Corey Seager NL Rookie of the Year Award Winner - 2016 Topps Now Cards - #OS-16

To the surprise of no one, Corey Seager was named the unanimous winner of the National League "Rookie of the Year" Award winner last night.  In honor of that Topps is making available an Topps Now card to commemorate the honor.  Go here to check it out and order.

Additionally, Topps has created six different (and massively overpriced) game-used relic cards that come from Game 2 of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals.  As you will recall, he walloped a first inning solo home run during the game.  You can check those out at the very bottom of this post.

Blog Kiosk: 11/15/2016 - Dodgers Links - Demolition, Puig, Agon and Corey Seager

A couple weeks back I shared some unique photos featuring the progress of the demolition of a ballpark called Washington Park II -- the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1898-1912 (link here).  These date to 1926 and were taken by a local photographer for the Brooklyn Edison Company.  As you may know, Con Edison of New York (no doubt an offspring of the Brooklyn Edison Company) currently sits on the land this stadium once stood.

Now, I've run into even more photos of the demolition and this time we get a close-up look at the grandstands that once housed thousands of hollering fans.  They are available through eBay (links here, here, here, here, here and here).  Click on any pic to embiggen.

Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History:  In 1962 Dodger Hall of Famer Don Drysdale is named the NL Cy Young Award winner.  He went 25-9 with an 2.83 ERA, 19 complete games and 232 strike outs.  In 1988 Dodgers outfielder and legend Kirk Gibson was named the NL MVP.  BTW, he is the first MVP to not have been selected for the All-Star Game in the same season. 

2016 Topps Chrome Update - All the Dodgers Cards - Target Version

For the third year in a row Topps has released their 2016 Topps Chrome Update set exclusively as a retail product.  For now they can only be found in Target stores.  They are found in their Holiday Mega Boxes that include two packs of the Chrome Update cards and five packs of the flagship Topps Update cards.  Go here for a complete checklist.  BTW, a separate Mega Holiday Box will also be found at WalMart beginning on November 15. The Walmart version will include a different set of exclusive cards, so stay tuned for a post on those cards when they are available.

On a side note, there's is nothing new, in terms of photo selection, about the Chrome Update set.  There are five Dodger players in the 50 card set and they look exactly like the cards that are available in their flagship 2016 Topps Update set released in October.  What does make them unique, though, is both the chrome technology of the card stock and the bubble-like refractor design seen in the background of all the base cards (that is easily seen in the pics below).

#HMT7 Kenta Maeda

#HMT18 Trayce Thompson                          #HMT21 Ross Stripling

Blog Kiosk: 11/14/2016 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This past Friday on Veterans Day the Dodgers hosted a 300+ contingent of American military personnel and veterans for an afternoon of batting practice, food and tours at Dodger Stadium.  Per Ken Gurnick at MLB.com:

"The Dodgers want to honor the men and women that serve our country, and not just the service people, but their family and loved ones," said Naomi Rodriguez, Dodgers vice president of external affairs.
"We want them to come here and have a great time, have a Dodger Dog. I mean, it's everyone's fantasy to hit a ball at Dodger Stadium. So we give them that opportunity to walk to home plate and take batting practice and have a great time."

Photos above via @Dodgers on twitter.  Below are more links to check out:

• Happy Birthday, Jim Brewer!

Corey Seager NL Silver Slugger SS Winner - 2016 Topps Now Card #OS-10

To no one's surprise Corey Seager was named the National League recipient of the Silver Slugger Award for the shortstop position yesterday.  In commemoration of that Topps has issued the featured 2016Topps Now card seen in this post.  Go here to check it out and order.

Welcome to the Blue, Darin Ruf & Darnell Sweeney!

The Dodgers have made their second trade of the winter.  They sent infielder/outfielder Howie Kendrick to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf and minor league infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney. 

As you'll recall, word recently spread that Howie Kendrick was unhappy with his role this past season as a roving left fielder/second baseman -- even though only four other Dodgers' (Corey Seager, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner and Chase Utley) had more at-bats than him.  Nevertheless, he wanted a more consistent position, and apparently the Phillies are able to abide.  BTW, Kendrick has a one-year contract remaining at $10 million.