A Whole Boatload of Yu Darvish Fantasy Dodger Cards

It is Yu Darvish Day, so naturally I had to make a whole bunch of fantasy Baseball cards featuring Yu in Dodger Blu.

Can you tell how excited I am about today's game?

2017 Topps Chrome - All the Dodgers Insert Cards

Below are all of the Dodger inserts found in packs of 2017 Topps Chrome; including the lone Dodger base variation card of Clayton Kershaw. Go here to check out all of my past post on this set.

Base Variations

#25 Clayton Kershaw

Base                               Variation

Blog Kiosk: 8/4/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

It is Yu Darvish Day! He'll pitch his first game as a Dodger this evening against the Mets, starting at 4:10 PM PST.

In other news, the Dodgers defeated the Braves last night, 7-4. Chris Taylor continues to just hit. He hit his 13th homer of the season to lead the club. Per Mark Bowman and Jaylon Thompson at MLB.com:

"It was a hitter's count with a guy in scoring position," Taylor said. "I wanted to be aggressive and be ready for the fastball. He has good life on his fastball, and I wanted to get in front as he left the pitch over the middle."

Photo above via Seiko Darvis on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1941 Dodgers backstop Mickey Owen became the first catcher to field three foul flies in the same inning -- during the third inning of an 11-6 win over the Giants. In 1942 the Dodgers and Giants played a game that ended up in a 1-1 tie at the Polo Grounds. It should've ended in a 5-1 Brooklyn victory when Pee Wee Reese whacked a grand slam in the ninth inning, but that was negated due to a wartime curfew of 9:10 PM. This would be the last twilight-wartime game played. In 1948 future Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell called his first Major League game. He was filling in for Dodgers legend Red Barber, who was recovering from a bleeding ulcer. The Dodgers attained Harwell's rights by trading catcher Cliff Dapper to the Atlanta Crackers -- the first and only time a trade like this was ever done. In 1980 Maury Wills becomes the manager for the Seattle Mariners. He is the third black manager in MLB history. 
• Happy Birthday, Dolf Luque, Tuck Stainback, Joe Pignatano, Eric Weaver, Eric Milton, Luke Allen, Alex Castellanos & Mike Freeman!

2017 Topps Now -- #437 -- Cody Bellinger's 30th Home Run

This is the 16th 2017 Topps Now card to feature Cody Bellinger this season, and that doesn't include the two different autographed cards that have also been issued. As amazing as this seems to be it's no more amazing than the fact that Bellinger has now belted 30 home runs -- becoming only the second Dodger rookie to have done so (Piazza is the other) and just the 28th rookie ever in Major League Baseball to have hit as many. Heck, in the National League alone only ten batters (including Cody) have hit 30. So, he is definitely in some rarefied air. Per Jaylon Thompson at MLB.com:

"It is impressive and he is a baseball player," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Cody does a lot of things defensively and in the batter's box. To be the 10th player is pretty phenomenal."

2017 Topps Chrome - All the Dodgers Base & Rookie Autograph Cards

New in stores is the super-shiny version of Topps flagship Baseball card set -- 2017 Topps Chrome Baseball. Below are all of the Dodger base and autographed base cards. Go here for a complete checklist.

Of note, we see Cody Bellinger in the Topps flagship set design for the very first time, and it's likely the exact card we'll see of him in the upcoming Topps Update set.

Base Cards

#14 Kenta Maeda            #25 Clayton Kershaw

#34 Andrew Toles

Blog Kiosk: 8/3/2017 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

The worst thing about Baseball is learning that you are going to lose. It's inevitable. The beauty of the game is that it teaches you to persevere, regardless. More often than not, this Dodger team has soldiered on to overcome all obstacles to win. Last night, they just couldn't get over that hump. Per Cary Osborne at Dodger Insider:

“They’re a scrappy bunch,” said Dodger manager Dave Roberts to SportsNetLA’s Alanna Rizzo. “They have some athletic ability and with (Freddie) Freeman in the middle of the order — he was on base three times tonight — we only put together six hits, couldn’t get a lot of baserunners and really couldn’t put things together tonight.”

Oh well, last nights loss to the Braves means it's time for a new winning streak. BTW, Cody Bellinger hit his 30th homer of the season -- becoming only the second Dodger and 28th rookie overall to have ever eclipsed the 30 home run mark. Mike Piazza hit 35 homers as a Dodger in 1993. The above pic via the Dodgers on twitter. Below are more links to check out:

• This Day in Dodgers History: In 1959 the second All-Star Game of the year is played at the LA Coliseum. Don Drysdale gave up a third inning two-run homer to Yogi Berra to lose the game, 5-3. In 1980 Duke Snider, along with Al Kaline and Chuck Klein, are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1997 Tommy Lasorda, along with Phil Neikro, Nellie Fox and Willie Wells, are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2013 the Dodgers set a franchise record when they won their 13th consecutive game on the road by defeating the Cubs, 3-0.
• Happy Birthday, Gus Getz, Jim Gott, Sid Bream & Kevin Elster!