2019 Panini Immaculate Collection Baseball - All the Dodger Cards

Last week saw the release of Panini Immaculate brand, and I've got pics of most of the Dodger cards to share below. Go here for complete checklist. As always, all Panini cards lack team logo's, so the cards tend to be aesthetically challenging -- even with the clean designs. Nevertheless, these are always nice looking cards, so collector don't seem to mind too much. If this company were ever able to get a MLB license I suspect they'd give Topps a run for their money.

Rookie Patch Autographs

#25 Caleb Ferguson            #27 Dennis Santana

Blog Kiosk: 7/30/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Here's an up-close look at a Dodger stealing home. Featured above is a INP press photo, dated May 16, 1946, of Dodger great Pete Reiser (eBay auction link). Per the descriptor on the reverse:

The Dodgers great base stealer Pete Reiser shows his style in this sequence of photos at Ebbets Field today. With Stan Rojak at bat, Reiser makes his dash for home. He leads the league in steals and stealing home has become his specialty.

BTW, this photograph was part of the famed George Michael Collection of vintage baseball sliding pics. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 2004 the Dodgers received Brad Penny, Hee Seop Choi and Bill Murphy from the Marlins for Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota and Juan Encarnacion. In 2014 the Dodgers received infielder Darwin Barney from the Cubs for Jonathan Martinez and cash. In 2015 as part of a 3-team trade the Braves sent Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Jose Peraza and Alex Wood to the Dodgers; the Dodgers sent Zachary Bird, Hector Olivera and Paco Rodriguez to the Braves; the Dodgers also sent Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham and Kevin Guzman to the Marlins; and the Marlins sent Mat Latos and Mike Morse to the Dodgers.
• Happy Birthday, Vic Davalillo, Casey Stengel, Chuck Ward, Johnny Rizzo, Carl Doyle, Paul Minner & Ricky Horton!

Welcome to the Blue, Kristopher Negrón!

Due to some recent injuries -- Chris Taylor, David Freese and Kiké Hernández -- the Dodgers suddenly found themselves lacking in the utility department. So, instead of looking within to find a solution they have reached out to the Mariners to make a deal. Over the weekend the Dodgers traded for utilityman Kristopher Negrón in exchange for minor league prospect Daniel Castro, an infielder. BTW, you can follow Negrón on twitter: @KNegs17. Per a Dodgers press release:

Negrón, 33, has appeared in nine games for the Mariners, batting .227 (5-for-22) with three runs and one RBI. Prior to having his contract selected on July 16, Negrón was batting .310 (95-for-306) with 12 homers and 61 RBI in 82 games for Triple-A Reno. He has played parts of six Major League seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners, recording a combined .216 batting average with seven homers and 25 RBI. The California native has played seven different positions in his Major League career, recording a .984 fielding percentage in 307 chances. He was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh round (223rd overall) of the 2006 First Year Player Draft out Cosumnes River Junior College (Ca.).

Blog Kiosk: 7/29/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out some celebrating Dodgers' following their pennant clinching victory over the Phillies on September 23, 1952 (eBay auction link). Can you name them all?

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1983 Steve Garvey's consecutive-game streak ends at 1,207 when he dislocates his left thumb in a home-plate collision with Braves pitcher Pascual Pérez. The injury keeps him from playing the second game of the doubleheader. In 1996 Tommy Lasorda announced his retirement as manager of the Dodgers, following a heart attack and an angioplasty procedure a month prior. Bill Russell is named as his replacement.
• Happy Birthday, Ed Greer, Chief Meyers, George Cutshaw, Dutch Stryker, Luther Roy, Roy Henshaw, Gary Thomasson & Chad Billingsley!

2019 Topps On-Demand Sets - The Dodger Cards

It recently discovered that there are a bunch of Topps online exclusive cards that have been released through their 'On-Demand' program that I have failed to list here. So, I thought I'd take a moment this Friday afternoon to share pics of all the Dodger cards made available so far.

There have been 13 'On-Demand' sets released this year, and five of them feature Baseball players. The others focused on either Garbage Pail Kids', Star Wars, Soccer or WWE. Go here for a complete checklist. The 13th set, which is a lenticular 3D set like the old Sportsflics of the 80's, is currently available for sale through Topps (go here to order) and is not expected to be released until mid-October.

Check out all the Dodger 'On-Demand' cards below. There is a Walker Buehler autographed card available as part of set #10, but I have yet to find a pic of it.

2019 Topps On-Demand Set #1 - Black and White Baseball 

• 2,000 packs sold

Base

#31 Cody Bellinger

Blog Kiosk: 7/26/2019 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Check out this fantastic photograph that is currently available at Heritage Auctions (link here). It features Jackie Robinson, wearing a Montreal Royals uniform, shaking hands with the legendary Honus Wagner prior to the start of an exhibition/barnstorm game in October 1946. Heritage includes a link to a story about the game (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -- "Around Town: Jackie Robinson quietly showed how to integrate one day here in '46"):

The 4 o'clock game pitted a team of major leaguers -- largely Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, second-division clubs -- against "Jackie Robinson's all-stars." The great Honus Wagner, then 72, managed the major leaguers, and a three-paragraph item at the bottom of the page the next day declared: "Robinson Stars As Team Wins." 

About 3,000 watched as "Robinson cracked out a single, double and triple and fielded flawlessly at shortstop . . .The Negro star, who starred with Montreal and is the property of the Brooklyn Dodgers, drew praise from his major-league opponents on his fine play."

BTW, Jackie's team included several teammates from Montreal -- Marvin Rackley, Al Campanis and John Wright (also a Negro Leaguer). Additionally, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin and Roy Campanella joined his "Jackie Robinson All-Stars" that winter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1948 Leo Durocher, the traitorous manager who jumped ship to the hated NY Giants just ten days prior, shows up in ugly Halloween orange at Ebbets Field for the first time since stabbing Dodger fans in the back. He is not greeting warmly, but he has the last laugh. The Giants win 13-4. In 1950 Dodgers outfielder Jim Russell becomes the first ballplayer in major league history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate during a game for the second time in a career. His record is eventually surpassed by Mickey Mantle in 1956 when he accomplished the feat for a third time. In 1991 Montreal starter Mark Gardner no-hit the Dodgers for nine innings, but eventually lost the game in the tenth. He allowed two singles and reliever Jeff Fassero gave up the winning hit to lose, 1-0.  Dodger pitchers Orel Hershiser, Kevin Gross and Jay Howell combine for a two hit shutout. In 1995 the Dodgers signed free agent amateur pitcher Eric Gagne out of Seminole State College. In 2008 the Dodgers received third baseman Casey Blake from the Indians for Jon Meloan and Carlos Santana. 
• Happy Birthday, John Butler, Sam Leslie, Hoyt Wilhelm, Glenn Mickens, Jody Reed & Brandon Morrow!