12 vs. TEX), 
• 2000’s (Aug. 2 vs. MIL), and
• 2010’s (Sept. 4 vs. NYM)

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2018 Topps Heritage Baseball - The Dodgers Relic, Autograph & Box Topper Cards

Here are all the autograph, relic and box-topper Dodger cards found in packs of Topps' 2018 Heritage Baseball card brand. Clearly, the best item here is the large team poster fashion after it's 1969 counterpart. That thing is cool, colorful and a must have. I want to get one framed for my office wall.

Real One Autographs

#ROA-AV Alex Verdugo         #ROA-WB Walker Buehler

Blog Kiosk: 3/6/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Just another fantastic spring photo of a Dodger signing for fans.

Photo above via Camelback Ranch on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1938 the Dodgers received first baseman Dolph Camilli from the Phillies for an outfielder named Eddie Morgan and $45,000. Camilli would spend the next six seasons in Brooklyn -- slashing an overall .270/.392/.497/.889 with 139 home runs, 572 RBI's and an WAR of 29.1. He would also be named the NL MVP in 1941. In 1948 the Dodgers traded second baseman Eddie Stanky to the Boston Braves. Stanky famously yelled at Phillies coach Ben Chapman during a game the season prior due to his racist insults directed at Jackie Robinson. 
• Happy Birthday, Frank Gatins, John McMakin, George Mohart, Doug Podbielan, Greg Hannahs, Terry Adams & Marcus Thames!